Tag Archives: Enzian Theater

April 9, 2021 · 11:07 AM

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’m interviewing actor Dennis Hopper for WCPX Channel 6 during the Florida Film Festival in June 1994. Photo by: Jim Leatherman

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.

Journalist and blogger Sandra Carr interviewed Rick Springfield during the “An Affair of the Heart” world premiere at the Florida Film Festival in April 2012.

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.

Tanya Hanson, Zoë Bell and Sandra Carr are striking a pose on the red carpet during the 22nd Annual Florida Film Festival at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida. **Photo by:** Samantha Laine

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.

Actress Emma Stone at the Florida Film Festival in April 2010. Image courtesy of the Florida Film Festival.

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

Sandra Carr and actor Bob Balaban at the 24th Annual Florida Film Festival. **Photo by:** Dan Carr

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.

Agnostic Front’s lead vocalist Roger Miret signed his book “My Riot: Agnostic Front Grit, Guts & Glory” and posed for a photo after the film screening.

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.

Director Barry Levinson with his John M. Tiedtke Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st Annual Florida Film Festival.

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.

The Blair Witch Project filmmakers and actors are pictured in front of the marquee from l-r: Eduardo Sanchez, Robin Cowie, Dan Myrick, Ben Rock, Joshua Leonard, Michael Monello and Michael Williams

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.

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.

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.

High school sweethearts Sam and Ana in “Icon.” Image courtesy of Tony Ahedo.

“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.

Jacinta and Rosemary at the Maine Correctional Center in 2016. Photo by: Jessica Earnshaw.

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.

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Tagged as 30YearsofFFF, Agnostic Front, Baron Wolman, Barry Levinson, Billy Tipton, Blue Velvet, Bob Balaban, CBGB, David Godlis, David Lynch, Dennis Hopper, domino art, dominoes, drag, drag queen, Emma Stone, Enzian Theater, FFF, FFF2021, Florida Film Festival, H5, Hevesh5, Isabella Rossellini, John Amos, Karen Allen, Lily Hevesh, Lydia Lunch, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Roger Miret, Rolling Stone, RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race, Savvy Scribe, Savvy Scribe blog, Starman, The Blair Witch Project, Tiny Tim, Will Ferrell, YouTube, Zoe Bell

August 7, 2020 · 11:02 AM

Film Fest Frenzy By Sandra Carr

Watch more than 175 mind-blowing movies in person at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida or 150 films online from Aug. 7-21 during the 29th Annual Florida Film Festival!

FFF Mind Blowing Movies

This year’s festival will screen films that are representing 37 countries and include 30 world premieres. Additional festivities include a celebrity guest appearance, virtual filmmaker forums and live music.

The annual film fete kicks off on Friday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. with “Surviving Supercon,” a documentary about the good, bad and ugly that occurs behind the scenes at Florida Supercon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Director Steven Shea and his crew filmed the comic convention’s owners Mike Broder and Sandy Martin along with the highs, lows and shenanigans. Tickets are $25 and include the film screening and complimentary tastiness provided by Eden Bar, The New Standard, Choulala, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company.

Image courtesy of the Florida Film Festival

Fuel up on an unlimited brunch at the Eden Bar! The meal includes one complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary and bottomless coffee. À la carte items are also available to purchase. No movie ticket is necessary. Brunch is served on Sunday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 16 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for $18.99 per person.

Sunday Brunch Buffet

Watching and reviewing movies under the stars is celebrity guest and drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs’ specialty. His two-hour discussion will include 200 clips and stills of grindhouse films and mainstream movies along with demonstrating how rednecks have saved Hollywood on Friday, Aug. 14, beginning at 8:15 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. A question-and-answer session with Briggs will follow the presentation. The event is on standby. To attend this event, a standby line will form at the Enzian Theater prior to the screening. Once all badge and ticket holders have been seated, then the theater will sell any remaining $35 tickets.

Joe Bob Briggs

Find your jam while experiencing music mania during the 14-day film festival!

Legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday’s colleagues and friends dish the dirt and provide viewers with a glimpse into the songstress’ career and troubled life. The “Billie” documentary is available to watch in person or online, but is limited to 100 virtual viewings.

Billie Holiday

“After So Many Days” explores life on the road for newlyweds and singer-songwriters Jim Hanft and Samantha Yonack who perform 365 shows in 365 days.

After So Many Days

Rock out during “Creem: America’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine.” Creem magazine was the epitome of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll and gets down and dirty on its history and featured hitmakers.

Creem America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine

Who knew former POTUS 39 received assistance from musicians during his presidential campaign! “Jimmy Carter: Rock ‘n’ Roll President” shows moviegoers the peanut farmer’s musical side and his friendship with Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers and Bob Dylan.

Jimmy Carter Rock 'n' Roll President

Following in your parents’ footsteps may be challenging, especially if your mom and dad are chart-topping musicians. “Born Into the Gig” explores the lives and musical careers of Chris Stills (son of Stephen Stills); Skip Marley (grandson of Bob Marley); Ben and Sally Taylor (children of James Taylor and Carly Simon); and Kori Withers (daughter of Bill Withers). The documentary is available to watch in-person only.

Born Into the Gig

Punk-rock band DUH are befriended by a down-on-his-luck guy named “Uncle Peckerhead” and embark on a tour in his 15-passenger van. One problem – if he doesn’t take his medicine before midnight, then he turns into a cannibalistic monster.

Uncle Peckerhead

A bullied teenage girl gets her enemies back with a little help from an a cappella group in “The Devil’s Harmony” short.

The Devil's Harmony

Ecologists and wildlife photographers capture the rare ghost orchid and its pollinators in all of its beauty in “Chasing Ghosts.”

Chasing Ghosts

Entomologists Charlie and Lois O’Brien have collected more than 1 million insects from nearly 70 countries during the past 60 years. It’s the largest private collection in the world and worth $10 million. Learn about the science soulmates and their incredible insects in “The Love Bugs” documentary short.

The Love Bugs

Under-served youth and Wilderness Works participants experience the great outdoors in Colorado and life-changing outcomes in “That’s Wild.”

That's Wild

A teenage hockey player plans to try out for figure skating, but gets trapped on the “Island Queen” ferry in this laugh-out-loud short, starring Rachel Dratch and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

“Island Queen” stars (l-r) Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Rachel Dratch.

Gen-X eighth graders deal with their absentee parents, recent suicides, UFO sightings and each other outside of a small-town nightclub in 1984 in the narrative feature “18 to Party.”

18 to Party2

Toy inventor Eddy Goldfarb is best known for creating Yakity Yak Teeth, Battling Tops, Vac-u-form, KerPlunk and Stompers. Learn more about the man and his innovative inventions in the documentary short “Eddy’s World.”

Eddy's World

A reclusive Englishwoman and writer opens her heart and home to a London Blitz evacuee during World War II in the spotlight film “Summerland.”

Summerland

The stop-motion, sci-fi and claymation animated short “Destination: Unknown” focuses on an astronaut who is fighting for survival while repairing his damaged ship and getting through a malfunctioning virtual-reality chamber overflowing with spooks.

Destination Unknown2

Charles Dickens’ classic tale “The Personal History of David Copperfield” is a journey about an impoverished orphan who becomes a successful author. The film stars Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw and Gwendoline Christie.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Storm-chaser newbies travel in a stolen ice cream truck to experience extreme weather firsthand in 1993. The small group includes a young woman seeking a compassionate community for her younger brother Carl who is on the autism spectrum in the narrative feature “Drought.”

Drought2

A man loses an hour after falling asleep behind the wheel and tries to solve the mystery after experiencing what appears to be someone else’s life in the short “The Hour After Westerly,” starring Peter Jacobson.

