The third coming of film, fundraising and fun

Hollywood glitz and glamour Long Beach-style is coming to the West End with the return of the George Ennis Film Festival at the Cabana on West Beech Street on May 8.

George Ennis, the festival’s namesake and organizer, said that attendees to the third annual event will see a few changes, but he expects the same laid-back, party atmosphere as before.

Unlike the previous two years, the festival will be held on a Saturday instead of Sunday, which Ennis said should allow more people to come out without having to worry about getting home early for work the next day. Scheduling the festival a few weeks later into the spring should also provide some warmer weather. “We’re expecting two to three times the crowd than last year,” said Ennis, noting that last year’s event attracted some 100 film enthusiasts.

But the biggest change is cost, in that this year the festival won’t be free. The $10 admission fee wil go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, turning the night of film into a charitable event. “With a lot of people showing up and having fun,” said Ennis, “it would be a good way to give back.”

The festival will feature some 15 short films from film-makers throughout the tri-state area and as far as South Carolina. While last year most submissions were comedies, Ennis said this year many of the submissions are more dramatic and dark. He admits that the festival is not the greatest venue for the real serious film watcher, since people are often socializing during the showings. “Comedies tend to work best in our environment,” he said.

Ennis said the environment itself creates a lot of fun. He encourages attendees to dress as their favorite celebrity and walk the red carpet, the end of which they will be interviewed by a Joan Rivers impersonator. Last year, Ennis was interviewed in an Inside the Actor’s Studio-like setting. “It’s kind of a spoof on film festivals in a way,” he said.

Bob Johnson, Cabana co-owner and event organizer, said the festival will be a weekend-long event starting on Friday with movie-themed dinner specials and film previews. For Sunday, Johnson is planning more specials and movie-themed fun. “It’s going to be an extravaganza beyond belief,” he said. “This year, there is more of a buzz in the neighborhood.”

For more information on the film festival and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, visit georgeennisfilmfestival.com and jdrf.org/li.

Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.