LIIFE Achievement
Film featured in SFF@NST awarded at local festival
BY STEPHEN VRATTOS
Photo by John Virga
More than 150 movies were
featured at this year’s
prestigious Long Island
International Film Expo, familiarly
known as LIIFE, which celebrated
its 20th anniversary in July. Hosted
by the Bellmore Movie Theater in
Bellmore, the festival was founded
by Henry and Anne Stampfel in
1997, proprietors of NST’s Towers
Cinema, who continue to oversee
what has become one of the movie
circuit’s most prominent events,
over the years attracting such A-list
celebrities as Telly Savalas, Ed
Asner, Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco
and Oleg Cassini.
Running two weeks every summer,
the expo screens both feature
movies and short films, holds
question and answers sessions
with celebrities and filmmakers
and hands out awards in such categories
as Audience Award, Best
First Film, Best Documentary and
Jury Prize which was awarded this
year to “Comfortable Distance.”
Resident aficionados of our own
celluloid celebration, SFF@NST
(Short Film Festival at North Shore
Towers), may recognize the short as
being one presented at the event’s
fledgling outing five years ago. The
story of an older woman exploring
the moral dilemma of pursuing her
feelings for another man, while
tending her dying husband at home,
features a bravura performance by
Marilyn Chris, NST resident and
SFF@NST founder, in the starring
role.
Three years ago, Chris met The
Stampfels at a chance encounter
in the Towers Video Productions
office soon after the couple took
over proprietorship of the cinema,
while Chris was discussing the
impending SFF@NST with John
Virga and Marty Ragusa. The
former star of “One Life to Live”
subsequently became a regular
guest at LIIFE, conducting panels
on soap operas and other aspects
of the business. In 2009, filmmaker
James Bang contacted Chris by
way of referral to tackle the part in
“Comfortable Distance.”
“It was one of the best calls I’d
ever gotten,” said Chris, who had
little time to celebrate the achievement
with the 5th annual SFF@
NST looming. The SRO event
will run two evenings in October
and once again present ten short
movies, although Chris hinted there
may be 1–2 more this year.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS – SFF@NST RETURNS!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19
SEPTEMBER 12 HADASSAH BOOK & AUTHOR LUNCHEON
RELOCATED TO LAKE SUCCESS JEWISH CENTER
PBY LILLY COHEN opular author Brenda
Janowitz will be the featured
speaker at Migdal/
Hadassah’s second annual Book
& Author Luncheon, Tuesday,
September 12 at 11:30 a.m.
The event will take place at the
Lake Success Jewish Center, 354
Lakeville Road, a short drive from
North Shore Towers.
Bagel Boss will cater a festive
lunch of cream cheese with lox and
bagels, plus nine salads and yummy
desserts. Doors open at 11 a.m.
Couvert is $45. Luncheon proceeds
will benefit Hadassah Hospital.
Janowitz, a bestselling author,
will speak about her most recent
novel, “The Dinner Party,” an
insightful family drama that starts
with a Seder and ends with Rosh
Hashanah. The author is also
known for “The Lonely Hearts
Club” and “Recipe for a Happy
Life.” Call Bern Rosenthal at (718)
225-5347 to buy a paperback copy
of the “The Dinner Party” for $10.
Janowitz will be happy to autograph
all copies of the book at the
luncheon.
Everyone is welcome to attend
this special Hadassah event and
meet the author. Last year’s Migdal
Book & Author Luncheon, featuring
Talia Carner, was a resounding
success.
For tickets contact:
Zona Schreiber, Building #1,
Apt. 12A at 718-423-2353
Dee Dee Goidel, Building #2,
Apt. 29N at 718-423-2986
Roz Chumsky, Building #3, Apt.
29E at 718-279-1270.
Registration checks made out
to Hadassah may be left with
the concierge in each building,
addressed to the contact person.
Please register by September 6.
MEET BESTSELLING AUTHOR
BRENDA JANOWITZ
MIGDAL/HADASSAH’S SECOND ANNUAL BOOK & AUTHOR LUNCHEON
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 AT 11:30 A.M.
LAKE SUCCESS JEWISH CENTER, 354 LAKEVILLE ROAD
DOORS OPEN AT 11 A.M. • COUVERT IS $45.
7:30 P.M. • TOWERS CINEMA
“Comfortable Distance” star
Marilyn Chris and Filmmaker
James Bang
Migdal Chapter of Hadassah at North Shore Towers Presents…
September 2017 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 3