The Hour After Westerly

Awkward teen Wyrm can’t wait to experience his first kiss and remove his red-light blinking collar. The narrative feature “WYRM” sheds some light on being different in this coming-of-age story.

WYRM

A concert cellist is followed home by a mysterious woman who mimics his every move in the short “Nimic,” starring Matt Dillon.

Nimic

A suicidal priest living in a lonely desert town participates in a series of unusual and comedic events that lead him to an unexpected discovery in “The Priest” short, starring Patton Oswalt.

The Priest Poster

Chimpanzee Icarus is on a mission to transcend the limits of land speed in the animated short “400 MPH.”

400 MPH

Say farewell to the Florida Film Festival while celebrating the 40-year anniversary of “The Elephant Man,” a film about a severely deformed man in 19th century London. The film is directed by David Lynch and stars John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon and Freddie James.

The Elephant Man .

Individual film tickets are $12, packages are $55-$200, in-person film passes are $125-$1,500 and virtual passes are $40.

COVID-19 precautions and requirements include wearing face masks and checking temperatures when guests enter the theater.

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Tagged as animation, cinema, documentary, Eden Bar, Enzian Theater, FFF2020, film, Florida Film Festival, Joe Bob Briggs, MindBlowingMovies, Movie, narrative feature, short

April 22, 2019 · 9:24 AM

Punk Rockers Experience Desert Oasis at ‘Desolation Center’ By Sandra Carr

The Desolation Center documentary took audiences back to the early days of the LA punk-rock scene during its screening at the Florida Film Festival. The film was directed by the Desolation Center’s founder Stuart Swezey who provided moviegoers with a chance to see punk-rock band performances in the desert more than 30 years ago on the big screen.

Swezey’s innovative concert experiences are also considered the precursor to Coachella and the Burning Man music festivals.

The Coachella music festival is held at the Empire Polo Club, a 78-acre polo club in Indio, California in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, California. Image courtesy of Coachella.

The Burning Man festival is an annual, nine-day gathering in the desert that includes artistic performances, installations and live music. Image courtesy of Burning Man.

The Desolation Center screened during the 28th Annual Florida Film Festival. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

Being a punk rocker in Los Angeles during the 1980s wasn’t easy. The City of Angels’ law enforcement weren’t fond of teens and young adults who had a mohawk haircut, colored locks, wore black attire and listened to anti-authoritarian and politically-charged punk-rock music.

Members of the punk-rock subculture were looked upon as outsiders or troublemakers, but in reality they were misunderstood artists, creatives, dreamers, musicians, writers and decision makers of the future.

Punk rockers hung out on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California during the 1980s. Photo by Kevin Panet of the Melrose Avenue in the 80’s Facebook page.

Punk rockers ruled Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California during the 1980s. Photo by James Baker of the Melrose Avenue in the 80’s Facebook page.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) appeared at punk-rock concerts when there wasn’t a disturbance. The police activity also caused tension between law enforcement and the punk-rock community. Many concertgoers felt that the police instigated fights with the punk-rock scene, so they could make arrests.

LAPD officers stand outside of the Hollywood Palladium waiting for The Ramones and Black Flag concert to end on Nov. 17, 1984. Photo by Gary Leonard.

Folks living in LA at the time consider this era as LAPD Chief Daryl Gates’ reign of terror. Many of the punks felt he was a tyrannical puppet master holding the strings and causing unnecessary chaos.

Daryl Gates was the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from 1978 to 1992.

Swezey was a punk-rock music enthusiast who was fed up with LAPD harassing fans at concerts. He wanted to make a difference and give fans and musicians a safe haven for concerts. He came up with the name Desolation Center for his venture, which displayed his feelings of despair in the punk scene. He scouted out remote locations for out-of-town shows. With the help of Bruce Licher of Savage Republic, Swezey organized his first concert at Soggy Dry Lake, a lake bed near the Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert. The concert was called the Mojave Exodus, which included performances by the Savage Republic and Minutemen on Saturday, April 24, 1983.

The Desolation Center’s first concert, Mojave Exodus, occurred on April 24, 1983 in the Mojave Desert. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

LA punks embarked on a mysterious and adventurous journey as buses transported them to the Mojave Desert.

Music fans traveled on school buses and experienced a punk-rock field trip to a concert in the Mojave Desert. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

Besides the concert being situated in a secluded utopia, there were hiccups during the first Desolation Center concert. The bands needed to block out the sand and wind, so the best solution was placing socks on the microphones and parking the buses behind the them to create a windbreak. The buses came to the rescue again when the generator powering the public-address (PA) system started to run out of gas.

The Desolation Center provided punk rockers with an opportunity to experience concerts in the Mojave Desert’s scenic and serene ambiance. Photo by Scot Allen.

The Savage Republic performed during the Desolation Center’s Mojave Exodus concert in the Mojave Desert. Photo by Dan Voznick.

The Minutemen performed during the first Desolation Center concert in the Mojave Desert. Photo by Bob Durkee.

Swezey took his second desert DIY experience up a notch in the Mojave Desert near Mecca, California. The Desolation Center’s Mojave Auszüg concert, which occurred on Sunday, March 4, 1984, featured avant-garde, experimental German band Einstürzende Neubauten, noise artist Boyd Rice and the machine performance-art collective Survival Research Laboratories.

The explosive concert featured Einstürzende Neubauten banging rocks on metallic surfaces and oil drums and Survival Research Laboratories attempting to blow up a canyon cave along with having its Mad Max-looking mobiles drive around in the desert.

The Psi Com band’s lead vocalist Perry Farrell (later the frontman for the alternative-rock band Jane’s Addiction) and drummer Aaron Sherer attended Mojave Auszüg on Sunday, March 4, 1984. Photo by Mariska Leyssius.

Einstürzende Neubauten became one with the desert during the band’s Mojave Auszüg performance. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

Noise artist Boyd Rice was one of the opening acts during Mojave Auszüg. Image courtesy of Mute Records.

Mark Pauline (pictured on the left) and his Survival Research Laboratories crew create machine art that shoots flames and blows up things that get in the way. Image courtesy of Survival Research Laboratories.

Three months later, the third Desolation Center concert, Joy at Sea, left the barren desert for a vessel voyage in the San Pedro, California harbor. Fans experienced a concert on the water before concert cruises were popular! The show, which occurred on Friday, June 15, 1984, featured the Minute Men, Meat Puppets, Points of Friction and Lawndale.

The Desolation Center’s third concert was Joy at Sea. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

Sailing with punk-rock music fans during Joy at Sea. Photo by Ann Summa.

Joy at Sea Bands

Pictured from l-r: Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets and D. Boon of the Minutemen at Joy at Sea. Photo by Ann Summa.

The Desolation Center’s final Mojave Desert gig, the Gila Monster Jamboree, featured the Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, Redd Kross and Psi Com on Saturday, Jan. 5, 1985. During this show, fans drove themselves instead of relying on buses to transport them to the concert, but stopped at checkpoints along the way.

The Gila Monster Jamboree was the final Desolation Center concert. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

Sonic Youth goes ballistic during its desert performance, Redd Kross dresses down and rocks out and punk-rock fans have an opportunity to see Perry Farrell perform with his Psi Com band before it disbands and becomes Jane’s Addiction. Farrell organized Lollapalooza as a touring music festival, but after a six-year run, it’s now based at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.

Lollapalooza is a music festival conceived and created by Jane’s Addiction lead vocalist Perry Farrell. Image courtesy of Lollapalooza.

Sonic Youth’s bassist Kim Gordon performs in the desert. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

Sonic Youth have a rockin’ time in the desert during the Gila Monster Jamboree. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

The film from start to finish flows well and tells the wonderful story of the four Desolation Center concerts with classic footage and interviews by Swezey, band members and concert attendees.

