The Gold Coast International Film Festival launched in 2011 and became an immediate success here on the north shore of Long Island, where F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby and the stars of stage and screen lived and worked before Hollywood was Hollywood. Since our first year, we have hosted numerous stars including Hugh Grant, Ed Burns, Baz Luhrmann, Isabella Rossellini, Bruce Dern, Lou Diamond Phillips, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, Phylicia Rashad, Paul Sorvino, Homeland's Navid Negahban, Jason Ritter, Melanie Lynskey, members of the band Twisted Sister, WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw, animator Bill Plympton, comedienne Susie Essman, Oscar-winning production and costume designer Catherine Martin, writer/director Marc Lawrence, and more.
We present feature and short films from dozens of countries and cast a great spotlight on the artists whose work we present, gathering enthusiastic audiences to our screenings. During the festival, area residents, visitors, members of the business and film communities, public officials, students and academics come together to celebrate the art and influence of cinema in the charming and historic towns and villages of Long Island’s Gold Coast. Festival events, many of them free, include screenings, workshops, conversations with prominent members of the film community, parties, and a gala.
For details on our Young Filmmakers Program, please visit our website: https://filmfreeway.com/GCIFFYouthFilmDay. Please note that films incorrectly submitted in the Young Filmmakers category (i.e., films not made by filmmakers in grades K-12 or age 18 and under) will be disqualified and asked to resubmit in their correct category.
Short film awards include both a jury award and an audience award; feature films are eligible for an audience award in one of two categories. Awards are accompanied by prizes, which may include rental equipment, post-production services, studio time, etc.
Previous short film winners include:
Andy (2022 Audience Award)
Loop (2022 Jury Award)
Tooth (2021 Best Short)
Homesick (2020 Jury Award, 2020 Audience Award, 2020 Jury Award - Best Live Action Short)
The Peak (2020 Jury Award - Best Animated Short)
Wings (2020 Jury Award - Best Student Short)
How Does Animation Work? (2020 Audience Award - Best Family Short)
Turbopera (2019 Jury Award - Best Animated Short)
Transmitter Receiver (2019 Jury Award - Best Narrative Short)
I Have a Message for You (2019 Audience Award, 2019 Jury Award - Best Documentary Short)
The Pig on the Hill (2019 Audience Award - Best Family Short)
Stems (2018 Jury Award)
One Small Step (2018 Audience Award)
Wendy's Shabbat (2018 Audience Award)
Rag Dolls (2018 Audience Award - Best Family Short)
For You (2017 Jury Award)
On the Run (2017 Audience Award)
Friday Night (2017 Audience Award)
The Gunfighter (2016 Jury Award)
The Bench (2016 Audience Award)
Jewish Blind Date (2016 Audience Award)
Joe's Violin (2016 Directors' Choice Award)
Subway Love (2015 Jury Award)
Tender Stories No. 1 (2015 Jury Award)
The Present (2015 Jury Award - Best Student Film)
Grounded (2015 Audience Award)
Why Do I Study Physics? (2014 Jury Award)
Welcome to China (2014 Audience Award)
Noah (2013 Jury Award)
Plurality (2013 Audience Award)
Luminaris (2012 Jury Award)
Sight (2012 Jury Award - Best Student Film)
Pigeon Impossible (2012 Audience Award)
Noreen (2011 Jury Award)
In the Spirit of Laxmi (2011 Jury Award - Best Documentary)
Previous feature film winners include:
Farewell Mister Haffman (2022 Best Film)
The Artist's Wife (2020 Best Narrative)
In Case of Emergency (2020 Best Documentary)
The Keeper (2019 Best Narrative)
Picture of His Life (2019 Best Documentary)
The Last Suit (2018 Best Narrative)
Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel (2018 Best Documentary)
The Darkest Hour (2017 Best Narrative)
Dare to be Different (2017 Best Documentary)
Underfire: The Untold Story of Pfc. Tony Vaccaro (2017 Best Documentary)
Burn Your Maps (2016 Best Narrative)
Sidemen: A Long Road to Glory (2016 Best Documentary)
Mustang (2015 Best Narrative)
Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw (2015 Best Documentary)
We Are Twisted F***ing Sister (2015 Best Documentary)
Paulette (2014 Best Narrative)
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand (2014 Best Documentary)
Nebraska (2013 Best Narrative)
Foreign Letters (2013 Best Narrative)
Comedy Warriors (2013 Best Documentary)
The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers (2013 Best Documentary)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012 Best Narrative)
One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das (2012 Best Documentary)
My Afternoons with Marguerite (2011 Best Narrative)
Bob and the Monster (2011 Best Documentary)