LIIFE Awards

Winners take over at LIIFE awards ceremonies

by Kristen Buckley and Colin Hekimian

          1980s brat-pack princess Ally Sheedy (“Breakfast Club,” “St Elmo’s Fire”), who received LIIFE ‘s Humanitarian Award, joined with veteran actor William Sadler (“Shawshank Redemption,” “Iron Man 3”), who received Long Island International Film Expo’s LIIFEtime Creative Achievement Award, to mingle with host actor Kevin Brown (“30 Rock), Anthony Laciura (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Federico Castellucio (“The Sopranos”) to present awards during LIIFE’s annual gala awards ceremony last week at the Bellmore Movies.

          In a twist, host Kevin Brown presented Mr. Castellucio with a Best Director Award for “Checkmate, Keep Your Enemies Closer,” which starred Mr. Sadler. Mr. Castellucio dedicated his award to the late James Gandolfini, star of “The Sopranos.”  Mr. Castelluccio said, “I dedicate this award to two people.  I dedicate it to my cousin who passed away recently and James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano).  He was a great friend, an incredible actor, and a true inspiration.”

          “I am humbled and surprised by this award,” Mr. Castellucio told this newspaper after the win. “I made a good friend in Bill Sadler when shooting the movie. He’s so versatile.”

          He then spoke of his good friend Mr. Gandolfini, saying they worked together on several scenes regularly in “The Sopranos” and that he admired him for his talent. “I saw him twice in the ‘God of Carnage’ [on Broadway] and he was magnificant.”

          “I will greatly miss him,” he concluded.

    Big Long Island winners  

          The big Long Island winners of the evening were “Send No Flowers” and “Tilt of a Rose.” Both films tied for the Best Long Island Film Award.  “Send No Flowers” won two other awards: the Audience Award, which is determined by audience ballots, for local director Fred Carpenter; and Best Actor in a Feature Film, for Russ Camarda.

 

          In his acceptance speech Mr. Carpenter declared that “Send No Flowers” was the “best film, best group of people I’ve ever worked with.” 

          Mr. Camarda praised LIIFE as “one of the best indy film festivals in the world” during his own acceptance speech. “Tilt of a Rose” also won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Short Film for Matt Heller.

          The shorts and feature from the festival’s opening night won their own awards and nominations. The Belgium short “Bona Nox” was nominated for Best Story in a Short Film and Best Foreign Film. 

          “Bona Nox” lost to the French short film “Time 2 Split” in the latter category. “Wet Behind The Ears” won the Gold Pass Award, which was decided by the festival’s Gold Pass holders, and Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film for Michael Giese.

          Bellmore resident Leslye Abbey’s documentary “The Buffalo Nation/ Children Are Crying” was nominated for Best Movie Trailer. “Beyond Broken,” a short documentary about a Garden City artist struggling with multiple sclerosis, took home the Best Documentary Award.

    Loosening up

          After the gala, actors, directors and winners all hung around, congratulating one another.

          Writer Lee Kolinsky of “Send No Flowers” told this newspaper “It’s great to see this film get made and to have it taken to this level. The theater was rocking and rolling during the premiere. The support the audience showed was unbelievable.” 

          Added Fred Carpenter, director of “Send No Flowers,” “I was excited that we won the audience award, because that is an award from the crowd and from the people. It was great to win. Long Island is a breeding ground for talent.”

          Mr. Kolinsky and Mr. Carpenter had worked together previously on a film called “The Blue Lizard.”  Mr. Kolinsky said, “It’s a great experience to work with Fred.”

          Upon accepting Winner of the Best Actor award for “Send No Flowers,” Russ Camarda of Lindenhurst remarked that “I’ve been kicking around dark theaters for 20 years now, so its nice to be recognized finally.”

          Mr. Carpenter said, “It’s a great thing that we get to show these films.  I’ve been at this independent filmmaking for a while.  I’ve directed 18 films and this – “Send No Flowers” is my best one.”

          Steve Sage, director of “Bullified”  winner of Best First Film, said, “It felt amazing and unexpected to win Best Firss Film.” On the importance of independent films, he said, “Independents take a lot of blood, sweat and tears.  Our budgets aren’t as big, so each filmmaker has to wear 15 different hats.  The director might have to do the lighting, producing, editing, and lighting.  They aren’t easy.”

          Ally Sheedy went on stage to accept the Humanitarian Award.  Famous for starring in “The Breakfast Club,” “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “WarGames,” Ms. Sheedy now teaches at LaGuardia High School. She runs a shelter for teenage kids and she does work for the LGBT community. The Bellmore Movies donated $500 towards her charity, the Ali Forney Center.