Over 30 Films Screening As Part Of Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival

“This is our eighth year as a film festival dedicated to the art of the documentary genre,” shared Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival (HT2FF) founder and executive director Jacqui Lofaro, who is also a documentary filmmaker. “Our mantra is ALL DOCS ALL DAY.”

Starting Thursday, December 3rd, through Sunday, December 6th, you can embrace HT2FF’s mantra by enjoying a few of the 30 featured festival films.

“We run nearly 30 films at the December festival in addition to seasonal screenings throughout the year,” added Lofaro. “If there’s a theme in my career, it’s being part of building and growing something to enhance the experience for our dedicated audiences.”

Screenings will take place at Bay Street Theater and Arts Center and include Q&As after every film. Radio personality and drama director Bonnie Grice and arts writer/actor/director Andrew Botsford will serve as the festival’s emcees.

Thursday will feature a “Focus on Locals” Day, showcasing the talents of Long Island-based documentary filmmaking. Screenings will include a Young Voices Program at 10:30 a.m., open to students at the Springs School, East Hampton High School and the Ross School schools, as well as faculty and families. Ivy Meeropol’s “Indian Point” will follow at 4 p.m. The film centers around the aging nuclear power plant that is located 35 miles north of Times Square, with 50 million people in close proximity. Next up is a Long Island Shorts Program at 6:15 p.m., with three engaging films. Sean Tracy and Kim Rybacki’s “The Backstretch: Where Triple Crowns Are Made” focuses on the trainers, jockeys, walkers, riders, veterinarians and grooms who take care of the thousands of thoroughbreds in the backstretch of Belmont Park, and includes the 2015 race of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Keif Roberts and Peter Haas’ “The Breach” covers the pros and cons of closing the 2012 Hurricane Sandy breach in the barrier island outside Bellport Bay. The final short is Bobby Cassidy’s “The Boxer: Long Island’s Chris Algieri” about the rise of Long Island-raised boxer Chris Algieri. The Opening Night Film is Nelson George’s “A Ballerina’s Tale,” which begins at 8 p.m. The documentary takes a look at African-American ballerina Misty Copeland’s remarkable ascent, her potentially career-ending injury, and themes of race and body image in the classical ballet world.

Featured Friday films include Robert Kenner’s “Merchants of Doubt” at 10 a.m., Danielle Bernstein’s “Imba Means Sing” at 12:30 p.m., Steven Loring’s “The Age of Love” at 2:15 p.m., Alan Chebot’s “Outermost Radio” at 4 p.m., Leah Wolchok’s “Very Semi-Serious” at 6:15 p.m., and the evening will conclude with the festival’s Spotlight Film and Filmmakers’ Choice Award, which will be awarded to director Liz Garbus for her documentary, “What Happened, Miss Simone?,” starting at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday kicks off at 10 a.m. with the Best Shorts Program featuring Sharon Liese’s “The Gnomist,” Gabe Spitzer’s “Every Day,” Nicholas Coles’ “The House is Innocent,” and Mark Nickolas and Racha Najdi’s “Nefertiti’s Daughters.” Additional screenings will include Jake Gorst’s “Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island” at 12:15 p.m., Neal Broffman’s “Help Us Find Sunil Tripathi” at 2:15 p.m., and Varda Bar-Kar’s “Big Voice” at 4 p.m. On Saturday evening, the festival will honor documentarian Stanley Nelson during its annual Gala, which begins at 7 p.m. The evening will culminate with a viewing of Nelson’s “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” at 8:15 p.m.

HT2FF wraps up on Sunday with Abby Ginzberg’s “Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs & the New South Africa” at 11 a.m., Ron Davis’ “Harry and Snowman” at 1:15 p.m., Kate Davis and David Heilbroner’s “The Newburgh Sting” at 3:15 p.m., and Tina Mascara and Guido Santi’s “Monk with a Camera” at 5:15 p.m. The festival’s Closing Night Film is Phil Furey’s “Since: The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103,” which recounts the harrowing battle for the truth about Pan Am flight 103, led by the 270 victims’ families. The JFK Airport bound flight went down over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, when it was bombed by Libyan terrorists, who managed to escape punishment for the horrendous crime. The screening starts at 7:15 p.m.

Tickets begin at $15.

Bay Street Theater is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit www.ht2ff.com.