Florida Film Festival Celebrates Picture-Perfect Pearl Anniversary By Sandra Carr

The Florida Film Festival continues to shine brightly during its 30-year anniversary while premiering the best in current, independent and international cinema at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida.

What an amazing journey! I have been covering the Florida Film Festival for nearly 30 years! I have experienced many marvelous memories that I will cherish forever!

Bringing Hollywood to Maitland has been a part of the Florida Film Festival’s successful formula. Actor appearances have included Drew Barrymore, Dennis Hopper, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, John Waters, Glenn Close, Jon Voight, Paul Sorvino, Cloris Leachman, Susan Sarandon, Emma Stone, John Krasinski, Tippi Hedren, Sissy Spacek, Bob Balaban, Pam Grier, Lea Thompson, Richard Dreyfuss and other famous celebs over the years.

One of my all-time, favorite memories was when I had an opportunity to interview Dennis Hopper for WCPX Channel 6 (it’s now WKMG Channel 6) during the Florida Film Festival’s awards ceremony at Universal Studios (it’s now the Universal Orlando Resort) in June 1994. Hopper received the John M. Tiedtke Enzian Award for Artistic Vision during the event

I have been a Rick Springfield fan for the past 40 years! Longtime Springfield fan and executive producer Melanie Lentz-Janney fulfilled her dream of filming the “An Affair of the Heart” documentary about the rock star and his fans with gal pal and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Sylvia Caminer. The documentary had its world premiere at the Florida Film Festival in April 2012. I had an opportunity to interview Springfield on the red carpet during his appearance at the Florida Film Festival.

New Zealand stuntwoman-turned-actress Zoë Bell participated in a question-and-answer session after the screening of Quentin Tarantino’s action-thriller “Death Proof” in April 2013.

I also had an opportunity to interview actress Emma Stone before the opening-night film party at the Enzian Theater for VenusZine in April 2010.

I also hung out with actor Bob Balaban after the screening of “Gosford Park” in April 2015.

I also enjoyed watching “The Godfathers of Hardcore,” which is a music documentary on the band Agnostic Front. The group’s lead vocalist Roger Miret participated in a question-and-answer session and meet-and-greet after the screening in April 2018.

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The Florida Film Festival also provides moviegoers with an opportunity to learn about a director’s experiences and perspectives. One of those moments occurred when legendary director Barry Levinson participated in a question-and-answer session in April 2012.

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I also enjoyed seeing my friends who were involved with “The Blair Witch Project” celebrate the film’s 20-year anniversary at the Florida Film Festival in 2019.

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Besides the actor and director appearances, the Florida Film Festival has received other nods, including being listed as one of the 20 coolest film festivals by MovieMaker Magazine and one of the top 50 film festivals in the world by The Internet Movie Database (Imdb.com).

The flick fete is also an Oscar-qualifying festival in animated short film, live action short film and documentary short subject.

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This year’s 14-day festival is sponsored by Full Sail University and will feature more than 160 films, 23 world premieres and movies from 31 countries from April 9-22, 2021.

The film festival also is overflowing with girl power! Ninety films are focused on the ladies and 50% were directed by women.

The opening-night film and party will be occurring at the Enzian Theater on Friday, April 9 from 6-11 p.m., and features the world premiere of “Because of Charley,” a film about two estranged families who are attempting to stage a 10-year anniversary surprise party on Friday the 13th in Celebration, Florida. The movie was filmed in Celebration last summer and stars legendary actor John Amos and local actress Peg O’Keef. Admission is $60 for the party, which includes local bites, brews and cocktails, and $25 for the film.

Munch during brunch outdoors before the movie at Eden Bar on Sunday, April 11 and Sunday, April 18 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.! The bottomless brunch cost $18.99 and includes one Bloody Mary or mimosa. A movie ticket is not required. All guests must be masked, unless actively eating or drinking.

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Get cozy and spacey while watching John Carpenter’s “Starman” at the Enzian Theater on Sunday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. The romantic science-fiction odyssey stars Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen. A Zoom question-and-answer session with Allen will follow the screening. Admission is $25.

Sit back and enjoy a cold brewski while listening to local music during Wednesday Beer Tastings at the Eden Bar on Wednesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 21 from 6-8 p.m.! Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. will be serving the beer samples.

“Blue Velvet,” one of my favorite David Lynch films, turns 35 this year, and will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Sunday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.! The neo-noir mystery thriller stars Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLachlan. A Zoom question-and-answer session with Rossellini will follow the screening. Admission is $25 and on standby.

Calling all foodies! Watch “The Truffle Hunters” at the Enzian Theater on Sunday, April 11 at 11 a.m.! The film takes moviegoers on an epicurean journey through the deep forests of northern Italy in search of the prized white Alba truffle.

The excursion continues by traveling back in time to the “Summer of ’85.” Experience a motorcycle ride throughout a Normandy seaside town in this coming-of-age French film about two friends with different dreams at the Enzian Theater on Tuesday, April 20 at 3:45 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Music makes its mark at the Florida Film Festival! Punk-rock trailblazer and poet Lydia Lunch is featured in the documentary “Lydia Lunch: The War is Never Over” at the Enzian Theater on Saturday, April 17 at 11:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

My favorite ukulele musician Tiny Tim is featured in the documentary “Tiny Tim: King for a Day” at the Enzian Theater on Thursday, April 22 at 3:45 p.m. Weird Al Yankovic is the narrator. The film also is available to watch online.

