8:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LIFS members free

This madcap, romantic comedy takes you on a cinematic adventure from Paris to Bulgaria Girard, a smitten Parisian searches for the love of his life across Europe. He finds the Bulgarian beauty in a small village and set out to win her heart. Can he can convince her, her crazy father and others that he is the man of her dreams? This film captured the hearts at the Manhattan International Film Festival and was awarded “Best Global Narrative.” English subtitles.

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5.00 per person. Members of the Film Society are admitted at no charge. For information about the June 6-9 Film Festival, check our website at www.lighthousefilmfestival.org.

8:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LIFS members free

Peter Miller and Will Hechter’s documentary, AKA Doc Pomus, shares the times and life of the legendary songwriter of the classic tunes Save the Last Dance for Me, This Magic Moment, A Teenager in Love, Viva Las Vegas and 1,000 others. Too few know the story of their composer, Doc Pomus. Experience his amazing journey from a Jewish kid in Brooklyn to one of the greatest songwriters of pop and blues. Packed with incomparable music and rare archival imagery, it features a cast which includes Dr. John, Ben E. King, Joan Osborne, Shawn Colvin, Dion, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and B.B. King.

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5.00 per person. Members of the Film Society are admitted at no charge. For information about the June 6-9 Film Festival, check our website at www.lighthousefilmfestival.org.

7:30 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

The movie, written and directed by Annie Howell and Lisa Robinson, stars Anna Margaret Hollyman as Sarah Sparks, a “freelance technologist” whose job requires her to ask people about their connection to technology and to have an insatiable curiosity about how things work. Obsessed with the inner workings of iMacs and old radios, Sarah is so interested in the electronic configuration of a pregnancy test that she hardly registers that it reads positive.

Her uncertainties about motherhood trigger an impulsive road-trip across the country to visit her father (Richard Hoag) and to find her long-estranged mother (Mary Beth Pell) living “off-the-grid.”

This movie (screened at South by Southwest 2011) of small, beautifully moving parts is “unmistakably human in its warmth” and a wonderfully comic coming-of-parenthood tale for the internet age.

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5.00 per person. Members of the Film Society are admitted at no charge. For information about the June1-3 Film Festival,check our website at www.lighthousefilmfestival.org.

Saturday, April 21, 2012
Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts and Sciences
Loveladies, NJ

7:30 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

What do you get when you mix flamenco, folk, and spiritual music with poetry? The unique music of Kevin Gant! Filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass were committed fans of Kevin Gant’s unique sound as students in Austin, Texas. In 1995, Kevin disappeared from the music scene. The film, narrated by Mark Duplass, chronicles Kevin Gant’s struggles as a musician and a man and documents how he found his music again with a little help from his friends.

Come listen to music, watch the film, and Skype with director Jay Duplass.

Saturday, March 24, 2012
Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts and Sciences
Loveladies, NJ

7:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

This is an insightful, moving film that helps to shatter stereotypes and preconceptions, and reminds us of the power of this seemingly simple stick ball game to bring us all together.
- Ken Burns

Peter Miller explores the connection between Jewish Americans and baseball, our nation’s most iconic institution. Interviews include fans, writers, executives, and especially players – including Al Rosen, Kevin Youkilis, Shawn Green, Norm Sherry, Ron Blomberg, Bob Feller, Yogi Berra, and a rare interview with the legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax. These powerful personal and historical stories are interwoven with an extraordinary collection of rare archival footage and photos and a musical score ranging from Benny Goodman to Yo-Yo Ma. Baseball fans, historians, and film fans will appreciate this documentary. Q and A with Peter Miller.

7:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

A quirky, hilarious look at the “science of love. Directed by scientist-turned-filmmaker Valerie Weiss, LOSING CONTROL is about a female scientist who applies scientific principles to her love life in a search to find out whether her boyfriend is “the one.” Inspired by Weiss’ own experience earning a PhD at Harvard Medical School, the movie stars Miranda Kent (Campus Ladies), Reid Scott (My Boys, The Big C), Kathleen Robertson (90210), Lin Shaye (There’s Something About Mary), Bitsie Tulloch (Quarterlife), Steve Howey (Shameless, Something Borrowed), and Ben Weber (Sex in the City, Twister).

Valerie Weiss
Valerie Weiss, a critically-acclaimed, award-winning writer-director-producer will be Skyping in for a Q and A following the screening.  Dr. Weiss began her writing and directing career while at Princeton where she earned a dual degree in Molecular Biology and Theater. After Princeton, she founded Harvard University’s renowned Dudley Film Program and served as its Filmmaker in Residence while earning her PhDin Biophysics at Harvard Medical School. While writing her dissertation, Valerie directed her first film and, two weeks after wrapping production, defended her PhD thesis…and never did another experiement. Shortly thereafter she moved to Los Angeles where she completed the American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women and directed the BAFTA-winning short TRANSGRESSIONS.

7:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

The Lighthouse International Film Society is pleased to announce actors Maxwell Beer and Ryan Simpkins will be at Saturday’s screening! Q & A with director Tamar Halpern.

Synopsis
When twelve-year-old Jeremy receives a locked wooden box in the mail from his deceased father, he teams up with his best friend, the sassy and fearless Lizzy, to find the missing keys. Their quest takes them on a wild adventure around Manhattan where they meet a nutty pawn broker named Oswald Oswald III (Joe Pantoliano), a fortune teller from another era (Betsy Brandt), and a knife-wielding socialite (Marion Seldes), all while being driven around by a secretive limo driver (Michael Urie). As Jeremy gets deeper and deeper into the memories of losing his father, shown in stop motion animation, his mother (Mira Sorvino) works hard to keep his spirits up and his eye on the prize: to find the meaning of life!

Tamar Halpern
Writer and director Tamar Halpern’s feature Shelf Life was called a “whip smart film that taps into a fresh source for American comedy” by Variety. Her recent film Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life is based on the young adult novel by Wendy Mass and stars Mira Sorvino and Joe Pantoliano. Writing and directing awards include Paramount Screenwriting Fellowship, Jack Oakie Comedy Screenplay Award, IFP/NY Screenplay Finalist, FIND Directors Lab Fellow, Slamdance Screenplay Finalist, Cynosure Screenplay Finalist, Nicholl Screenplay Semi Finalist, Best Director Stonybrook Film Festival, Jury Award Best Film Dances With Films, Dreamago Plume et Pellicule Switzerland Writer in Residence, Blacklist Best Unproduced Screenplays and 2010 Best of the Net for short fiction. Her short film Death, Taxes and Apple Juice was awarded a Special Jury Mention at the 2011 Lighthouse International Film Festival.

Ryan Simpkins
Ryan Simpkins is no newcomer when it comes to making movies. At four years old, Ryan’s first performance was a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Fallen Angel (with Gary Sinise). She has continued to build her resume ever since, working with many A-list directors and actors over the years. At seven years old, Ryan debuted on Broadway, in Festen (Julianna Margulies), and also began production on the film Pride and Glory. Ryan was the first child actress to win NYC Film Festival’s Best Actress Award for her role in Surveillance. In her next role, Ryan shined with the stars in Revolutionary Road, directed by Academy Award winner, Sam Mendes. Ryan played the child of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ryan was later cast as Jennifer in A Single Man. Ryan has guest-starred on Law and Order, CSI, and has been seen on several national commercials and print cover ads. In “Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life” she is Jeremy’s best friend and confidant. It has been successful journey for this remarkable 13 year old.

Maxwell Beer
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life is Maxwell Beer’s first feature film production, and he couldn’t be happier with his debut character, Jeremy Fink. Although new to film, Max has trained as a theater performer for the past several years. In 2010, Maxwell toured nationally as Arty in Michael Bloom’s production of Lost in Yonkers, with performances at the Maltz Jupiter Theater, The Cleveland Playhouse, and a final run at Paper Mill Playhouse.

8:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

Q and A with PJ Leonard, Writer, Filmmaker and Producer

A miracle in Jersey City? Is it possible? Meet Mary (Courtney Draper), a high school senior who has an interest in becoming a nun. She lives with her middle-class family, including her unorthodox grandmother (Katherine McGrath). Her father, Michael (Ed Moran), works a blue-collar job and gambles with three wise guys. After a hard day’s work, Michael usually has to pay some of his earnings to the wise guys. Also in Mary’s life is her boyfriend, Joey (Joseph Perrino). Joey is trying to become a certified carpenter. Even though his girlfriend Mary is holier than thou, Joey sells drugs for the wise guys in order to buy her a vacation to a convent in France.

Things in Mary’s life are status quo, until a visit to the gynecologist. After going to what seemed to be a routine office visit, the doctor calls Mary a few days later and tells the virgin that she is pregnant. Instead of freaking out, Mary believes a miracle has happened. Her family is taken off guard by Mary’s excitement and, soon, news breaks all around the city that a religious phenomenon has happened. All parties involved now must cope with the apparent miracle that has been bestowed upon Mary. The film is loaded with subtle metaphors, well written, and thoughtful.

7:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

Q and A with director Ben Berkowitz

“Polish Bar is very much the story of someone who, caught in a tight spot has no choice but to “do what he’s gotta do.” It’s an impressive drama that, as a meticulously-cast independent film, has a gritty style all its own.” — HUFFINGTON POST

> More information and movie trailer

7:00 pm
Fee $5.00 LFS members free

French Film Romantics Anonymous Woos Us With Chocolates and Laughter
-Huffington Post Review

> More information and movie trailer