Photo Coverage: Joel Grey, Haley Swindal, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan Honor Rita Hayworth at Gold Coast International Film Festival

Last night in the beautiful Soho loft of internationally renowned artist/sculptor Edwina Sandys, granddaughter of Winston Churchill, the Gold Coast Arts Center and International Film Festival payed tribute to Rita Hayworth the iconic Hollywood film star.

Budd Moss, Rita Hayworth's agent and longtime friend and Regina Gil founder and executive director of the Gold Coast Arts Center & International Film Festival presented the first Hollywood Golden Era Award to Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Rita Hayworth's daughter. Caroline Sorokoff, director of the Gold Coast International Film Festival and associate director of the Arts Center introduced Broadway singer/actor Haley Swindal who wowed the celebrity filled loft with some of the songs Rita Hayworth popularized during her film career.

Rita Hayworth died of early-onset Alzheimer's, a disease that was little understood at the time. Her daughter, Princess Yasmin, is a tireless champion for the Alzheimer's Association, which promotes awareness and understanding of the disease. The Gold Coast Arts Center and the Gold Coast International Film Festival are partnering this year with the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation to produce Making Memories programs for people with memory-loss related diseases, and their caregivers. Please consider making a contribution to our programs, which employ art, music and film to stimulate the memories and enrich the lives of those with Alzheimer's disease.

The Gold Coast International Film Festival will run from November 5 - 14 at multiple venues throughout the storied gold coast of Long Island. Featured in this year's over 80 feature length and short films is DARKEST HOUR, starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, followed by Q&A with his granddaughter Edwina Sandys; PERMANENT, starring Patricia Arquette and Rainn Wilson, DOG YEARS and starring Burt Reynolds plus documentaries about Hedy Lamarr, Manolo Blahnik, The Paris Opera, Bill Nye, famed photographer Tony Vaccaro and more. As in years pasy the festival also includes top films from several countries including France, Spain, the UK, Iran and Israel. In conjunction with the Festival's tribute to Rita Hayworth, on November 11, the Festival will celebrate the 60th anniversary of PAL JOEY, starring Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak with a screening of the film followed by a live Q&A with Sinatra's granddaughter, Amanda Erlinger. The festival will also include a special program designed for people with memory loss and their caregivers entitled 'Making Memories at the Movies' which includes film clips, guided discussion and reminiscence. Rita Hayworth suffered from Altzeimer's Disease and her daughter Princess Yasmin Aga Khan is a tireless advocate for this cause. The "Making Memories" program is a monthly series held at the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck.

Article & photos by: Stephen Sorokoff