The Lighthouse International Film Festival celebrates its 10th year in 2018 and is proud to champion cinema in its own unique style, blending the best in modern storytelling with the laid-back beach culture of Long Beach Island, NJ. Internationally recognized, the festival has cultivated a devoted following of filmmakers, industry professionals and local cinephiles and brings them together in a singular setting designed to squarely put the emphasis on the films and filmmakers.
LIFF blends the prestige of a carefully curated lineup of films with the intimacy of local arthouse screenings – screenings feature extended Q&As, while industry breakfasts and filmmaker access to all film screenings and events encourages networking and relationships-building. Purposefully taking a step away from some of the high-intensity, tension-frought aspects of market festivals, LIFF wants filmmakers to meet their audience, engage in dialogue about their film, expand its reach, and most of all, to focus on enjoying their LIFF screening and experience.
LIFF is also proud to announce that for the first time, it will open submissions for its Write By The Beach program, a writers’ retreat for female screenwriters and filmmakers. Taking advantage of the inspiration provided by the scenic backdrop of LBI, nestled in between ocean and bay, Write By The Beach offers selected screenwriters the opportunity to spend a week in a beach house in the week leading up to and encompassing the 2018 Festival, with no obligation except to foster their creativity on whatever project they are currently working. Submissions are open to any female writer with at least one credit as primary screenwriter on a produced short or feature film, with priority in selection given to those writers currently working on feature-length screenplays. LIFF may require additional information in making its selections, such as – but not limited to – writing samples, film or equivalent writing credits and a brief synopsis of the current writing project to be focused on during the residency.
Whether at a screening, a panel discussion, a meeting over ice cream at the beach or just catching some waves at one of LBI’s terrific surfing spots, LIFF wants filmmakers and attendees to celebrate the myriad ways in which storytelling is exploding.
The Lighthouse International Film Festival is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to showcasing diverse, dynamic storytelling, with a focus on unique voices.
Every year, the festival offers jury awards to films in four different categories. Jurors for these awards represent some of the most talented leaders in the industry, recently including the likes of Oscar nominees Jean de Meuron and Raphaela Neihausen, programmers Thom Powers (TIFF), Goran Topalovic (NY Asian FF) and Amir Bogen (Jerusalem FF); industry executives Adley Gartenstein, Andrew Mer, Liselle Feingold and Steve Scibelli and casting directors Allison Twardziak, Kate Geller and Rebecca Yarsin. All official selections of LIFF, excluding Headlining Films, are eligible for Audience Awards.