The desert punk-rock concert concept was ahead of its time. It took a lot of guts and determination for Swezey to make his dream a reality.

Swezey participated in a question-and-answer session after the film screening. I had an opportunity to ask him if he would change anything and which band he wished had performed during one of his Desolation Center concerts.

Desolation Center’s founder Stuart Swezey directed the documentary about his desert-destination concerts. Image courtesy of the Desolation Center.

“I wouldn’t have had attendees drive themselves to the Gila Monster Jamboree concert because I felt like it changed the vibe and slightly detracted from the overall atmosphere,” said Swezey.

As far as the bands go, “I would have enjoyed seeing and booking the Butthole Surfers because the group’s performance would have been incredible with fire in a desert setting,” he said.

The Butthole Surfers are on Swezey’s Desolation Center band bucket list. Image courtesy of the Butthole Surfers.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming DVD releases, featuring footage and extras from the Desolation Center concerts in the future.

Music fans will love the Desolation Center documentary because it’s punk-rock history melded with timeless tunes that make you want to go back and experience the music by land and sea.

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April 19, 2019 · 11:47 PM

‘The Blair Witch Project’ Turns 20 By Sandra Carr

Watching The Blair Witch Project on the big screen 20 years ago was an eye-opening experience. I believe film making changed and took an in-your-face and more authentic storytelling approach after the film hit theaters. Plus, the film popularized the found-footage technique, which was successfully used by thriller films like Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield and the Chronicle.

Writers and co-directors Dan Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez were inspired to make The Blair Witch Project after discovering that documentaries about paranormal phenomena were much scarier than traditional horror films.

The result was a film about three student filmmakers (Heather Donahue, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard) taking a jaunt in the Black Hills of Maryland to shoot a documentary about Elly Kedward who was banished from the Township of Blair for witchcraft in the late 1700s. One year later, their footage is found, revealing the eerie events leading up to their mysterious disappearance.

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The Florida Film Festival at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida celebrated The Blair Witch Project’s 20-year anniversary with a 35mm print-film screening and question-and-answer session with Haxan Films’ filmmakers Eduardo Sanchez, Robin Cowie, Dan Myrick, Ben Rock and Michael Monello and actors Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard on Sunday, April 14. Actress Heather Donahue wasn’t able to attend the film screening.

I’m posing in front of the Enzian Theater’s marquee before The Blair Witch Project’s 20-year anniversary screening during the Florida Film Festival.

The Blair Witch Project’s filmmakers and actors are pictured in front of the marquee from l-r: Eduardo Sanchez, Robin Cowie, Dan Myrick, Ben Rock, Joshua Leonard, Michael Monello and Michael Williams

Full Sail University’s Course Director Carol Nowlin and the Enzian Theater’s Program Director Matthew Curtis introduce the filmmakers and actors of The Blair Witch Project before the film’s 20-year anniversary screening during the Florida Film Festival.

I relived the fear that I had experienced 20 years ago during the horror movie’s anniversary screening. I was still on the edge of my seat and felt the very raw and real moments of The Blair Witch Project once again.

One thing that attracted me and others to the film was how relatable the characters were on camera. Plus, you truly felt their anxiety, anguish, frustration and sleeplessness during their terrifying ordeal in the woods. After seeing the film again, my feelings haven’t changed. I also think that folks who are watching the film for the first time will also appreciate the film and characters in the same way.

A figure made out of brush, leaves and sticks is hanging in a tree during The Blair Witch Project.

Actors Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams are in the woods during The Blair Witch Project.

A nest filled with rocks in a tree creeps out the three student filmmakers during The Blair Witch Project.

Actress Heather Donahue is experiencing a happy moment during The Blair Witch Project.

Actor Michael Williams stands in a corner of an abandoned house in the woods during The Blair Witch Project.

The Blair Witch Project premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 1999 and had a north American release on July 14, 1999 before expanding to a wider release beginning on July 30, 1999.

The low-budget, sleeper hit cost $60,000, but reaped an amazing award after it made nearly $250 million worldwide at the box office for the UCF filmmakers.

The Blair Witch Project also opened a lot of doors for the filmmakers and actors and put Orlando and UCF’s film school on the map.

The filmmakers and actors discussed The Blair Witch Project during a question-and-answer session with UCF Center for Emerging Media’s Studio Director Rich Grula after the film screening.

Pictured from l-r: Rich Grula, Eduardo Sanchez, Michael Monello, Ben Rock, Robin Cowie, Dan Myrick, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard

The Enzian Theater was pivotal for The Blair Witch Project. The test screenings were conducted at the theater before the film was submitted to the Sundance Film Festival.

The filmmakers are forever grateful for the Enzian Theater’s support. The Florida Film Festival’s home base was an instrumental component for the film’s success.

The discussion provided fans with some interesting tidbits. One thing I learned is that the twine that was used for the stick figures cost $8 a roll. The Haxan Films’ team have not let production designer Ben Rock live it down to this day!

Rock’s inspiration came from the Rune Man pictured in the Magical Alphabets: The Secrets and Significance of Ancient Scripts – Including Runes, Greek, Ogham, Hebrew and Alchemical Alphabets book by Nigel Pennick. Rock and Fahad Vania worked tirelessly to create the stick figures featured in the movie.

The Haxan Films’ team still gives Ben Rock a hard time about the $8 twine that was used to create the stick figures during The Blair Witch Project.

Producer Robin Cowie shared a hilarious story about him getting distracted by a bikini-clad teen walking her dog, which caused him to hit the Senior Vice President of Blockbuster Video’s brick mailbox with his car in Atlanta, Georgia. It turns out; the girl was the executive’s daughter. Cowie pitched him The Blair Witch Project and he decided to invest in the film. The backer also predicted that the film would be a hit.

Co-producer Michael Monello discussed the movie’s marketing. He said the marketing campaign that was associated with the film was accidental and happened organically. The website, which included footage, was designed to engage and provide viewers with an opportunity to ask questions before the film was released, but turned out to be a wonderful way to promote the film before it hit theaters.

I had an opportunity to ask a question during The Blair Witch Project’s panel discussion. I wondered if the filmmakers or actors would change anything in the film 20 years later as well as what was their favorite part in the film.

Rich Grula and the audience get up close and personal with The Blair Witch Project’s filmmakers and actors during a question-and-answer session.

Williams jokingly said he would change his contract. Seriously, he said he wouldn’t change a blessed thing. He also felt there was no way that the actors and filmmakers would be able to create the film today on nonunion terms and is happy for the relationships that everyone has established over the years because of The Blair Witch Project.

Williams is currently writing a book about his Blair Witch Project experiences. Plus, a book titled Eight Days in the Woods, which was written by a fan of the film, discusses all-things Blair Witch and will be publishing soon.

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Tagged as #FFF2019, #OneTicketIsAllItTakes, 20 year anniversary, Enzian Theater, film, Film Festival, filmmaker, Florida Film Festival, Haxan Films, horror, Movie, Savvy Scribe, The Blair Witch Project

April 12, 2019 · 11:11 AM

Celebrate Cinema at Florida Film Festival By Sandra Carr

Do you fancy film festing? The 28th Annual Florida Film Festival has your back and is your movie mania solution!

Support filmmakers from around the world by embarking on a movie-watching journey with 184 films representing 41 countries. Plus, moviegoers have an opportunity to pick the best flicks by voting during the festival.

This year’s Florida Film Festival features 87 women directors with amazing girl power and 25 world premieres. Additional festivities include celebrity guest appearances, forums and parties at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida and Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Stadium 20 Movie Theater in Winter Park, Florida from April 12-21, 2019.

The 28th Annual Florida Film Festival is April 12-21, 2019.