The documentary “No Ordinary Man” is about a diverse group of contemporary trans artists who bring renowned jazz musician Billy Tipton’s life to the big screen. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Monday, April 19 at 9:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

The “Shots in the Dark with David Godlis” documentary is about the unofficial CBGB photographer who documented the burgeoning New York City punk scene during the 1970s. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Monday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Prolific rock ‘n’ roll and Rolling Stone photographer Baron Wolman meets up-and-coming free-form artist Sophie Kipner, and agrees to allow her to interpret his work in “Sophie and the Baron.” The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Tuesday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

The life of legendary jazz musician Billy Tipton is told by a diverse group of contemporary trans artists in “No Ordinary Man.” The documentary will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Monday, April 19 at 9:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Besides “Because of Charley,” other Florida films are being featured at the Florida Film Festival!

The “Florida Woman” short is about ex-pro wrestler and Lakeland, Florida resident Mary Thorn, who is battling with local officials to keep her pet alligator Rambo. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Saturday, April 10 at 10 a.m. The film also is available to watch online.

The horror flick “The Old Ways” was created by Florida filmmakers and follows a Mexican-American reporter Cristina Lopez, who is on assignment in Veracruz, Mexico. She gets captured by a local “bruja,” a Mexican witch doctor, who believes Cristina is possessed with a demon. Cristina must stop at nothing to escape her personal prison while investigating what evil forces lie underneath the surface of the jungle, and the demons of her past. The film will be screening at the Enzian Theater on Friday, April 16 at 9:15 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

“Icon” is a narrative feature film debut from Florida native filmmaker and Ringling College of Art and Design graduate  Tony Ahedo, BFA. The film is about a teenage skateboarder named Sam who is questioning the important people or icons in his life. His imprisoned dad left his mom for another woman when he was a child. Sam also struggles with having a good relationship with his mom and learns that his girlfriend Ana is pregnant. Sam is on a self-discovery journey as he figures out his past, present and future paths in life. The film screens at the Enzian Theater on Thursday, April 22 at 6:15 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

“My Fiona” tells the poignant story of grief and loss while exploring sexual identity after a woman’s friend commits suicide. The film screens at the Enzian Theater on Sunday, April 18 at 2 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Artist Tim Carey is on a mission to create the largest stained-glass window that’s the size of a basketball court for a Kansas City mega-church. Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata collaborates with Carey and saves the day. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Wednesday, April 14 at 9:15 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

“Snowy” is a tale about a terrific turtle that ventures out after being in a terrarium for a decade. The film will be screening at the Enzian Theater on Monday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

A woman returns to her estranged family in New England, and reconnects with a former lover. When the robbery they plan goes awry, she must choose between abandoning her family again or taking responsibility for the chaos she’s created in “The Catch.” The film will be screening at the Enzian Theater on Monday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

“Jacinta” explores a complicated relationship with a mother and daughter in drug-ravaged Maine. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Homeless and single mom Dani and her daughter Wes camp outside of the city. Dani works several jobs and tries to overcome obstacles in order to save money to rent an apartment in “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking).” The film will be screening at the Enzian Theater on Saturday, April 17 at 6:15 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

A young cleaning woman at a strip club parties with the dancers and fantasizes about a stripper life in “Gabriela.” The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Sunday, April 11 at 1:45 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

A hairstylist scalps clients’ heads who she wants to look like in “The Stylist.” The film will be screening at the Enzian Theater on Tuesday, April 13 at 9:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

YouTube star Lily Hevesh creates and designs colorful and mind-blowing domino displays. The documentary “Lily Topples the World” follows her domino-art lifestyle. Her domino art was in the film “Collateral Beauty,” starring Will Smith. She also has created domino art for Katy Perry, Jimmy Fallon, the Today Show and others. Lily also has her own domino set line called H5 Domino Creations. The enlightening and touching documentary shares how Lily has mastered building, creating and toppling dominoes. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Sunday, April 11 at 4:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Ed Popil, a.k.a. Mrs. Kasha Davis, was a contestant on the seventh season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The documentary takes the audience on a journey and shows how her life had changed after becoming a drag performer in the “Workhorse Queen.” Actress, comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Rachel Dratch makes a cameo appearance in the documentary. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Saturday, April 10 at 8:45 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

“No Man’s Land” is a documentary short that features women who live in a lesbian separatist community in Alapine, which is located in rural Alabama. The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Saturday, April 10 at 8:45 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Actor Will Ferrell portrays a therapist who becomes angry when his personal life intrudes on a depressed patient’s emergency session in “David.” The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Saturday, April 10 at 12:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Boyfriends Shane and Dusty are two Stevie Nicks-loving bears who discuss their relationship and a magical concert moment involving the original shawl from the “Stand Back” video in this animated short titled “The Shawl.” The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

“The Shining” has gone to the dogs! A family’s new rescue pup is terrorized by deceased pets in “Ghost Dogs.” The animated film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Owners of an ice cream shop in South Carolina soon learn that getting a Confederate flag removed, even in the wake of the Charleston Massacre, is not an easy task when the Sons of the Confederacy are involved in “Meltdown in Dixie.” The film will be screened at the Enzian Theater on Monday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. The film also is available to watch online.

Individual film tickets are $12, packages are $55-$200 and passes are $125-$1,500 per person.

Browse the film schedule by downloading the free Florida Film Festival app for iPhones, iPads and iPod touches. For more information, including the Florida Film Festival schedule, visit floridafilmfestival.com.