The George Ennis Film Festival returns!

West End movie celebration making a comeback at the Inn

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For the first time since 2011, the George Ennis Film Festival will return to Long Beach. The wacky and colorful annual festival benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, but was forced to take a three-year hiatus when organizer George Ennis’s home was damaged in Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy.

Now, a demand from friends in the community has encouraged him to bring it back, he said.

The festival specializes in short films and has a very laid-back atmosphere. Affectionately referred to as “Halloween meets the Oscars,” celebrity impersonators walk the red carpet beforehand and prizes are raffled off. For it’s return this year, the film festival will be held on April 25 at The Inn, at 943 W. Beech St., at 3 p.m.

“A lot of friends of mine have urged me to do it again,” Ennis said. “There was a slight reluctance on my part because of the work involved to put it together, however, I like the idea that it brings some pleasure to people and also raises money for Juvenile Diabetes.”

For the first time, this year’s festival will include a category for parody films and a round of initial screenings on April 16 at 7 p.m. Fifteen films will be screened at the Inn that night, and the three winners from each category will be shown at the main event on April 25. Ennis acknowledged that the party atmosphere of his festival often takes on a life of its own, and explained that the initial screenings will offer an opportunity for patrons to focus more on the films.

“The finale is for people who just want to be entertained and have a good time,” he said. “If you’re a very serious filmmaker and your feelings are hurt easily, then this might not be the festival for you.”

Each year, the festival features short films in the categories of comedy, drama or documentary that are less than 10 minutes. Ennis said that he’s added a new category this year asking for directors to re-create some of their favorite scenes from movies, either as a comedic parody or straight homage. He added that he hopes this attracts more casual filmmakers to the festival and makes it even more inclusive, since they won’t have to worry about writing a film to enter the competition.

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