The second annual Gold Coast International Film Festival, presented by the Great Neck Arts Center, with the town of North Hempstead, NY, as founding sponsor, will present seven days of films, programs, panels, tributes, conversations, awards and festivities on Long Island’s North Shore.

GCIFF kicks off Monday, Oct. 22, with two pre-festival events followed by its opening-night gala on Wednesday, and then runs at the Clearview Cinemas in the communities of Manhasset, Roslyn, Great Neck and Port Washington through Oct. 28.

Festival highlights include a sneak preview from veteran indie director and festival honoree Edward Burns of his latest film, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas; a celebration of 50 years of West Side Story with original cast members in attendance; Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, Quartet; a slate of narrative, documentary and short films that touch on everything from suburban soccer moms to music legends, from Jewish themes to Long Island talent and stories; films from countries such as Israel, Denmark, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany and India; the Douglas Fairbanks silent classic The Mark of Zorro presented with live musical accompaniment; a filmmaker panel with Hollywood agent Bud Moss and friends; an insider's workshop on making an independent film; and an animation workshop with two-time Academy Award nominee Bill Plympton.

Venues for the events and parties include some of the fabled Gold Coast mansions that were once the havens for New York’s business and celebrity elite, including NYIT's de Seversky Mansion (former DuPont estate), the Oheka Castle, commissioned by Otto Kahn, and the former Chrysler Mansion (currently on the grounds of the United States Merchant Marine Academy).

Festival director Aviva Miller stated: “Our region boasts a great cultural diversity, and part of the mission of GCIFF is to celebrate and highlight that diversity.”

For tickets and box-office information, visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.com.