The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Highlights Award-Winning Documentaries and Films This Summer

The Rose and Don Ciampa World Cinema Series at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center has unveiled its summer lineup with a roster of new films each Tuesday night, curated by Director of Sales and film enthusiast Allison Frost.

“I’m thrilled to present a lineup that not only showcases cinematic excellence but also brings to the screen stories that are both profound and extraordinary. Rich and gripping narratives, stunning visuals, and themes of human resilience make this an unmissable summer of film,” said Frost.

Each screening, except where noted, will feature a filmmaker discussion following the film and will be moderated by veteran critic Andrew Botsford.

On July 9, the theater presents an encore screening of “In the Whale.” This award-winning feature-length film is the first-hand account of Cape Cod fisherman Michael Packard, who survived to tell the tale of being swallowed by a whale, and the aftermath of what happened when he was spit out.

The screening will also feature an appearance and Q+A session with the film’s director, David Abel. Abel, a native Long Islander now based in Boston, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who covers environmental issues for The Boston Globe. He is also a professor of the practice at Boston University. Abel’s work has won an Edward R. Murrow Award, the Ernie Pyle Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation and the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting. An official selection of the Provincetown International Film Festival, Friday Harbor Film Festival, Mystic Film Festival and audience choice documentary at the New Hampshire Film Festival.

“We had an incredible turnout for our first screening of “In the Whale” in March, and we’re thrilled to bring it back for new audiences,” said WHBPAC Marketing Director Heather Draskin.

Following on July 16, “Ghostlight,” a profound meditation on loss and growth that tells the story of a lonely and detached construction worker who finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter and impulsively auditions for a local theater production of “Romeo and Juliet.” While working on the play, he will discover hidden desires and truths about himself that will help him overcome his insecurities and difficulties with his home life. The theater provides a community and purpose for the aging father as the production quickly mirrors the struggles he faces in everyday life. These personal issues multiply when he must cope with a personal loss amid his self-discovery journeys. The film was nominated for the Seattle International Film Festival Best Director and Best Performance winner, as well as Miami Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival and Dallas International Film Festival nominee.

On July 23, director Mooly Landesman will be joined by Hank Sheinkopf to present a screening of Landesman’s film “The European Dream.” Based on the true-life story of the Klausner and Graetz families, who received a letter listing local looted art from World War II and began a journey to reclaim the lost art of their grandfathers. They enlist the help of their lawyer, Fritz Enderlein — an 88-year-old German who fought in the Wehrmacht — who works to restore looted works of art to their rightful owners. The trio will venture across Europe to track down the missing artwork as well as discover more about their famed grandfathers and the world of art as a whole. An emotional whirlwind about legacy and loss will strike a chord with audiences around the globe. “The European Dream” captures the fears, hopes, and thoughts of Jewish people internationally and highlights how important researching their roots is to benefit Jewish descendants. Despite the religious undertones, audiences of all beliefs can identify with the desire to understand where they come from and the determination these two young men have as they embark on this journey.

On July 30, “Crows Are White,” one man’s journey of self-acceptance through unconventional methods. In the depths of Japan, a secretive Buddhist sect has lived in an isolated monastery for thousands of years, unaffected and uninterested in the outside world. They perform extreme acts of physical endurance in pursuit of enlightenment. This documentary centers around a young filmmaker who struggles to reconcile his faith and desires and ventures to this monastery in search of self-discovery. His presence is not welcome by the monks who refuse to speak to him except for a single one who relates to the outsider and his struggles. They forge an unlikely friendship as they discover higher truths both were seeking. This 2022 documentary has film festival accolades from across the world including The Athens International Film and Video Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, Bergen International Film Festival, Jaipur International Film Festival, FEST New Directors/New Films Festival, Bali International Film Festival and many more. Director Ahsen Nadeem will appear via Zoom.

And in a timely release on August 6, “Bella!” tells the story of Bella Abzug, an American Congresswoman by way of the Bronx, who changed the status quo by running a campaign on the streets of Manhattan that successfully scored her a spot in Congress. She entered Congress like a ball of fire demanding necessities and rights for people everywhere; from credit cards women can open by themselves, equality for the LGBTQ+ community and trailblazing a path for future leadership that values equality and diversity. However, the inspiration was “threatening” to the men in power, and she had to overcome even more obstacles as the Senate, FBI and CIA started coming after her. Her bravery and determination fostered a space for underrepresented groups everywhere. Featuring never-before-seen interviews with Lily Tomlin, Barbra Streisand, Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem and more, this 2023 documentary about women empowerment has collected awards left and right: A 2024 Writers Guild of America Official Nominee, winner of the Ken Burns Prize for Film, Audience Award winner at the Teaneck International Film Festival, Audience Choice Winner at the Houston Jewish Film Festival, Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sacramento Jewish Film Festival and Official Selection at the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival. Post-show discussion with director Jeffrey L. Lieberman to follow the screening.

Tickets can be purchased at whbpac.org, by calling the box office at 631-288-1500, or at the box office located at 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach during business hours.