Our main location for all film screenings, Directors Audition Panel, and the Closing Night Awards Ceremony:
Bellmore Movies & Showplace
222 Pettit Ave, Bellmore, NY 11710
All Panels (except the Directors Audition Panel), Filmmaker Meetups, and Opening Night Party will take place in the Filmmakers Lounge
228 Pettit Ave, Bellmore, NY 11710
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 FROM 4:30PM
Cheers to 29 Years! Come celebrate this year’s films and network!
Munchies and beverages served. Free event but must have a reservation.
LOCATION
Filmmaker’s Lounge
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 FROM NOON – 3 PM
LOCATION
Bellmore Movies And Showplace – 222 Pettit Ave, Bellmore NY
Julia Winer is a New York based actor with training from The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Hunter College (23’) and Take 2 Actor’s Studio. After spending her childhood as a competitive athlete, Julia found her true passion for acting at 16 and has devoted herself to the craft ever since. Julia’s recent work includes leading roles in the feature films From the Embers (Daphne) and Violet Hearts (Maria). Additional film credits include Heart of the Game (Charley), Couple of Guys (Phoenix), and The Last Virgins in New York (Livvy). Offscreen, Julia is a devoted Stevie Nicks fan who can often be caught singing “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” behind the wheel– a future role, perhaps? To learn more about Julia, visit www.juliawiner.com
Tamela D’Amico is an award-winning filmmaker, actress, and recording artist whose work spans film, television, music, and digital media. Through her company, Bellona Entertainment, she creates character-driven stories across multiple platforms as a writer, producer, and director. She is Streamy and Webby nominated and a Telly Award winner. As an actress, she has appeared in projects for CBS, Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, among others, while her music career has earned international radio play in both jazz and electro-swing genres. She is currently developing multiple film and television projects while continuing to champion innovative independent storytelling.
Leticia “Letty” Buchanan is a seasoned, award-winning producer, director, writer, and production designer with over 20 years of industry experience. Her credits include CNBC, Court TV, HBO’s Emmy-winning Taxicab Confessions, CBS’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, and The Food Network. She worked on the PBS documentaries The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause and The M Factor 2: Before the Pause with Tamsen Fadal. She is also currently contributing to a retrospective on the legacy of Krupp Agency, whose clients include Dr. Phil, Donna Karan, Weight Watchers, and Levi’s.
She co-founded Love Your Face Films with Eddie Lebron, focusing on horror, narrative works, music videos, and documentaries. The company has also contributed to social media campaigns and conferences for Aerie and American Eagle. This award-winning team promotes diversity and supports underrepresented voices in media.
Leticia made her directorial debut with the sci-fi horror film BETTY, which she co-wrote. Paralysis, a horror film inspired by her struggles with sleep paralysis, and The Closet, co-written with her teenage son, are both currently on the festival circuit. She is currently developing, writing, and directing a documentary on the trans celebrated community called Worship: An All Trans Affair.
Wendell Laurent is an award-winning actor, writer and filmmaker based in New York. He is making his directorial debut with THE DUMBLETONS, which he also wrote and produced.
A native of New Orleans, Wendell is a graduate of Loyola University. He also spent some time honing his performance skills in Chattanooga, TN, before moving to New York in 1990.
Wendell acted in and wore several hats on two multi-award-winning short films, DAYBREAK, which he wrote and co-produced and THE FINAL WALK, which he co-wrote and co-produced.
He made his feature film debut as the lead in AN EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR, written and directed by Benjamin Orifici, and plays the title character in the indie-comedy feature WALTER’S WISH.
As a writer and producer, Wendell collaborated with Benjamin Orifici on the award-winning short POSTDEMIC and the feature film HAVANA COYOTES, which was shot entirely in Cuba with an all-Cuban cast.
Wendell is currently developing the feature version of the film DAYBREAK. www.WendellLaurent.com
Debra Markowitz created and served as the Director of the Nassau County Film Commission. Serving four administrations during her 33-year tenure, Ms. Markowitz had steadily increased production of movies, television programs and commercials that were shot in Nassau County.
Ms. Markowitz also serves as President of the Long Island Film-TV Foundation, Long Island’s most established and largest not-for-profit agency dedicated to the support and promotion of independent filmmaking. The LIFTF runs the LIIFE, the Long Island International Film Expo, which is headed into its 29th year in July 2026.
