Sag Harbor - Executive Director of the Long Island Film Festival (LIFF), Francis Leik, is a man with a vision and through hard work, talent, insight and focus, he brought that vision to Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor on Friday night in the form of the 26th Annual Long Island Film Festival. An event that continues as Long Island's original and longest running competitive film festival. Vexed by torrential rain, high winds, cold and even the date - Friday the 13th - did nothing to deter Leik from his goal of showcasing the talents of film makers mostly living and working on Long Island - and how very fortunate that determination proved to be for all in attendance.

Bernard Corrigan of Sag Harbor holding DVD of his "Hand Book of Relationships" a 15-minute experimental film that was shown at Friday's festival.

Founded by Christopher Cooke with the goal of "providing a public forum to screen independently produced films and videos in addition to giving out achievement awards, including media attention to the region's student and professional talent pool, the LIFF has never been permanently anchored to any one particular venue, movie house or specific town." according to their Mission statement. However, according to Leik "I'm from Nassau County, and have always found it to be a very 'proactive' area for film makers both during Cooke's reign and since I have been running the festival [since 2005]."

This festival screens student, amateur and professional films regionally, nationally and internationally, and Friday was no exception. Beginning at 4 p.m. the evening included more than a dozen short documentaries varying in length from four to 27 minutes, a poetry reading in the Irish language, live Irish music and song, awards presentations, and concluded with a 97-minute feature film "Goyband" by director Christopher Grimm followed by a Q & A with Grimm. There was something for everyone and all for a nominal ticket price of only $12.

Director David Campfield whose 10-minute film "Caesar and Otto in the House of Dracula" received an editing award for Campfield, as well as a best actor award for Ed Dennehy.

Another goal of the Festival is to further promote Long Island as a location for the production of feature films, documentaries, commercials and industrial film and videos. A very busy Leik sat for a few minutes and relayed "It has always been the hope of the Festival that Suffolk County would become more engaged in not only promoting the festival on a local level, but work with interested film makers and directors on the opportunity to film on location in Suffolk County." Leik further suggested that the sheer number of film makers working on Long Island warrants the invitation from Suffolk County to be extended to local film makers to the degree that Nassau County has always extended that invitation.

Some of the past participants in the LIFF have included Matthew Harrison, Hal Hartley, Edie Falco, Kimberley Peirce, Scott Saunders, Tamara Jenkins, Eric Mendelson, Adrienne Shelly, Fred Carpenter, Gavin O'Connor, Michael Questa, Stan Schofield, Bill Plympton, Ralph Macchio, Carlos Ferrer, and Kevin Jordan, among others.

Leik explained the Irish connection by stating, "The LIFF and CultureFest na Gaeilge USA began in 2005 as an expression of interest in my own heritage, as well as an exploration of the Irish language. CultureFest na Gaeilge USA is a unique concept in that it's the first North American Irish language cultural festival of its kind to present a line-up of the visual and performing arts strictly in the Irish language."

Director David Zani who screened two four-minute animated films, "Pirates" and "East Side Gang."

To date the program has incorporated Irish language films (with English subtitles), Sean-Nos traditional singing, music sessions and song, poetic verse, storytelling, book launches and lectures. Leik and organizers hope to expand creative offerings in the near future with the highly entertaining presentations of Agallamh Beirte and Luibini. Both forms of expression test verbal ability in witty dialogue. Other possible additions to the program being explored include a fun Irish language spelling bee "contest," and a marionette puppet show for both children and adults. Leik's vision is to eventually present this festival on its own as a possible two or three day independent annual event.

This year's LIFF line-up included a myriad of documentary, animated, experimental, dramatic, horror and comedic offerings from directors from all areas of Long Island and New York City, including:

 • "The Making of the Nutcracker" (documentary, 20 minutes, Director Bob Read - West Islip).

 • "Break" (drama, 20 minutes, Directors Keith Oncale and Shawn Washburn - Lindenhurst).

In addition to his executive director duties, Leik also reads poetry in the Irish language.

 • "Shadows of Kings Park" (documentary, 15 minutes, Director Bryan Sansivero - Centerport).

 • "Pirates" (animation, four minutes, Director David Zani - Manhasset).

 • "East Side Gang" (animation, four minutes, Director David Zani - Manhasset). Zani did all the animation himself for both films using a 'green screen' and commented that "I have loved animation since I was a kid, and both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, however, if I could pick any animators I'd loved to work with it would have to be Matt Stone and Trey Parker (of "South Park" fame)." Zani went on to elaborate, "My goal has always been to bring total entertainment to the audience and provide the opportunity to be transported. I went to school for film production and am presently working at Showtime, however, I have and will always pursue my love of and interest in animation."

 • "Caesar and Otto in the House of Dracula" (comedy/horror, 10 minutes, Director David Campfield - Commack). Campfield wrote, directed, edited, produced and starred in this short with Ed Dennehy who won an acting award at Friday's event. Speaking with Campfield, who also received an award for his editing work, and who has been recognized in past festivals for his films, indicated "I was influenced by the comedic team of Abbot and Costello, [Caesar and Otto], as well as many of the 'camp' horror films of years ago, and I wanted to combine that into one film." When asked about the expense of working in animation Campfield explained, "Actually the use of a green screen - if you are lucky enough to have that set up in your own studio which I am - helps to reduce the production costs and allows you the freedom to place your characters anywhere at any time." Continuing he said, "As an actor it is a little difficult to adjust to working with a green screen, but there is simply no denying the freedom it gives a director." Campfield expressed his admiration for the talents of George Lucas also, and offered that "I have completed feature length films too, and I am willing to expend countless hours in the hope that one day I can complete a full length animated feature that I am actually being paid for."

