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Arts & Entertainment

Film Fest Coming to Cinema Arts Centre

Manhattan Short Festival includes film by George Zaverdas, former Long Islander.

Local film buffs will have a chance to be the judge at the 14th Annual “Manhattan Short Film Festival” screening on Tuesday at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington.

Ten short films, all under 18 minutes in length, were selected as finalists out of 598 entries from 48 countries. This week, finalists’ films are being screened in over 200 cities worldwide, including this one right here in Huntington. Filmgoers will be given a voting card and asked to pick one winner after viewing all of the films. Votes will be tallied around the globe and sent to festival headquarters in New York City, where the winner will be announced on Sunday, October 2nd.
                                                          
This year, one of the finalists is former Long Islander George Zaverdas, whose winning entry, “David and Goliath,” is based on the true story of David Bako, a Jew who was saved from the Nazis during World War II by a German Shepherd dog. Zaverdas heard the story from a friend’s father 14 years ago. He said in a recent interview online, “The story was just so unbelievable to me--that a dog saved this man's life...I always said to myself one day I have to make this.” Ironically, it was a job layoff that served as the impetus for him to finally tell this story on film.

Zaverdas, who resides in Los Angeles, grew up in Queens and spent summers in Wading River. He said of his upbringing, “Long Island is where I escaped in the atmosphere of the countryside, making up stories and songs with my sisters, brothers and friends on the beach and charging them to hear the best ones.”

Another bit of local trivia: his sister, Iris, is a former volunteer at the Cinema Arts Centre. When Zaverdas heard his film would be screening there he was “thrilled.”

The short films are suitable for ages 15 and up, and tickets are $10 public/$6 CAC members. For more information call the Cinema Arts Centre at (631)423-7611.

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