The film fest is an Oscar-qualifying festival that will be premiering top-quality current, independent and international cinema throughout its 10-day run.

Oscars

The opening-night film and party is occurring on Friday, April 12 at the Enzian Theater and features Woman in Motion, a documentary filmed by Full Sail University students about actress Nichelle Nichols who is renowned for portraying Lieutenant Uhura, the communications officer aboard Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise. The film showcases Nichols’ undying support and how she helped lead the way for women and minorities who dreamed of having a space exploration career. Attendees will have three opportunities to watch the movie screening that night at the Enzian Theater and Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Stadium 20 Movie Theater.

Woman in Motion

Woman in Motion begins at 7:15 p.m. and the party follows at 8:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The film frolic will include cuisine, craft cocktail and beer samples and cake provided by Eden Bar, MidiCi, Nothing Bundt Cakes, the Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen, Roque Pub, Terrapin Beer Co. and other local bars and restaurants. The film and party admission is $125 and the party only ticket cost $100.

Opening Night Party

The fete continues during a Festival Block Party on Saturday, April 13 from 3-5 p.m. at the Winter Park Village’s fountain across from the Regal Cinema. The festivities include free drinks and appetizers from select Winter Park Village restaurants and live entertainment. The free event is for Florida Film Festival ticket and pass holders only. Space is limited.

Festival Block Party

Relive your fear during the 20-year anniversary of The Blair Witch Project on Sunday, April 14 at 8 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. Three student filmmakers (Heather Donahue, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard) take a jaunt in the Black Hills of Maryland to shoot a documentary about Elly Kedward who was banished from the Township of Blair for witchcraft in the late 1700s. One year later, their footage is found, revealing the eerie events leading up to their mysterious disappearance. The sold-out film will include a post-film reunion and question-and-answer session with the cast and crew. A backstage pass is available for $60 and will include a limited-edition, screen-printed poster created specifically for the event by Lure Design, a meet and greet and photo opportunity. Patrons must supply their own camera for the photo opportunity.

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Spend Good Friday (April 19) with Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss at the Enzian Theater. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1978 for The Goodbye Girl, which film festival attendees will have a chance to see on the big screen at 7:30 p.m. A question-and-answer session with Dreyfuss will follow the film. Tickets are $60. Producer-pass holders will have an opportunity to meet the actor following the event.

See why actor Richard Dreyfuss won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1978 for The Goodbye Girl on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Quench your thirst during the free Sip and Savor: Cocktail Tastings on Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Eden Bar. Sample flavorful concoctions provided by Diageo on Monday night and Tito’s Handmade Vodka on Tuesday evening.

Sip and Savor Cocktail Tasting

To be or not to be, that is the question after William Shakespeare decides to retire after his Globe Theatre burns to the ground in 1613 in All is True. He returns to Stratford-upon-Avon, England to mend the broken relationship with his wife and daughters after the disaster. The film stars Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen.

All is True.jpg

The world lost the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin on Aug. 16, 2018, but her music and legacy will live on forever. The documentary Amazing Grace keeps her spirit alive as she performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California in 1972.

Amazing Grace.jpg

The documentary Marching Forward examines how music overpowered division in Orlando, Florida when Jones High School’s all-black marching band and Edgewater High School’s all-white marching band performed during the World’s Fair in New York City in 1964. This UCF Burnett Honors College production features interviews with band directors and former students, many of whom are now professional musicians.

Marching Forward photo is by Lisa Mills.

Did the devil make you do it? The Satanic Temple advocates for religious freedom and challenges authority in the Hail Satan? documentary.

Hail Satan Image

Award-winning actress Elisabeth Moss portrays a burned- and strung-out rock star trying to find her way back to stardom in this riveting, rock ‘n’ roll drama, Her Smell. The cast includes Eric Stoltz, Amber Heard and Virginia Madsen.

Her Smell

Sudan, 45, is the last male northern white rhinoceros in the world. The Kifaru documentary follows the lives of two young Kenyan recruits who join Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s rhino caretaker unit in Kenya, which features a small group of rangers who protect and care for Sudan.

Punk rockers took their angst away from Los Angeles, California to the Mojave Desert during the 1980s. This movement started the Desolation Center, which featured DIY music showcases in remote locations that included performances by the Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Redd Kross, the Meat Puppets, Einstürzende Neubauten and the Swans. Talent will be in attendance during both Desolation Center screenings.

Desolation Center.jpg

The music adventure continues with Our Most Brilliant Friends, a documentary about the British indie-pop duo Slow Club. The film explores the ups and downs of being in a band and the not-so-luxurious life and challenges with touring.

Our Most Brilliant Friends

Experience Italian-style boogieing during the 1980s in the Dons of Disco. Italian model Stefano Zandri a.k.a. musician Den Harrow, is one of Italy’s biggest stars. Years later, the truth came out that he lip synced his way to the hearts of fans after American singer Thomas Barbey revealed that he’s the voice of Den Harrow.

Dons of Disco

Bang your head! Watch the Maori Metal documentary about three native New Zealand brothers who are proud of their Maori culture and enjoy rocking out in their metal band Alien Weaponry.

Maori Metal

Princess of the Row is the inspiring and moving story about Alicia Willis who travels to Los Angeles, California to find her homeless, military-veteran dad Sergeant Beaumont “Bo” Willis.

Princess of the Row

Computer startup General Magic was ahead of its time with concepts for smartphones and the other technological devices and ways that we communicate today. Learn about this company’s innovative ideas and pitfalls in the General Magic documentary.

General Magic

Weddings can be stressful for the bride, groom and everyone involved in the big day. People have a say with social media at gatherings and life-changing events nowadays. Can a social media poll determine a bride and groom’s fate? Should they still take the plunge and say “I do?” Find out in the humorous Made Public short.

Made Public

Wear plaid attire or a kilt while watching the Chef’s Diaries: Scotland. Foodies can travel with the three Roca brothers who are chefs at their El Celler de Can Roca restaurant, which was named the world’s best restaurant in 2013 and 2015.

Chef's Diaries Scotland

Table football, better known as foosball, was the rage during the 1970s. Two players at a table spin little men on rods, trying to slam a ball into a goal. A small, but mighty group is keeping the game alive with tournaments for foosball fanatics. The Foosballers documentary explores the sports history, trick shots and foosball champions.

Foosballers

The Interpreters is a film that illustrates the challenges and risks that Iraqi and Afghan translators face after they have joined forces with the United States.

The Interpreters Roll Red Roll explores how a high school football team in Steubenville, Ohio tried to ignore a sexual assault in order to protect the team’s star players.

Roll Red Roll

Three filmmakers are on a mission to save one of the last Blockbuster Video stores in this documentary. The Saving Blockbuster documentary was the 2018 Brouhaha Grand Jury Award winner.

Blockbuster Video

John Waters’ films come to life in the Spider Mites of Jesus: The Dirtwoman Documentary. The film’s star is Donnie Corker who contracted spinal meningitis—which his mother pronounced as Spider Mites of Jesus—as an infant. He later became a cross-dresser and drag queen and was the heart of Richmond, Virginia before he passed away two years ago.

Spider Mites of Jesus The Dirtwoman Documentary

Doomsday prepper and retiree Ed Hemsler (John Lithgow) has a connection with Ronnie Meisner (Blythe Danner). These two eccentrics form a bond and are happy together despite their emotional baggage, which comes to a head and spews out before them.

The Tomorrow Man

Marine life evolves and causes the rules of survival to change in Hybrids.

Hybrids

The Florida Film Festival says farewell to its 28th year by celebrating Easter and the 40-year anniversary of Monty Python’s Life of Brian on Sunday, April 21 at 8:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The comedic film is set in 33 A.D. in Judea where Romans are trying to bring order to the country, but experience some pitfalls after would-be messiah Brian Cohen develops a following.