Irish music played with an Irish or 'Elbow' bagpipe.

 • "Once More to the Cabin" (documentary, 27 minutes, Directors Tom Isler and Jim Isler - NYC).

 • "The Popcorn Man" (drama, 24 minutes, Director Carlos Ferrer - Southampton).

 • "Die Weisse Lilie" (experimental, four minutes, Director Abby Lee - Flushing, Queens).

 • "Crimson Awakening" (experimental, four minutes, Director Alexa Barrett - Hampton Bays). Winner - Best Overall - East End Student Film Project 2009, second place winner - Guild Hall Student Film Project 2009. This is one talented young lady whose many admirers were in attendance at Friday's event.

 • "Kids Management" (music video, three minutes, Directors Alexa Barrett, Lia Bruce, Taylor Hiegel, Alma Osorio).

 • "Perpendicular Thinking" (experimental, five minutes, Director Alexa Barrett - Hampton Bays).

 • Irish Language Poem & Song – Live music.

Director of "Goyband" Christopher Grimm at Q & A following the screening of the film.

 • Kerry Film Festival Presentation: "Foireann Codladh" (Ireland. Thriller, 15 minutes, Irish language with English subtitles. Director Danann Breathnach).

 • "An Ranger" (Ireland. Thriller, 10 minutes, Irish language with English subtitles. Director PJ Dillion).

 • "Hand Book of Relationships" (experimental, 15 minutes, Director Bernard Corrigan - Sag Harbor). Speaking with Corrigan at Friday's event he indicated "This film is about 45 photos of hand gestures (with voiceover) that can describe the seven stages of any relationship ending with 'true union.'" Corrigan has been a psychotherapist since 1978, and has continually practiced on Long Island. He is from an 11th generation Water Mill family, and believes based on "about 25,000 hours interpreting not only my own, but others hand gestures," that this experimental short will help viewers "Discover where you have been, where you are and where you can go. . .in your relationship."

Awards Presentation
 • Best Dramatic Short: Keith Oncale and Shawn Washburn, "Break"

 • Best Student Director: Alexa Barrett - Ross School, "Crimson Awakening"

 • Best Feature Director: Christopher Grimm - "Goyband"

 • Best Picture: "Goyband"

Still from "Goyband." Image courtesy of Dan Bar Hava

The thoroughly clever and humorous "Goyband" (comedy, 97 minutes, Director Christopher Grimm) concluded the evening's film offerings. This is "A campy comedy that's a cross between 'Dirty Dancing' and 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' when a fading teen idol is booked to perform at a Kosher Catskill Hotel Casino, and romance ensues between the hotel owner's engaged daughter and the Goyband idol. Cultures clash and laughter follows" according to the film's synopsis.

Starring Adam Pascal ("Rent"), Tovah Feldshuh (Broadway's "Irena's Vow" and four-time Tony nominee), Natascha Lyonne ("American Pie", "Slums of Beverly Hills") and Amy Davidson (TV star of "Eight Simple Rules"), this is one of the most entertaining films to be shown in any festival or on any screen in quite some time. With a toe-tapping, lyrical score by Dan Bar Hava, it's a pleasure to see Feldshuh on screen again, and the enormously talented Pascal brings a real warmth and pathos to his role as the former idol. Grimm elicts first rate performances from the entire cast, and a post screening Q & A with Grimm allowed viewers the opportunity to hear this skillful director discuss how he 'put it all together.' Grimm's film received both best picture and best feature director awards.

Actor Ed Dennehy, younger brother of well-known actor, Brian Dennehy. Image courtesy of David Campfield

Grimm explained to the audience that the film was shot at an actual hotel in the Catskills, and "as a Catholic boy we relied heavily on Bar Hava not only for the musical score but for interpretations and portrayal of many Jewish customs and social mores so that there would be no offense taken, as none was ever intended." Grimm also extended his thanks to Bar Hava's wife who appears as a back-up singer in one scene at the end of the film. Relaying that "The film took about two months to shoot, and every time we needed additional music Bar Hava provided it so quickly and effortlessly that is was just a tremendous pleasure to work with him." Some members of Pascal's fan club were in attendance on Friday, and this terrific film can add many viewers to its own fan club as well - Bravo Mr. Grimm and company.

Keep your eyes on this group of talented film makers, as well as the actors and actresses who performed in these films, as many are surely headed for 'marquee' fame and recognition, and hopefully very soon. Special thanks must be given to Leik and all those involved in the Long Island Film Festival for compiling yet another successful year of informative, interesting and very entertaining films to be enjoyed not just by Long Islanders, but by anyone lucky enough to attend this festival.

For more information on the LIFF contact Francis J. Leik at francisjleik@yahoo.com, or 516-220-7490, or www.Lifilm.org.

Still from David Zani's four-minute animated film "Pirates" which was one of the two films he had in Friday's festival. Image courtesy of Trah Film Inc.