Approximately $23,000 in grant money has been awarded to four Long Island film exhibition programs, two of which are East End organizations, according to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
Mr. Bellone, along with the Suffolk County Legislature, has designated funds for “Next Exposure,” a competitive grant program administered by the Suffolk County Film Commission, to the Hamptons Take 2 Film Festival and the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center’s Finest in World Cinema film series. Each organization will receive $6,000.
The other two organizations awarded grants were the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council and the Plaza Cinema and Media Arts Center in Patchogue, according to a spokesperson in Mr. Bellone’s office.
The legislative measure leverages a portion of the county hotel tax charged for overnight stays to fund organizations that contribute to the cultural vitality of the area.
“Suffolk has long been a destination for filmmakers seeking to set their stories on our beautiful ocean beaches and in our many historic 19th-century mansions,” Mr. Bellone wrote in a press release issued on Thursday, April 26. “In turn, these film exhibition programs provide Long Islanders with the opportunity to enjoy films that would otherwise be unavailable to them in lively settings that contribute to the vitality of many of our historic downtown villages. It’s a classic “win/win” situation and a tangible investment in our community.”
Dawn Watson on May 1, 2012