Monty Python's Life of Brian

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

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Tagged as #FFF2019, #OneTicketIsAllItTakes, Academy Awards, Blythe Danner, cinema, Elisabeth Moss, Enzian Theater, film, Film Festival, filmapp, Full Sail University, John Lithgow, LGBTQ, Movie, Nichelle Nichols, Oscar, Richard Dreyfuss, The Blair Witch Project

April 16, 2018 · 5:14 AM

Actress Pam Grier Chats Candidly about her Career at Florida Film Festival By Sandra Carr

During her 50-year career, actress Pam Grier has portrayed powerful women and is the queen of 1970s blaxploitation films, including Coffy, Foxy Brown and Sheba, Baby.

Foxy Brown

Grier discussed her film career during a question-and-answer session with Rollins College history professor Julian Chambliss and fans after the Jackie Brown screening during the Florida Film Festival at the Enzian Theater.

She portrayed the title character in the crime thriller Jackie Brown, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, which he wrote for Grier and is a love letter to her career. The film is about a sexy flight attendant who orchestrates a scheme to keep smuggled cash from an arms dealer. The movie pays homage to blaxploitation films and is an adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch.

Jackie Brown Movie Poster

When Grier first met Tarantino, she noticed his office walls were decorated with five framed posters of her films.

“These were original posters that are worth thousands of dollars,” she said. “It was humbling and made my heart race knowing that someone really liked my work. It was that moment of reality for someone who is an artist.”

Grier informed the audience that if you don’t rehearse, then you don’t get to work with Tarantino. She said she was always ready, knew her lines and credited her theater background for preparing her for the role. Grier also said she cooked meals for the cast and crew who sang and danced to tunes since Tarantino played music on the set.

Pam Grier and Quentin Tarantino

I had an opportunity to ask Grier about her chemistry with the film’s cast. She provided a hilarious assumption about Brown and Ordell Robbie’s past.

“Quentin, why would this man (Robbie who was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson) walk into my apartment and turn out my lights? Did we have sex before? He feels like he can walk into my apartment and turn off the lights. Does he pay the power bill? Did we have a relationship before? I think we tried it one night and it didn’t work. We were awkward. I felt that. We became friends after that and we didn’t talk about him not being able to get it up. Maybe my nipples didn’t get hard. I don’t know! You all have been there before! I thought it was going to be hot, but it wasn’t. If we’re going to have sex, then don’t put a ring on your gotee! That’s going to hurt and cause blisters!”

Jackie Brown and Ordell Robbie

Grier also came up with the line “Booya! With a cherry on top!” during the scene where Brown leaves a shopping bag filled with cash underneath a fitting room door for Melanie Ralston (Bridget Fonda) to pick up.

In the action film Above the Law, she portrayed Chicago Police Department narcotics detective Nico Toscani’s (Steven Seagal) friend and partner Delores ‘Jacks’ Jackson. Grier was diagnosed with cervical cancer the same year the film was released and is in remission.

Above the Law

She enjoyed filming Bad Grandmas with actress Florence Henderson. She said Henderson was very funny and didn’t act like she was in her 80s. The movie was Henderson’s last before she passed away in Nov. 2016.

Bad Grandmas

Grier also portrayed Lily in Rose, a film about a woman who finds love while soul searching throughout the southwest during her final days. The movie also stars Cybill Shepherd and James Brolin.

Rose

Besides films, Grier has appeared on TV sitcoms, including Miami Vice as Valerie Gordon, a New York Police Department detective who had an on-again, off-again relationship with Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) and The L Word as Kit Porter.

Miami Vice

The L Word2

She shared some funny anecdotes during her Q&A, including hanging out with John Lennon and Harry Nilsson during a Smothers Brothers concert at the Troubadour in Hollywood, Calif back in March of 1974. Lennon started singing a song and asked Grier if she knew it. The song was I Can’t Stand the Rain by Ann Peebles. Grier sang the song and Lennon hit the table like he was playing the drums. Lennon got everyone to sing while harmonizing and becoming intoxicated.

When the Smothers Brothers came on stage, Lennon thought they were boring and wanted to continue singing the song with Grier. The Troubadour’s manager asked him to be quiet. That didn’t last very long. He started singing again and the manager attempted to remove him by grabbing his collar and pulling him over the table. A fight broke out between Lennon, Nilsson and the manager. The group, including Grier, were tossed out of the club and sat on the curve while providing the Los Angeles Police Department with their accounts of the incident. Afterwards, Lennon sent Grier flowers and thanked her for not hitting him.

John Lennon’s apology letter to Pam Grier.

Grier was raped by two boys when she was 6 years old and again as a teenager. She said the incidences have affected her during her acting career. She recalled having a flashback of being raped when her and Thomas were filming a romantic scene for Miami Vice. She needed an hour to compose herself along with talking to Thomas about interacting with her differently during the scene.

She discussed her relationships with comedian Richard Pryor, actor Freddie Prinze and retired NFL basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and why they didn’t work out.

“These stars were reaching their pinnacle and becoming very powerful,” she said. “I was the target of possibly being their mate, wife and mother of their children. It was blocking my trajectory of being an independent woman. I didn’t want to thrive in their spotlight and lose my identity. I loved them dearly, but I chose myself more and it was my time. I disbanded the relationships because I really wanted to be on my own.”

Pam Grier and Richard Pryor

Pam Grier and Freddie Prinze

Pam Grier and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Grier talked about Pryor and shared a humorous and almost tragic moment that occurred with the stand-up comic’s miniature horse.

“Richard’s dogs attacked his miniature horse Ginger, which was a gift from Burt Sugarman and the name is based on the Mudbone folklore (Mudbone was a recurring character in Richard Pryor’s stand-up comedy act),” she said. “I put the miniature horse in the back of my four-door Jaguar and we took it to the vet. We’re rolling down the 405 with the miniature horse’s head hanging out the window and Richard is in his bathrobe crying about what happened. We saved the miniature horse’s life and got it home. Richard then found out that I loved horses and thought he could lure me with horses. I knew if the miniature horse had died, then he would have fallen off of the wagon. Richard’s wife Jennifer Lee said in his Showtime documentary that I was the one person who had a positive effect on his life. I realized that he would fall and I didn’t want him to take me down with him. I’m a great nurse and caregiver, but you have to meet me half way. I can only carry you so far before my back breaks.”

Pam Grier and Richard Pryor

Her grandfather Daddy Ray was the first feminist in her life and taught her how to hunt, fish and shoot guns. She brought those experiences with her while portraying different characters throughout her acting career.

Grier also said young people introduce her to their dads and uncles. The men ask her if she shoots all of the guns in her movies. Grier lets them know that she has a gun collection, including hunting rifles from her grandfather, a gun that Steven Seagal gave her after filming Above the Law and another gun from Miami Vice.

She’s comical in her response to the men’s inquiries about her firearms.

“Their eyes get big and I tell them not to worry about my guns,” she said. “You just need to worry about my Sears Craftsman chainsaw! If I smell cologne or see lipstick when you come in, then you’re in trouble!”

Pam Grier portrays Coffy.

She published her memoir Foxy: My Life in Three Acts eight years ago. Grier said a biopic is in the works for her story to appear on the big screen. Actor and former Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Pharoah has been selected to portray Pryor in the film so far.

Pam Grier's Book

Grier provided film students with advice and emphasized to the audience that we’re all brands.

“I started creating a brand by showing different types of women and not just the sexy and pretty ones,” she said. “I don’t want to fall behind the comfort. I want to be the antagonist and crazy person. There are so many roles that I want to do. I want to play my age, but a lot of it isn’t seen. Film festivals and schools are inspiring all of these new narratives and stories. The inspiration is during the film festivals across the country because they keep developing and sustaining the brands of the actors, producers and directors.”