Debra’s podcast, The Best of Intentions, is hosted weekly through Governors Comedy Club Podcasts. It features celebrities, actors and others in the independent film industry.
Debra is also a novelist (the Karmic Wind Trilogy: Naked in the Rain, Sarah and Caleb and Karmic Wind), award winning screenwriter and director of shorts, features and TV pilots, film consultant, casting director and teaches director to actor workshops. Debra was a judge for potential incoming drama students at the LaGuardia Arts High School (The FAME school) for several years.
Several of Debra’s films have screened at Academy Award Qualifying Film Festivals: Chosen (Director/Producer) screened at LA Shorts, The Last Taxi Driver (Writer/Director/Producer) screened at the HollyShorts Monthly Screening Series, Shoot Me Nicely (Casting Director/Producer) screened at HollyShorts and Won Best TV Pilot, was a Winner of the Diamond Award at LA Shorts, and My Cross to Bear(Producer/Casting Director) screened at Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival. Debra’s screenplay, Just Look Into My Eyes, was a semifinalist in both Flickers and HollyShorts and has won several other screenplay competitions. Her screenplay, From the Embers (formerly called Brimstone feature) won Best Screenplay at the Phoenixville International Film Festival and Best in Show at the Austin Revolution Film Festival. The screenplay of The Only Woman in the World won Best Screenplay at several international Film Festivals. The Only Woman in the World feature film is screening on Prime Video, Tubi, The Alice Channel of Xumo, Momentu and several other platforms. Debra’s feature film, Wait List: A Love-ish Story, has signed with IndieRights and is now available on Prime Video, her feature film, From the Embers, has wrapped and is in post-production. Debra has also wrapped on the LGBTQIA+ feature, Couple of Guys.
Debra’s company is developing feature film, Yule Tide, and horror feature, Franklin. Her work can be found at www.IntentionFilmsandMedia.com
Melissa Skirboll is an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose films have screened internationally. $13 marks her fifth film to screen at the Long Island International Film Expo, where her feature screenplay Something Borrowed was also recognized as a finalist in the screenplay competition. A true multi-hyphenate, she often works across writing, directing, producing, and editing, bringing an actor-centric approach shaped by her background in theater and performance.
FRIDAY, JULY 9 6:30PM
We have a winner and a runner up!!
Winner: “Oh, My Leo!” by Jeff Naparstek
Runner Up: “#Skank” by Jennifer Jiles & Chris Spodzianski
LOCATION
Filmmaker’s Lounge
Screenplay Winner – Oh,My Leo!
Narrator / Actor
FRIDAY, JULY 10 FROM 3:00PM
Do you have the right stuff to write stuff? Join us for this informative panel hosted by Mitchell Bard. Mitchell is the chair of the Media and Communication Department at Iona University, where he teaches classes in film and journalism. In addition to writing, producing and directing projects from music videos to feature films, Mitchell has worked in both film development and film distribution.
LOCATION
Filmmaker’s Lounge
The International Sales Game Has Changed.
Sell your film to international distributors worldwide. Zero commission fees. Find out how at The Market Panel
SATURDAY, JULY 11 FROM 10:30AM – 1:00PM
LOCATION
Filmmaker’s Lounge
MODERATOR
The International Sales Game Has Changed.
Sell your film to international distributors worldwide. Zero commission fees. Find out how at The Market Panel
Tamela D’Amico is an award-winning filmmaker, actress, and recording artist whose work spans film, television, music, and digital media. Through her company, Bellona Entertainment, she creates character-driven stories across multiple platforms as a writer, producer, and director. She is Streamy and Webby nominated and a Telly Award winner. As an actress, she has appeared in projects for CBS, Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, among others, while her music career has earned international radio play in both jazz and electro-swing genres. She is currently developing multiple film and television projects while continuing to champion innovative independent storytelling.
Sean is an award-winning writer/director who lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and two dogs. He is an outspoken advocate for mental health and is a fan of any western or horror movie that you put in front of him.
