Screening of Emmy-nominated film produced on Long Island set for Sept. 8

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A 2024 Emmy-nominated documentary produced on Long Island will be screened at Manhasset Movie Theater on Sept. 8 at 3 p.m.

The film, “The Garbage Man, A Life Worth Living” is a documentary about Robbie Donno, “a Long Island garbageman turned humanitarian icon” who devoted his life to helping children around the world get the life-saving pediatric heart surgery they needed.

The documentary is a film by LGC Studios, a division of Edgewood-based Lorraine Gregory Communications. The film is an Emmy-nominee in the Human Interest – Long Form Content category.

“The Emmy nomination is a significant milestone for the company and testament to the talent and dedication of our LGC Studios team,” Greg Demetriou, CEO of Lorraine Gregory Communications, said in a news release about the film. “Robbie’s story is one of hope and resilience.”

Donno was determined to make a positive impact, and with the support of the Manhasset Rotary, in 1975, enabled a child from Uganda to receive lifesaving heart surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn. This event ultimately led to his founding of “Gift of Life International,” a nonprofit organization headquartered in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., and which the filmmakers said celebrated helping its 50,000th child this year.

Spearheaded by Rich Poggioli, director of Video Services at LGC Studios and a fellow Rotarian, the film “aims to capture the magnitude of the Rotary’s work” according to the filmmakers.

“This film was a labor of love and a tribute to the incredible legacy of Robbie Donno. It is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on the world,” Poggioli said in the news release.

Donno expressed gratitude about the film and its Emmy recognition.

“Watching our mission come alive in this film is incredibly heartwarming,” Donno said in the news release.

“It’s not only about the surgeries,” he added. “It’s about transforming lives—both theirs and ours. It’s about healing families and restoring hope for those still waiting for our assistance. I am deeply grateful to LGC Studios for bringing our story to the screen.”