Learn more about Grier’s career on imdb.com.

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Tagged as autobiography, Biopic, blaxploitation films, Enzian Theater, firearms, Florence Henderson, Florida Film Festival, Foxy: My Life in Three Acts, Freddie Prinze, guns, Harry Nilsson, Jackie Brown, John Lennon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, memoir, Miami Vice, Pam Grier, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Pryor, Smothers Brothers, The L Word, Troubadour

April 6, 2018 · 8:02 AM

Moviegoers Embark on a Story-Gazing Journey during the Florida Film Festival By Sandra Carr

Films tell tales about personal triumph, deception, challenges, heroes and hilarity. This year’s Florida Film Festival, now in its 27th year, doesn’t disappoint and invites moviegoers to go story gazing while watching 183 films representing 38 countries.

The juried flick fete also features 152 films with premiere status, including 23 world premieres along with celebrity guest appearances, forums and parties at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Fla. and Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Stadium 20 Movie Theater in Winter Park, Fla. from April 6-15, 2018.

The 27th Annual Florida Film Festival is April 6-15, 2018.

The Florida Film Festival is accredited as a qualifying festival for the Oscars in the live action short, documentary short and animated short film categories. The winner of the grand jury award in each of these categories will automatically qualify to enter during next year’s Academy Awards.

Oscars

The opening-night film and party is happening on Friday, April 6 at the Enzian Theater and features American Animals, a true story and dramedy about four young men who attempt to steal priceless Audubon publications and rare books from the Transylvania University’s special collections library. The movie stars Blake Jenner who portrays Chas Allen. He also portrayed Ryder Lynn in Glee and Jake in Everybody Wants Some!! Jenner will be making an appearance and discussing American Animals following the screening.

American Animals

Actor Blake Jenner will be making an appearance during the Florida Film Festival’s opening-night party.

Clink glasses and say cheers during a champagne reception at 6 p.m. American Animals begins at 7 p.m. and the party follows at 8:30 p.m. The cinematic celebration will include cuisine, cake and craft cocktail and brew samples provided by Eden Bar, Firefly Kitchen and Bar, Hourglass Brewing, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Roque Pub, Ten10 Brewing Company and other local bars and restaurants. The film and party admission is $140 and the party only ticket cost $125.

Opening Night Party

Hang out with moviegoers during the Festival Block Party on Saturday, April 7 from 3-5 p.m. at the Winter Park Village’s fountain across from the Regal Cinema. The festivities include free drinks and appetizers from select Winter Park Village restaurants and live entertainment. The free event is for Florida Film Festival ticket and pass holders only. Space is limited.

Festival Block Party

Indulge yourself in a film and farm-to-table feast during Locally Fresh! on Sunday, April 8 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The foodie function will include cooking demonstrations and scrumptious samples. Admission is $12. Afterwards, shop for fresh-from-the-field produce and products during a free Farmer’s Market from noon-2:30 p.m. on the lawn next to Eden Bar.

Locally Fresh

If you can’t wait to eat during Locally Fresh!, then enjoy a brunch buffet beforehand from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Eden Bar for $13.99 per person. The brunch will also occur during the last day of the film festival on Sunday, April 15.

Sunday Brunch Buffet

Soar into the sky and find out how a flight attendant orchestrated a scheme to keep smuggled cash from an arms dealer during the film screening of Jackie Brown, directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Pam Grier, Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster and Bridget Fonda, on Sunday, April 8 from 7-11 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The movie is an adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch. The event includes a question-and-answer session with Grier following the film screening. General admission is $50 and $125 for a backstage pass, which includes the film screening and meet and greet and photo opportunity afterwards. Please provide your own camera for the photo opportunity.

Jackie Brown Movie Poster

Take a drug-filled ride during the psychological drama Requiem for a Dream, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans, on Friday, April 13 from 7:30-11 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The film is based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr. with whom director Darren Aronofsky wrote the screenplay. The event includes a question-and-answer session with Burstyn after the screening. General admission is $50. Producer-pass holders will have an opportunity to meet the actress following the event.

Requiem for a Dream

Quench your thirst during the free Sip and Savor: Cocktail Tasting on Wednesday, April 11 from 6-8 p.m. at Eden Bar. Sample flavorful concoctions provided by Diageo.

Cocktail Tasting

Tennis, anyone? Watch Björn Borg versus John McEnroe at Wimbledon during the summer of 1980 in the sports drama Borg McEnroe, starring Shia LaBeouf.

Borg McEnroe Photo

Actress Charlize Theron portrays Marlo, a stay-at-home mom who is overwhelmed with taking care of her three children in Tully. Her wealthy brother gifts Marlo with a nanny who she forms a unique bond with that will change both of their lives forever. The screenplay was written by Diablo Cody who also wrote Juno and Young Adult.

Tully

A teenage boy becomes attached to a failing racehorse named Lean on Pete. He steals the horse before the owner disposes it and ends up on an unexpected adventure. The film Lean on Pete also touches on poverty and homelessness in the U.S. Actors Steve Buscemi and Charlie Plummer star in the film.

Lean on Pete

In the mystery thriller Tatterdemalion, Army veteran Fern, who is portrayed by actress Leven Rambin, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and returns home to the Ozarks where she finds an abandoned boy named Cecil in the woods. She searches for clues about the boy’s identity while discovering local folklore of a spirit who appears as a child.

Tatterdemalion

Actor and director Romany Malco (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Weeds) stars in Prison Logic. He portrays Tijuana Jackson, an aspiring world-renowned motivational speaker who is being followed by a documentary film crew before he’s released from prison. The movie has Florida flavor since it was filmed in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando and features Central Florida local Alkoya Brunson (Atlanta, Hidden Figures) who portrays Jackson’s sidekick Lil’ Eric. The ex-con’s reality-show dream has to overcome obstacles because of his court-mandated probation in the movie. Actress Regina Hall (Girls Trip, the Scary Movie franchise) portrays Jackson’s parole officer and prospective love interest and Tami Roman (Basketball Wives) rounds out the cast as Jackson’s sister Sharea.

Prison Logic

King Cohen is a documentary about legendary B-movie film producer, director and screenwriter Larry Cohen.

King Cohen3

Watch the RBG documentary about 84-year-old Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, gender equality warrior and pop-culture icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg (a.k.a. Notorious RBG).

RBG

Music makes its mark during the Florida Film Festival with documentaries about new wave musician, model and actress Grace Jones (Grace Jones: Blindlight and Bami), jam band Magic Music (40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie) and the hardcore group Agnostic Front (The Godfathers of Hardcore).

Agnostic Front’s lead vocalist Roger Miret and director Ian McFarland will be making an appearance and participating in a question-and-answer session following the The Godfathers of Hardcore screening on Saturday, April 7 at 9 p.m. at the Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Stadium 20 Movie Theater.

Grace Jones Bloodlight and Bami

The Godfathers of Hardcore Movie Poster

Magic Music

Rollins College alumnus Fred Rogers was the host and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and worked tirelessly for more than three decades to help children understand difficult and complex situations and learn how to deal with their feelings through the use of puppetry. Rogers believed that we were all part of a global neighborhood in which everyone should be valued for being “just the way you are.” The documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? pays homage to Rogers who was an advocate for children’s TV programming during most of his life.

Mister Rogers

Local radio personalities and powerhouse podcasters Tom Vann and Daniel Dennis of A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan, are featured in the Mediocre Documentary with Tom and Dan. The film takes the audience behind the scenes of the duo’s live podcast at the Hard Rock Live Orlando. Vann and Dennis will be making an appearance and participating in a question-and-answer session following the screening on Sunday, April 15 at 4:45 p.m. at the Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Stadium 20 Movie Theater. The film is on standby.

