'Deeply Honored': Local Filmmaker Featured At LI Entertainment Hall Of Fame

STONY BROOK, NY — A film director hailing from West Babylon will have his work featured at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame later this month.

West Babylon's Joe Pomarico, who has directed numerous films shot around Long Island, will be featured in LIMEHOF's Monthly Local Filmmakers Series, which places the spotlight on Long Island-based movie directors and their films.

The spotlight will screen a short comedy, drama and thriller film block by Pomarico on Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m. at LIMEHOF’s museum in Stony Brook.

"I am deeply honored to be a part of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame’s local filmmaker series," Pomarico said. "Having my films shown here is not only personally meaningful, but also a powerful way to shine a light on the incredible talent of Long Island filmmakers. It’s incredibly challenging to get the right people to recognize my films, especially as an independent filmmaker working with limited resources and without the backing that many others have."

Pomarico’s latest TV pilot, "Roach the Coach," starring Ronkonkoma comedian Chris Roach and Jeni Pomper, will be featured in the film block. According to Pomrico, the film is about a veteran professional standup comedian who takes an aspiring young comic under his wing and mentors her to become the entertainer she dreams of.

The block will also include other short films directed by Pomarico made between 2008 and 2023, including "Soldiers Love to Come Home,""Gus,' "My Butterfly,' "This is Love," "Jiggle the Handle," "Hairbreadth Escap' and "Feline Abduction," and more.

Following the screening, Pomarico will discuss the films in a Q&A session led by LIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham.

'The LIMEHOF Local Filmmakers Series is a celebration of the incredible filmmaking talent emerging from our region,” said Needham. "Each month, we showcase the creativity, passion and dedication of local filmmakers, providing them with a platform to share their work and connect with audiences who appreciate the power of storytelling. This series is an important part of our mission to support the arts and highlight Long Island’s impact on the entertainment industry."

While LIMEHOF's screening will look back on Pomarico's career, he's already working on his next venture, "Darling of Pearl," a short film currently fundraising on Kickstarter. Accoridng to Pomarico, the film tells the story of a young black man and a young white woman who fall deeply in love during the racially charged late 1960s after his return home from the Vietnam War, leading the man to reflect on their love in his later years.

While his next project gains momentum, Pomarico is excited to be part of LIMEHOF's screening.

"The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a respected platform that amplifies the voices of underrepresented filmmakers and brings our work to a wider, more influential audience," he said.

The LIMEHOF museum is located at 97 Main St. in Stony Brook.