Lighthouse International Film Festival Announces Opening Film and Hall of Fame Event

The Lighthouse International Film Festival will celebrate with a look back as it prepares for its 6th season with a Hall of Fame Retrospective to be held upstairs at The Dutchman’s Brauhaus in Manahawkin, at 6 p.m. on April 26.

Executive Director Eric C. Johnson will speak about this year’s opening night film, “This Time Next Year,” directed by Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman.

The film is a documentary featuring Long Beach Island residents and their struggles during and the year after Superstorm Sandy

Johnson will introduce the other special guests several past and present LIFF filmmakers, actors and producers and Charlie Prince, the festival’s Founder and Artistic Director.

Doyle, ten-time Emmy Award winner and executive producer of “It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle,” is also slated to speak.

“We are thrilled to be bringing “This Time Next Year” back to the strong, warm community that has come to feel like home to us over the past year of filming," Reicher and Zaman said. "We love LBI, the people who and visit here and we hope that the film does their spirit justice.”

The film premiered earlier this month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

“Jeff and Farihah have created a film that speaks directly to the personality of the Island – the resiliency, kindness and generosity of spirit of the people who call LBI home – and we are thrilled to kick off this year’s Festival with their film," Johnson said.

The film will also screen at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven on June 5.

“The Hall of Fame Fundraiser will be a celebration of the past five years of movies and moviemakers as we prepare for this year’s festival,” according to a LIFF spokesperson.

The event will feature appetizers, a light buffet dinner, dessert and two signature cocktails, beer or wine,  a trivia contest, door prizes drawings, music and dancing.

Hall of Famers scheduled to attend are:

• Doug Lenox, a juror in 2013 and winner of LIFF’s Best Short Film in 2012 for “Tourists.”

• Actor/Director Eleanor Wilson, another 2014 juror. Her directorial debut was shown in 2013 and she was featured in a 2012 LIFF film.

• PJ Leonard, a New Jersey native, whose films focus on dramatic and comedic stories based on New Jersey’s working class, such as “The Immaculate Misconception,” “The Hit” and “The Fallen Faithful.”

Tickets for the event are $60 and must be purchased in advance online or at these locations: Things A’ Drift- 406 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom; Mary Allen Realty, Inc- 2909 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom; the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce- 205 West 9th St., in Ship Bottom or online at www.brownpapertickets/event/601954.

All Access Passes for the festival, which runs June 5-8, will also be on sale at a reduced price at the event.

For more information or to see the full 2014 LIFF schedule, which will be announced in May, visit www.lighthousefilmfestival.org.