2003 marked the debut of Queens County's first official gathering of filmmakers and movie fans. The brainchild of Marie J. Castaldo, the Queens International Film Festival who will be celebrating its 7th year in 2009, garnered international acclaim as an effort to make Queens a major contender in the film industry and for its cutting edge program of indie films, compelling documentaries, panel discussions including "Trends in Indie Filmmaking" and "Origins of Film Story", a youth initiative, a book signing, an art exhibition, a music concert, a great Hollywood restored classic, red-carpet gala premieres and many after-hour parties...