Sara Gaston has been acting for over 30 years and has worked in almost all areas of the business including film, television, theatre, improv, sketch comedy, animation, commercials, and voice-over! She’s also been a producer on several features including “Lars the Emo Kid”, “The Central Authority”, “Dead of Knight”, and “Conjoined”. She never planned to direct but in 2021, but in light of the #Me Too movement, she got the seed of an idea for a film that wouldn’t let her go. That idea became, “I Was Gone for Awhile”. Since then, she’s been non-stop: going to film festivals, AFF Writer’s Conference, directing the comedy web-series, “Trophies”, in post for her second film, “Coyote”, and developing plans for a period piece, a comedy, and a documentary.
Akshita Vashisht is a high school student with a deep passion for science, art, and music, disciplines she has dedicated herself to for over 10 years. Her goal is to combine these three passions to create meaningful solutions for communities facing water scarcity around the world. Through this film, she hopes to raise global awareness, inspire support for sustainable water initiatives, help generate funds to build more water-access solutions, and educate people about the importance of water conservation.
Lorraine is an award winning Filmmaker, Playwright, and Screenwriter. Lorraine has made nine narrative short films, a short documentary, and a feature. Her films have played in over 150 film festivals.
Portman taught Playwriting and Screenwriting for ten years at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Smith College and M.F.A. in Film from Florida State University. Portman also attended the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.
Notable awards include The Paul Schrader Best Screenplay Award for THE KING’S INN given by Cayman International Film Festival in 2017. As an independent filmmaker, The Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival recognized Portman in 2018 with the Lois Weber Legacy Award and The Indie Filmmaker Spirit Award in 2017. She was awarded The Denis Johnston Playwriting Award for her one act play SMALL ANIMALS. Portman has twice been aPitch Competition Finalist in the Austin Film Festival’s Pitch Competition, placing Third in 2019.
Portman has written a stack of screenplays which have been winning awards and placing in national and international competitions. Portman has optioned several screenplays and has done work for hire as a writer in many genres. Lorraine is a Screenplay Development Consultant for LA based Samaco Films.
Toni grew up in Rhode Island with her proud Italian American heritage playing a part in many facets of her life. Maintaining strong family ties, this only child has been cultivating her imagination since age 7 entertaining her family with a recording of a fictional talk show voicing ALL seven characters. Thus, this SAG/AFTRA actress’s career is comprised of over 30 years in commercials, voiceovers, tv and film. Some credits include Law & Order SVU, The Blacklist, The Mysteries of Laura, Taxi Brooklyn, Blue Bloods, The Following and Nurse Jackie and the films Nasty Baby with Kristen Wiig, Beach Rats directed by Eliza Hittman, Alto with Diana DeGarmo, Annabella Sciorra and Ward Horton, Where God Left His Shoes with John Leguizamo, Riding In Cars With Boys with Drew Barrymore, Hereafter with Christina Ricci, and Divine Blood with Lena Headey, among others.
Married to a restaurateur 30+ years, she is the true definition of a hyphenate and has been a creative presence in many aspects of the entertainment industry. A passion for all things creative and a career in front of and behind the camera that spans over 3 decades, she has extensive knowledge about the film and television business and is full of a variety of assets that make her “get it done” mentality unstoppable.
She began Shake The Tree Productions in the hopes of creating character driven projects with original stories full of ethnic diversity with non-gender specific hiring of cast and crew at equal pay. She hopes to keep the true meaning of independent film alive by adapting to today’s. market trends utilizing all new media and its cutting-edge technology. Shake The Tree Productions is devoted to… Encouraging Change. Demanding Equality. Embracing Diversity. Striving for Excellence. All through content creation and dedicated to the art of storytelling.
Toni and Shake The Tree can boast over 75 film festival wins, semi and quarter finalist nods, honorable mentions and official selections, 5 consecutive wins for Alignable’s Norwalk Local Business Person of the Year, 1/5-part Unscripted TV Series Aired, 4 Completed TV Pilots (3 Multi-Award-Winning), 6 Completed Multi-Award-Winning Feature Films, 20+ Delivered Commercials (long form Industrials and 30- 60 second short form), 3 Completed Shorts (1 Multi-Award-Winning), 1 Award-Winning Music Video, 3 years as a judge for The Roosevelt Island Film Festival, a guest speaker on multiple panels and webinars, and multiple sizzles and trailers.
