FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com maRCH 6, 2014 • The Queens Courier 29 Queens World Film Festival kicks off BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 Action! The 4th Annual Queens World Film Festival has begun. The festival, which brings international and local filmmakers to the borough to screen their works, celebrated its opening night on Tuesday, March 4, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. Opening night featured three films from the United States and one from Kosovo, ranging from animation to short narratives. Borough President Melinda Katz, one of the night’s speakers, acknowledged that the festival was not only a great project for all the filmmakers and volunteers involved, but also helps brand the borough of Queens. “We are the most diverse place on the entire planet. We are extremely excited by this,” Katz said. “We are telling the international audience that we are here, we are strong. Diversity is the greatest asset that we can give the entire world here in the borough of Queens and this film festival proves it every day.” Organizers Katha and Don Cato, who were introduced by Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, welcomed the audience and described what the next five days would bring for the borough. “It’s an incredible opportunity for us and one we are very happy to share with everyone,” Katha said. Don encouraged the audience members to experience the films. “What I want you to experience is the unique opportunity that all of these films have and let them just wash over you,” he said. “Let them inform you, experience them, open yourselves up to them and enjoy them for what they are.” Before the first block of films was shown, the festival honored Carl Goodman, executive director of the Museum of the Moving Image, and independent filmmaker Hal Hartley as the 2014 “Spirit of Queens” honorees. The six-day festival goes until March 10. The 127 films, which include short and feature narratives, LGBT pieces, documentaries and animation, will be divided into subject blocks and be shown at venues such as The Secret Theatre and The Nesva Hotel in Long Island City, and P.S. 69 in Jackson Heights. During the festival there will be 16 films screened from Queens filmmakers. The festival will also screen the world premiere of the director’s cut of the Oscarnominated documentary “The Act of Killing” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at P.S. 69. Films will also be given awards on the final night of the festival. Tickets for the festival are $10 for regular admission and $6 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets visit, www.queensworldfilmfestival. com. The Queens World Film Festival celebrated its opening night at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. THE COURIER/ Photos by Angy Altamirano Hollywood in Whitestone A new NBC drama, “Believe,” from J.J. Abrams and Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón, was filming in Whitestone, at 150th Street and 14th Avenue, on March 4. It is about a “an unlikely relationship between a gifted young girl (Johnny Sequoyah, pictured) and a man sprung from prison (Jake McLaughlin) who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power,” according to IMDB. “Believe” will premiere on Monday, March 10 at 9 p.m. Photos by Robert Stridiron $24M asking price for Elmhurst lot An Elmhurst lot, located across the street from the Queens Place mall, has been put up for sale for $24 million, according to real estate company Massey Knakal. The 47,365-square-foot lot, located at 88-18 Justice Avenue, is one block off of Queens Boulevard and adjacent to the Georgia Diner. According to the listing provided by Massey Knakal, there is a Restrictive Declaration on the property allowing it to be developed “per existing approved plans,” though these could not be confirmed. The lot can also be used for residential and/or community facility development, but would require termination of the Restrictive Declaration. The property has 227,352-square-feet of development rights. The lot is located close to Queens Center mall and a block from the M and R train lines at Grand Avenue. It is also near all the major highways.
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