Manhattan Film Institute Presents Its 8th Annual North Fork Film Institute July 19 to 21

Manhattan Film Institute (MFI), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote education and awareness for creative expression in the art of filmmaking on a local level, returns to Greenport for its 8th annual MFI North Fork Film Festival which runs July 19 to 21.

This year, MFI is adding an International Short Film Competition to the three-day festival.

“The International Short Film Competition represents an important new dimension for us,” explains MFI founder Tony Spiridakis. “MFI is a transformational experience. When students see their films play in the historic Greenport Theatre, in front of a packed audience—films they wrote, acted, directed, edited, and shot right here on the North Fork—they are empowered. Add to that the International Short Film Competition, the celebrity screenings, the workshops, and this year’s festival is going to be something you don’t want to miss.

The MFI North Fork Film Festival kicks off on Friday, July 19 with filmmaker seminars at Greenport's Brecknock Hall. Taking part will be Academy Award-winning director Chris Wedge (“Ice Age”), two-time Emmy-winning writer Bill Finkelstein (“The Good Fight”), and inspirational actor Geoffrey Owens (“The Cosby Show”). The seminars culminate at Peconic Landing with a 7:30 p.m. screening of Woody Allen's film “Bullets Over Broadway” with celebrated Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri.

On Saturday, Mr. Palminteri leads a 10 a.m. audition workshop at Peconic Landing, followed by the International Short Film Competition from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Greenport Theatre. The centerpiece of this year’s festival is "An Evening With Chazz Palminteri" at 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Theatre. The actor will perform a scene from “A Bronx Tale,” his iconic original one-man show, followed by the MFI awards ceremony which will include a lifetime achievement award for Mr. Palminteri, a civic leadership award to Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, and awards to winners of the short film competition. An MFI fundraiser after-party at Brecknock Hall completes the evening.

The festival wraps up on Sunday, July 21 with a 10 a.m. screening of MFI’s Gold Program student short films at Greenport Theatre.

Admission is free and open to the public for all events, except for the after-party which is a $25 donation.

For the full MFI North Fork Film Festival schedule and to reserve tickets, visit manhattanfilminstitute.com. For tickets to the "Bullets Over Broadway" screening visit peconiclanding.ticketleap.com.