BY MADELINE NELSON
The Queens World Film Festival announced it will show more than 180 independent films in Astoria from March 15 through 25.
Filmmakers from over 36 nations will be featured in the festival. The opening night gala takes place on Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m. at the Museum of the Moving Image. Before the opening night festivities, guests can meet the filmmakers.
Prior to the festival’s start, directors Jan Oxenberg and Vincent Gagliostro will be given the Spirit of Queens Honors to celebrate their achievements in the film industry.
Oxenberg directed “Thank You and Good Night,” and has also worked as a film editor, producer and scenarist. Gagliostro directed critically acclaimed “After Louie” starring Alan Cummings.
During the gala, there will be screenings of short films under the theme “Emotional Punch.”
The festival stresses the importance of diversity in filmmaking by programming in thematic blocks and providing open discussion afterwards.
“The festival will continue many of our signature elements: dynamic thematic programming, hosted screening events with engaging discussions, relevant networking opportunities and maximum access to the media,” said Queens World Film Festival Executive Director Katha Cato. “We are curating a festival that offers exciting, topical, bold and entertaining feature and short narrative, documentary, LGBTQ and animated films of all styles and genres.”
This year, the Queens World Film Festival is incorporating a program in which feature-length movies, documentaries, animation films and short narratives will be shown in addition to commentary by filmmakers to create more interactive experiences.
Screenings will be held at the Museum of the Moving Image and The Zukor Theater in the Kaufman Astoria Studios.
Tickets to the Queens World Film Festival, co-sponsored by Investors Bank and the Queens Council on the Arts, can be purchased online from Brown Paper Tickets.
