A taste of Hollywood in L.B.

Film festival kicks off with beach screening

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More than 3,000 people crowded the beach and boardwalk at National Boulevard last weekend to enjoy a night of movies, music and food presented by the Long Beach International Film Festival.

Now in its fourth year, the LBIFF is set to return to theaters in Long Beach and Rockville Centre Sept. 24-27, but the festivities kicked off early this year with Shorts on the Beach, a free screening of some of the short films submitted to this year’s festival, on Aug. 7.

New to this year’s event was Taste on the Beach, a gathering of area restaurants, wineries and craft breweries that offered samples of new or favorite dishes.

“The food element really brings the community together,” festival co-founder Craig Weintraub said. “You’re helping restaurants, but at the same time you’re raising the hospitality level for your guests. They can come and enjoy great films, great music and also great food. I call it the festival for all senses.”

Co-founder Ingrid Dodd added that Taste on the Beach was designed to encourage more community involvement in the festival. “We felt that we could really bring this to another level by bringing in local restaurants to give a sampling of their best dish, and to give a sampling of our shorts that we’ll be screening in September,” Dodd said.

The event featured a red carpet for celebrity guests and filmmakers as well as live music by Benoir, Michelle Medoff, Mark Newman, “American Idol” alum Robbie Rosen, Oogee Wawa and more. Guests enjoyed complimentary food and drinks while rubbing elbows with celebrities and renowned culinary stars like Steve Carl, from Carlyle on the Green; Barret Beyer, from Fox TV’s “Hell’s Kitchen”; Chef Nicole Roarke, of Heneghan’s Tavern; Rob Petrone, from Verizon Fios1 TV’s “Restaurant Hunter”; Danny Gagnon, from Bravo TV’s “Top Chef,” and more.

“It’s fun to come out and support such great people doing great things,” said Rosen, a Merrick resident who competed on season 10 of “Idol.” “The idea of movies on the beach is literally perfect — Long Beach is like a Mecca for things to do.”

“I like that outdoor film feel, and I think the event gives dimension to the upcoming festival,” said actor and comedian Rob Magnotti, who hosted the LBIFF’s Oscar screening party earlier this year.

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