Tom and Dan

A Mediocre Documentary with Tom and Dan

Eighteen films during this year’s fest feature LBGTQ themes, including The Feels, an amusing romp about a bachelorette party for a lesbian couple.

The Feels

Another movie, The Cakemaker, features a gay baker who is involved in an unusual love triangle with his deceased lover and his widow.

The Cakemaker

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood is a documentary about former pimp to the stars Scotty Bowers, 94, who organized clandestine encounters with young men for actors Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Cole Porter and Rock Hudson and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

Do I Have Boobs Now? is a documentary short about trans woman and activist Courtney Demone sharing photos of her breast development after undergoing hormone replacement therapy on social media.

Do I Have Boobs Now

TransMilitary features four U.S. transgender military members whom are married to each other and served our country. The documentary showcases their journey since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed in 2011 and during the current political climate since the 2016 presidential election.

TransMilitary

Americana artist Robert Townsend is fascinated with a lady wearing cat-eye glasses in vacation photograph slides and is on a quest to learn more about this happy, mystery woman in the film My Indiana Muse.

My Indiana Muse

Bodacious New York City burlesque dancers strut their stuff in Getting Naked: A Burlesque Story.

Getting Naked A Burlesque Story

Ask the Sexpert is a documentary about 93-year-old Dr. Mahinder Watsa, a sex columnist for the Mumbai Mirror, who responds to readers sexual questions.

Ask the Sexpert

Long Time Coming hits a home run during the Florida Film Festival. The film discusses the monumental victory of the State of Florida’s 1955 Little League Championship, featuring the all-black Pensacola Jaycees versus the Orlando Kiwanis, which was one of the first racially-integrated Little League baseball games in the South. The two team captains reunite to discuss for the first time how that historic night felt for both of them more than six decades ago.

City of Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer will be joining city commissioners and the Edward E. Haddock Jr. Family Foundation to celebrate and honor the baseball teams during A Baseball & Civil Rights Reunion on Tuesday, April 10 from 10-11 a.m. at Lake Lorna Doone Park, located at 1519 W. Church St. in Orlando near the Camping World Stadium.

The documentary is directed by Jon Strong and produced by Common Pictures. The film includes Major League Baseball and civil rights icons Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Andrew Young. The Florida Film Festival will host the film’s world premiere on Monday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. with an encore screening on Tuesday, April 10 at 3:30 p.m.

Long Time Coming

Former felon turned law school grad Desmond Meade is on a mission to restore voting rights for Florida’s convicted felons who have served their time in the documentary Let My People Vote.

Let My People Vote

Soufra chronicles the culinary journey of Mariam Shaar, a Palestinian born and raised in the Burj El Barajnak refugee camp outside of Beirut, who starts her own catering and food truck business with other Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese women refugees.

Soufra

Feline films include Samantha’s Amazing Acro Cats, a documentary that follows a traveling cat circus and the animated short Catherine about a girl and her cat named Kitty.

Samantha's Amazing Acro Cats

Catherine

The Florida Film Festival closes by celebrating the 75-year anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, a film about an uncle who travels from New York to California to visit his family and is wanted for murder. The psychological thriller was Hitchcock’s favorite film, and is considered one of the King of Suspense’s most chilling movies during his career.

Shadow of a Doubt

Individual film tickets are $11, packages are $50-$180 and passes are $99-$1,500 per person.

Browse the film schedule by downloading the free Florida Film Festival app for iPhones and Android mobile devices. For more information, including the Florida Film Festival schedule, visit floridafilmfestival.com.

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April 29, 2017 · 5:33 PM

Actor Billy Crudup Feels at Home with Subversive Characters By Sandra Carr

Portraying a wide range of characters appeals to actor Billy Crudup. His films include Without Limits, Almost Famous, Big Fish, Watchmen and Jackie. He shared amusing and interesting anecdotes during his question-and-answer session after the Jesus’ Son screening during the Florida Film Festival at the Enzian Theater.

Crudup finds pleasure and growth as an actor portraying conflicted, complicated and unlikeable characters and said “his intention is to show one moment where you get a glimpse of their humanity.”

He played a messed up guy named FH, which is short for F**khead in Jesus’ Son, a drug-induced ride that crashes and finds stability during the 1970s. The film was adapted from a collection of short stories by cult author Denis Johnson and features supporting cast members Jack Black, Denis Leary, Holly Hunter and Dennis Hopper.

Jesus' Son

Black’s scenes are filled with many laugh-out-loud moments, including when he was a hospital orderly helping a patient who had a hunting knife in his eye and accidentally running over a rabbit and trying to save its bunnies. Crudup said he had to close his eyes during the takes he shared with Black because he was so vividly entertained by what Black was doing as an observer that he couldn’t get through the scene. It was difficult for Crudup to look or engage with him because “what he was doing was brilliant, inventive, entertaining and charismatic.”

Jack Black

Crudup has had a wealth of acting opportunities, and I asked him if there was one character that has stayed with him.

His response was “F**khead because of his clumsy hopefulness.” He also said there was something touching in the scene where the heart tattoo comes to life and it’s sort of back lit with golden rays and finding that in any small experiences you have in your relationships despite all of the awfulness in life. To Crudup, that’s something to aspire to along with finding enough peace in your inner life where you can appreciate the constant stream of beauty and surprise around you and your experience with humanity.

Crudup also discussed portraying runner Steve Prefontaine in Without Limits. He was an athlete who was at the forefront of endorsing Nike footwear and competed in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.

Tom Cruise was one of the film’s producers. Crudup said he would occasionally get a phone call from Cruise who would cheer him up and say, “Keep at it! It’s going to be great!”

Without Limits.jpg

He also portrayed the golden god Russell Hammond in one my favorite rock ‘n’ roll movies Almost Famous, written and directed by Cameron Crowe. Crudrup was thrilled to be a part of the film, but was afraid of becoming typecast.

“I didn’t want to become trapped by playing heroes or romantic leads,” he said. “Not that I didn’t want to play romantic characters, but Russell is an anomaly. He’s a bona fide rock star who has mystery.”

Almost Famous.jpg

Other roles include portraying the nagging and frustrated son Will Bloom who is trying to determine fact from fiction during his dying father’s life in Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton.

Big Fish.jpg

He also portrayed superhero Dr. Manhattan in the Watchmen.

Watchmen

His upcoming movies include Alien: Covenant and Justice League.

One attendee asked if he has nightmares about Sigourney Weaver and Crudup assured him that the actress was in his dreams.

He couldn’t share too much about Alien: Covenant, but said he plays a member of the crew on a colonizing mission that doesn’t go as planned. The movie hits theaters on May 19.

In Justice League, he plays Barry Allen’s (The Flash) father Henry and couldn’t tell the audience any other details about the upcoming film. The film’s release date is Nov. 17.

Alien Covenant.jpg

Justice League.png

Learn more about Crudup’s career on imdb.com.

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April 26, 2017 · 5:22 AM

Actress Lea Thompson Shares Movie Memories at Florida Film Festival By Sandra Carr

Actress Lea Thompson opened and shared her time capsule of film-career memories, spanning more than 30 years, during her question-and-answer session after the Back to the Future screening at the Enzian Theater.

Thompson portrayed Marty McFly’s (Michael J. Fox) mom Lorraine Baines in the classic, blockbuster film.

Back to the Future is a blast from the past, but has a meaningful message.

“The movie has a lesson, which is one moment can change your life,” said Thompson. “I think that’s one of the secrets of time travel. It’s not just the cool time machine, but it’s the idea of looking back and seeing the past and future at the same time.”