Completed content includes the festival favorite, award-winning The Undesirables, starring Jason Mewes, the 5-part series The Cottage CommunityIdea House for This Old House, The Three Killer Pigs by The Amityville Trilogy director Thomas J. Churchill, Sober, the multiple award-winning series helmed by veteran showrunner Mike Mariano, the award winning short, Mooch, with an all-star ensemble cast (Kathy Searle, Ward Horton, Melanie Nicholls-King, Ray Abruzzo among them) directed by sitcom icon Richard Kline, the horror/thriller Sparrow Street, the unscripted Welcome to Italian America hosted by Emmy Nominee, Cara DiFalco, the psychological thriller The Silicant, and Waxman starring Frank Stallone and Carlos Mendez. Toni works with all members of Shake The Tree … writers, directors and editors, among others, to ensure the highest quality results for the success of all projects.
SATURDAY, JULY 11 1:30PM
Sell your film to international distributors worldwide. Zero commission fees.
The International Sales Game Has Changed.
Join our seminar Saturday, July 11th to learn how filmmakers are expanding their global reach, creating new revenue opportunities, and taking a more active role in the international life of their films. All attendees will receive a complimentary 1 year subscription to TheFilmMarket.com.
LOCATION
Filmmaker’s Lounge
The International Sales Game Has Changed.
Sell your film to international distributors worldwide. Zero commission fees. Find out how at The Market Panel
SATURDAY, JULY 11 3:00PM
One of the hardest parts of indie filmmaking is keeping to your schedule. We have the creative side, but may NOT know how to get the what to the where and when. 1st AD John Marean (also a DP, Sound Recordist, Gaffer, Actor etc with Intention Films and Media) will give you the basic knowledge to get your film wrapped IN TIME and on schedule.
LOCATION
Filmmaker’s Lounge
John Marean, co-owner of Intention Films and Media, graduated with his MFA in Technical Design and Production from the Yale School of Drama. He started his career as the Technical Director of the Hudson Guild Theater, then became Production Manager of Playwrights’ Horizons/Scenic Central and built sets for Nickelodeon, as well as many other Broadway, off-Broadway, television and feature film productions.
In 2012, John became Technical Director at the LaGuardia High School (The “Fame” school) of Music & Art and Performing Arts in NYC until 2019.
John has acted in several independent feature and short films including the upcoming series, Couple of Guys, and the short and feature film versions of Brimstone. John has been working as a Director of Photography, Assistant Camera, Grip, Gaffer, Sound Recordist, Production Manager, and Assistant Director.
John has taught at several local colleges and had trained several of our regular crew members for various additional crew positions. His most popular training includes his Assistant Director classes.
SUNDAY, JULY 12 5:30PM
Join Us for our star-studded awards ceremony in the Bellmore Movies and Showplace Auditorium. Doors open approximately 5:00pm.
Presenters to be announced. Stay tuned!!
JENNIFER JILES, is a multi-award-winning actress/writer/producer, Emmy Award-winning host, former Radio City Rockette, popular keynote speaker “A Rockette Out of Line”, and has worked with such stars as Tim Conway, Tom Poston & Carl Reiner. Through her production company Manipura Media Productions, she creates relatable content that entertains while moving her audience to feel connected & validated. In addition to co-creating the unscripted series History by Design & The DeMystics, her Writer/Producer credits include: multi-award winning family comedy pilot Mother of the Week; baseball comedy series Curveballs w/Adam Ferrara (Nurse Jackie) & Executive Producer Chris Mazzilli (Downey’s Dream Cars); Kicking & Screaming, TheMusical! about Jiles’ life as a Rockette; sketch show Third Rail Comedy w/ Rob Corddry (Ballers); the upcoming dark comedy feature #Skank starring Kevin Dillon (Entourage) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy) and with HipHop stars Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh and Petey Pablo, and directed by Shaun Piccinino (Starz, Netflix, HBOMax, WB, Lionsgate); the upcoming Hollywood/ Bollywood mash-up rom-com action adventure feature, Bollywood ReBound; and the upcoming post-apocalyptic thriller, An Act of Terror. She can also be seen and heard in hundreds of commercials, promos, video games and audio books, and is an accomplished psychic medium. www.jenniferjiles.com
SUNDAY, JULY 12 7:30PM
Keep the celebration going! Join us two doors down at the Third Rail Bar & Grille.
Mingle, network and do lots of selfies!!
