Post sponsored by PointBurst

Written by Soozy G. Miller for Served Fresh Media

A humid and warm October evening made the line-waiting bearable for a packed house waiting to see the 20^th Hamptons International Film Festival opening film, Love, Marilyn (@LoveMarilynFilm) at Guild Hall (@GuildHall) in East Hampton.

One of the first people at the Step and Repeat on the red carpet was TV personality, model and actress, Cognac, owner of the TV and web show Cognac’s Corner and the recently launched print publication Cognac’s Corner Magazine. Cognac is also the Society and Fashion Editor for the Longislandexchange.com.

After Cognac, came Academy Award-nominated Director Liz Garbus, who directed the festival’s opening night film, Love, Marilyn. Garbus arrived with her beautiful family.

As if Cognac, Liz Garbus and the opening night excitement of the film-loving, festival attendees weren’t enough, minutes before people were ushered into the theater, former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani arrived.  He was clearly as enthused as everyone to be at the opening night of the festival as he gave red carpet interviews and beamed for the cameras.

Welcoming speeches included HIFF Board member Stuart Match Suna (@sms1213) and Love, Marilyn director Liz Garbus, who explained the genesis of the film: Garbus came in contact with Marilyn Monroe’s (@MarilynMonroe) personal papers, diaries and letters that have never been seen before. The hidden papers reveal Marilyn’s passion, ambition, insecurities, soul-searching, power and fear.

According to the movie, over 1,000 books have been written about Marilyn Monroe. And, while there have been countless films made about the screen Monroe, Garbus took an unusual angle in presenting the story of one of the world’s most beautiful and mysterious Hollywood legends.

Arbus enlisted acclaimed actors such as Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Jennifer Ehle, Lindsay Lohan, Lili Taylor, Uma Thurman, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Adrien Brody, Hope Davis, Paul Giamatti, and David Strathairn to bring the writing alive and evoke the multiple aspects of Marilyn Monroe’s life.  Garbus also includes archived footage of interviews of those who knew Monroe. The results of Arbus’ creative efforts is compelling to say the least.

After welcoming speeches, the film screening and many greetings amongst old and new friends, a bus took attendees to the Opening Night Party at East Hampton Point Restaurant (@eHamptonPoint) on Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton to continue the festivities. Needless to say, a great time was had by all.  Much more to come!

To keep up on festival highlights Subscribe to the Hamptons Film Festival blog HERE and follow the festival social media HERE. Enjoy video of the opening night below!

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