Updated: An encore screening of "Rockaway" has been announced for the Long Beach International Film Festival. For details and tickets, visit https://bit.ly/2KZpEFo.
Director John J. Budion still recalls the many nights he spent with his friends at the old Lynbrook movie theater. On Aug. 4, at 8 p.m., more than 100 people will fill the new Regal Cinemas 13 & RPX theater in Lynbrook to see his debut film, “Rockaway,” as it makes its New York premiere as part of the Long Beach International Film Festival.
“It’s time to come home,” Budion said. “I’m just excited that people are finally going to get to see what everyone else has been reacting to, and it will manifest into something that they can form their own opinion on to see if they feel the same way.”
When tickets for “Rockaway” went on sale July 6, they sold out in 15 minutes, and online demand was so high that the festival’s ticket website crashed. Because the theater seats about 150 people, Budion said, he is exploring the possibility of adding more screenings. All feature films at the festival will be screened at Lynbrook’s new theater, which opened to much fanfare last month.
Steve Shor, the Long Beach festival’s program director, said his committee received hundreds of submissions from more than a dozen countries, and chose 52 films, documentaries and shorts to show, including “Rockaway.”
Budion praised the actors for carrying the emotional weight of the film, and said he was pleased to see how they bonded on set and remained close after filming, noting that the six main characters became close, much as he did with his own childhood friends.
He added that little has changed between him and his friends. “We spent days in Long Beach and East Rockaway just bonding and getting close,” he said, “and we’re still very much like that.”
The Long Island premiere will be a homecoming for actor Tanner Flood, 15, of Northport, who plays the character Brian in the film. “I don’t think there could be any other way to premiere it,” Flood said. “It’s a Long Island film. We filmed in East Rockaway, which was a great and natural environment for me since I live [on the Island]. I think all of John’s passion is going to pay off.”
In addition to the Long Beach festival, “Rockaway” will be showcased at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival, at the Synchronicity Theatre, on July 21 at 2:30 p.m. It will also be screened twice at the Jersey Shore Film Festival. The first showing will be on Aug. 8 at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Monmouth, at 8 p.m., and the second on Aug. 10 at the House on Independence in Asbury Park, at 7 p.m.
Budion said he learned that his film had made the Long Beach festival on June 20, which happens to be his brother Anthony’s birthday. John said he had planned to post a birthday message on social media, but instead had to announce the big news about “Rockaway” making the Long Beach festival. “I said, ‘I’m sorry, but the posting for your birthday is going to get steamrolled by the fact that we just got into Long Beach,’” he said with a laugh.
With the Long Island premiere date nailed down, Budion said his long-term goal is to find a distributor for the film that will show it widely in theaters or on a streaming service. For now, he is preparing for the many friends and family members who will flock to Lynbrook next month to see his creation.
“We’re coming home as we’re wrapping up our festival run,” he said. “It makes sense to be back where it all started.”
At press time, more shows had not been added for the Long Beach festival, but check www.liherald.com for the latest ticket information. To purchase tickets for the Jersey Shore Film Festival, go to bit.ly/2L49SF8. To purchase tickets for the Atlanta Underground Film Festival, go to bit.ly/2L8r3FE.