Lea Thompson

One fan asked Thompson if there was one Back to the Future memento that she regrets not snagging from the set and she said it was the DeLorean [Laughs]. However, she did get to keep the dreamy pink prom dress that she wore during the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance scenes.

Lea Thompson Wearing Prom Dress

I had an opportunity to ask Thompson if there were any funny moments she experienced with the cast while filming Back to the Future. She said the funniest scene is when she portrays vodka-drinking Lorraine and brings out her brother Joey’s jailbird cake. Thompson said Crispin Glover (George McFly) was cracking up the cast with his quirky laugh. She said she was trying not to laugh because the problem with plastic makeup is that it’s glued on and the seams can not be put back into place once they’re broken. Thompson said the scene is hilarious and the actors kept laughing their way through it for an hour-and-a-half.

Jailbird Joey Cake

She discussed how she got the part of Kelly Ann Bukowski in Jaws 3-D with little acting experience and not knowing how to water ski before filming scenes at SeaWorld Orlando.

Jaws 3-D

Thompson remembered how nervous Tom Cruise was during his All the Right Moves screen test. She also had to go undercover at a high school in order to prepare for her role as Lisa. She recalled getting busted for skipping class because nobody knew she was an actress. Thompson said the movie was filmed before Cruise became a massive star.

All the Right Moves

She fondly recalled moments with Patrick Swayze while filming Red Dawn. Thompson said the cast had mock-up AK-47 rifles in their hotel rooms and would run around with the guns in Las Vegas and Mexico in the middle of the night.

Thompson and Swayze were both ballet dancers. She said they would perform acts from the ballet Giselle whenever they weren’t shooting scenes or guns.

Red Dawn

The actress became teary eyed after a fan told her how SpaceCamp inspired her to become a NASA rocket scientist and that the Mars rover was one of her projects.

Space Camp

A Howard the Duck fan had Thompson sign his movie memorabilia at MegaCon. She was impressed that he had the original soundtrack on vinyl. He said if their paths crossed again and he found another soundtrack, then he would give it to her. As fate would have it, Thompson now owns the Howard the Duck soundtrack thanks to a fan named Tom.

Howard the Duck

Thompson portrayed Amanda Jones, the popular pretty girl who had a rough home life in John Hughes’ last 1980s teen movie Some Kind of Wonderful. She also met the love of her life, husband and director Howard Deutch while filming the movie.

Some Kind of Wonderful

After she had a baby, Thompson had a difficult time getting parts in movies until she landed the role of Caroline Duffy in the TV sitcom Caroline in the City. Her character was a successful cartoonist living in Manhattan whose comic strip “Caroline in the City” became a huge hit.

She said it was a great job, but filming a sitcom is hard. Thompson said there’s so much pressure because of the way the scripts are created. Plus, you’re telling jokes and you have to set up the scenes perfectly in front of a live audience.

The show also made converting old TVs into fish tanks popular during the mid-1990s.

Caroline in the City.jpg

Learn more about Thompson’s career on imdb.com.

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April 21, 2017 · 12:18 PM

Florida Film Festival Keeps it Real By Sandra Carr

The Florida Film Festival, now in its 26th year, is true to its movies, audience and mantra “Film, Food and Friends.” The flick fete provides its faithful filmgoers with a reel repertoire, including documentaries, features, shorts, special screenings, spotlights and forums at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Fla. and Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Stadium 20 Movie Theater in Winter Park, Fla. from April 21-30, 2017.

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The juried festival features 182 films representing 40 countries with 139 having premiere status, including 17 world premieres.

The Hero

The opening-night celebration features The Hero, a film starring legendary character actor Sam Elliott portraying a Western actor who is no longer in the limelight, but reprises his famous role in The Hero sequel after receiving unexpected news. Watch the movie on Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m. at the Enzian Theater.

Opening Night Party

Party hearty after the movie by chowing down on delectable dishes paired with cocktails during the opening-night festivities at the Enzian Theater. The film and party ticket is $140 and the party only is $125.

Take the film fete further during the Festival Block Party on Saturday, April 22 from 3-5 p.m. at the Winter Park Village’s fountain across from the Regal Cinema. The festivities include free drinks and appetizers from select Winter Park Village restaurants and live entertainment. The free event is for Florida Film Festival ticket and pass holders only. Space is limited.

Winter Park Village

Feast on Florida’s homegrown farm-to-table goodness during Locally Fresh! on Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The freebie features films, area produce, cooking demonstrations and scrumptious samples.

Locally Fresh

Back to the Future

Travel to the 1950s in a DeLorean time machine during the classic Sci-Fi movie Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd, on Sunday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The event includes a question-and-answer session with Thompson after the screening. Regular admission is sold out, but $125 meet-and-greet tickets are still available.

Lea Thompson

Actor Billy Crudup portrays a guy named FH, which is short for F**khead, who believes he can save people from fate while trying to understand the destructive passion he shares with his girlfriend Michelle in Jesus’ Son on Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The film was adapted from a collection of short stories by cult author Denis Johnson and features supporting cast members Jack Black, Denis Leary, Holly Hunter and Dennis Hopper. The event includes a question-and-answer session with Crudup after the screening. General admission is $50 and meet-and-greet tickets are $125.

Jesus' Son

Laugh out loud high in the sky during the comedic spoof Airplane! on Saturday, April 29 at 1:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater. The film takes you on a journey with a PTSD-stricken fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays), stewardess/ex-girlfriend Elaine (Julie Hagerty) and a doctor (Leslie Nielsen) who have to land a Boeing 707 after the crew experiences food poisoning. The event includes a question-and-answer session with Hays and director David Zucker. The movie and guest appearance are on standby.

Airplane!

Additional fun flicks include director Eleanor Coppola’s Paris Can Wait, starring Alec Baldwin and Diane Lane. The movie takes Anne (Lane) a woman in her 50s on a midlife journey through France.

Paris Can Wait

New Neighbors features an African-American family who move to an all-white neighborhood. The mom decides to get to know her neighbors by distributing flyers about her sons.

New Neighbors

Pop-artist Andy Warhol’s famous “Brillo Box” sculpture cost one family a grand back in the 1960s and had a return on investment of more than $3 million decades later. Learn more by seeing the Brillo Box (3 Cents Off) documentary short during 3 X Real Documentary Shorts 1.

Brillo Box

Native Americans rock in the documentary Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. The film features legendary guitarist Link Wray and other musicians.

Link Wray

Pushing Dead is a film about an HIV-positive writer who is dropped from his insurance because he makes too much money (starring James Roday and Danny Glover).

Pushing Dead

Animated short Fabricated showcases machines assembling and coming to life as creatures.

Fabricated

Experience a hootenanny during Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke. The documentary is about the boot-scooting Austin joint that has been serving its fill of music for more than 50 years.

Broken Spoke

Learn about Irishman Padraig O’Malley who is a renowned expert on conflict negotiation and has made an impact in Ireland, South Africa, Kosovo and Iraq during The Peacemaker.

The Peacemaker

Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis produced this funny film about a struggling actor working as a bathroom attendant at a popular LA nightclub during Night Shift.

Night Shift

Cassette tapes are making a comeback in the movie Cassette: A Documentary Mixedtape. The movie features musician and spoken word artist Henry Rollins and his cassette tape collection.

Cassette Tape

The Florida Film Festival closes with buxum babes who are fighting machines in the Russ Meyer classic film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! on Sunday, April 30 at 9:30 p.m. at the Enzian Theater.

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Individual film tickets are $9 for a matinee before 5 p.m. and $11 for a regular ticket after 5 p.m., packages are $50-$180 and passes are $99-$1,500 per person. For more information, including the Florida Film Festival schedule, visit floridafilmfestival.com.

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Tag Archives: Enzian Theater

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