Starting this Friday April 12th and running through April 21st is the 33rd Florida Film Festival. Our Gadi Elkon gives some love to the festival and highlights 7 must see films or events at the fest!
Over the next 10 days and nights the Florida Film Festival will screen 160+ films (171 to be specific) from 37 countries with 24 world premieres for the Oscar-qualifying film festival. Our Gadi Elkon has perused the festival schedule to handpick 7 films/events he knows will be worth the $ and time!
The festival has 8 shorts program with 3 categories being Oscar-Qualifying eligible (Animated, Live Action and Documentary). The festival also highlights midnight films, has a music showcase and of course highlights Floridian films throughout the festival. Guests like Florida’s own Filmmaker Victor Nunez opens the festival and through the ten days Monty Python’s icon John Cleese and amazing actress Natasha Lyonne will be in attendance!
Gadi wanted to highlight 7 films and/or events happening at the festival with a top 5 and 2 honorable mentions listed below. Also come back tomorrow for an exclusive showcase interview with the filmmakers behind the documentary LOST ANGEL: THE GENIUS OF JUDEE SILL. The film will screen Thursday the 18th and Sunday the 21st as part of the Music Showcase section of the festival.
Here are Gadi’s honorable mention films/events to see.
HM 2 – FORUM: Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on the Film Industry – Full Sail University sponsors this lively chat about the impacts AI has and will have on the film world. Filmmakers will be in attendance and take part in a lively discussion on Wednesday April 17th at 11am at the Winter Park Library.
HM 1 – RAMONA AT MIDLIFE – This feature film in the Narrative Features Competition looks at “it-girl” Ramona and her redefining herself. The film is loaded with an incredible cast and Director Brooke Berman and Star Yvonne Woods (Ramona) will be in attendance for both Sunday’s SouthEast premiere and Tuesday’s encore screening!
Gadi’s 5 must see films/events at the 33rd Florida Film Festival:
5. IN A VIOLENT NATURE – Director Chris Nash had Sundance audiences petrified with his latest horror film that gives a tantalizing new POV for the Slasher genre! Be prepared to be scared for either midnight screening on Friday the 19th or Saturday the 20th!!
4. MOUNTAINS – Ever since I moved to Florida I’ve been intrigued by the Haitian community. The directorial debut from Miami’s own Writer/Director Monica Sorelle and Writer/Producer Robert Colom dives into Little Haiti by giving us the story of one family. The Florida feature narrative film will screen Wednesday April 17th and Saturday the 20th.
3. SECRET MALL APARTMENT – Award-winning Documentary filmmaker Jeremy Workman’s latest joint is this unique feature. I talked with Jeremy about his film world premiering at SXSW and so much more! Interview with Jeremy Workman. Don’t miss this great doc that screens at FFF this Sunday the 14th and Tuesday the 16th with Jeremy in attendance!!
2. THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS – This Canadian/Pakistani tale is a multi-generational story looking at overcoming loss of a loved one. The flick from filmmaker Fawzia Mirza screens Wednesday the 17th and on Sunday the 21st.
1. THE HERRICANES – Filmmaker Olivia Kuan documentary feature took home numerous awards at this year’s SXSW! As a proud Texan for 40 years I love seeing an unknown story brought to life. So get to know the ladies of The Houston Herricanes who took on all comers at full-contact football back in the 70s! Olivia will be in attendance for the first screening of the film this Saturday April 13th! Also there is an encore screening on Wednesday April 17th at the Enzian!
For more info, tickets and so much more – FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL.
