25TH ANNUAL FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PROGRAM LINEUP, CELEBRITY GUESTS, AND NEW OSCAR® ACCREDITATION
Orlando, FL – (March 16, 2016) – The Florida Film Festival announced today the program lineup for the 25th Annual Festival, April 8-17, 2016, in Maitland and Winter Park, Florida, with Primary Sponsor Full Sail University and Primary Public Partners Orange County Government and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. The Festival will screen more than 180 films representing 36 countries, along with celebrity guest appearances, forums, and parties. Of the films selected, 138 have premiere status, including 24 world premieres. Full lineup listed below. Film descriptions, trailers, stills, and schedule available at: FloridaFilmFestival.com.
For over a decade, the Florida Film Festival has been accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in both Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film categories. As of December 2015, the festival has also been accredited in the category of Documentary Short Subject, making it one of the select few in the world to be accredited in all three shorts categories. Recipients of the Festival’s Grand Jury Awards will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Subject categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Henry Maldonado, President of Enzian and the Florida Film Festival, remarked, “Twenty five years, and still getting better! For ten glorious days, we’ll have parties, movie stars, even a farmer’s market, and of course, movies. Those of you who come year after year know it and love it. So, for those of you who have not been, our friendly festival is filled with charming, fun days where you can mingle with great filmmakers and talent.”
“I just love the diversity and filmmaking talent that will be on display in this year’s lineup,” commented Matthew Curtis, Florida Film Festival Programming Director. “With the most films we’ve ever programmed in one FFF, the most countries ever represented, the most female filmmakers (59), and an exciting mix of new voices and 35 FFF alumni returning with outstanding new work, this promises to be a truly banner year as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.”
The 20 feature and 67 short films in the American Independent Competition will be eligible for up to three awards each: a Grand Jury Award for best film in that category, a Special Jury Award given at the jury’s discretion for exceptional achievements, and an Audience Award determined by audience votes for Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and Best Short Film. International films are also eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature and Best International Short. New this year, due to the extraordinary popularity of the Midnight Shorts category, an Audience Award will be given for Best Midnight Short as well.
2016 OFFICIAL SELECTION:
OPENING NIGHT FILM:
THE LOBSTER – IRELAND/UK/GREECE/FRANCE/NETHERLANDS/USA, DIRECTED BY YORGOS LANTHIMOS
Preceded by:
ESCARGORE – NEW ZEALAND, DIRECTED BY OLIVER HILBERT, EAST COAST PREMIERE
SPOTLIGHT FILMS:
BEING CHARLIE – DIRECTED BY ROB REINER, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE/2nd US SHOWING
THE FAMILY FANG – DIRECTED BY JASON BATEMAN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
HIGH-RISE – DIRECTED BY BEN WHEATLEY
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE – DIRECTED BY TAIKA WAITITI, FLORIDA PREMIERE
LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD – DIRECTED BY WERNER HERZOG
LOLO – DIRECTED BY JULIE DELPY, FLORIDA PREMIERE LOUDER THAN BOMBS – DIRECTED BY JOACHIM TRIER, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
LOVE & FRIENDSHIP – DIRECTED BY WHIT STILLMAN
MORRIS FROM AMERICA – DIRECTED BY CHAD HARTIGAN
NORMAN LEAR: JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF YOU – DIRECTED BY HEIDI EWING AND RACHEL GRADY
RAIDERS!: THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE – DIRECTED BY JEREMY COON AND TIM SKOUSEN, FLORIDA PREMIERE
TICKLED – DIRECTED BY DAVID FARRIER AND DYLAN REEVE
NARRATIVE FEATURES COMPETITION:
CHEERLEADER –DIRECTED BY IRVING FRANCO, FLORIDA PREMIERE/2nd US SHOWING
CRUSH THE SKULL – DIRECTED BY VIET NGUYEN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
DONALD CRIED – DIRECTED BY KRIS AVEDISIAN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
EMBERS – DIRECTED BY CLAIRE CARRÉ
HONEY BUDDIES – DIRECTED BY ALEX SIMMONS, EAST COAST PREMIERE
HUNKY DORY – DIRECTED BY MICHAEL CURTIS JOHNSON, FLORIDA PREMIERE
MAD – DIRECTED BY ROBERT G. PUTKA, FLORIDA PREMIERE
THE OTHER KIDS – DIRECTED BY CHRIS BROWN, EAST COAST PREMIERE
SLASH – DIRECTED BY CLAY LIFORD, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
TO KEEP THE LIGHT – DIRECTED BY ERICA FAE, WORLD PREMIERE
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION:
AN ACT OF LOVE – DIRECTED BY SCOTT SHEPPARD, FLORIDA PREMIERE
THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL – DIRECTED BY HOLLY MORRIS AND ANNE BOGART, FLORIDA PREMIERE
BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS – DIRECTED BY GARRETT ZEVGETIS, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
HOOLIGAN SPARROW – DIRECTED BY NANFU WANG, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W. EUGENE SMITH – DIRECTED BY SARA FISHKO, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
LEFT ON PURPOSE – DIRECTED BY JUSTIN SCHEIN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
MAN VS. SNAKE: THE LONG AND TWISTED TALE OF NIBBLER – DIRECTED BY TIM KINZY AND ANDREW SEKLIR, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
NEWMAN – DIRECTED BY JON FOX, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
ROMEO IS BLEEDING – DIRECTED BY JASON ZELDES
THANK YOU, DEL: THE STORY OF THE DEL CLOSE MARATHON – DIRECTED BY TODD BIEBER, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS COMPETITION:
THE 100 YEARS SHOW – DIRECTED BY ALISON KLAYMAN
THE 414S: THE ORIGINAL TEENAGE HACKERS – DIRECTED BY MICHAEL T. VOLLMANN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
BECOMING BLAIR – DIRECTED BY BRIANNA BARSALOU, EAST COAST PREMIERE
CHEKHOV – DIRECTED BY JACK DUNPHY, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE ENTRAPPED – DIRECTED BY RAZAN GHALAYINI, FLORIDA PREMIERE
THE HOUSE IS INNOCENT – DIRECTED BY NICHOLAS COLES
I AM YUP’IK – DIRECTED BY DANIELE ANASTASION AND NATHAN GOLON, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
LIVE FAST, DRAW YUNG – DIRECTED BY ANTHONY MATHILE AND STACEY LEE, FLORIDA PREMIERE
PICKLE – DIRECTED BY AMY NICHOLOSON, EAST COAST PREMIERE
QUEER HABITS – DIRECTED BY DREW DENNY, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
ROTATIO – DIRECTED BY SHANNON MAY MACKENZIE AND IAN McCLERIN, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
THE SEND-OFF – DIRECTED BY PATRICK BRESNAN AND IVETE LUCAS, FLORIDA PREMIERE
TRAFFIC STOP – DIRECTED BY GINA KAMENTSKY AND JULIE ZAMMARCHI, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
THE TRIALS OF CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY – DIRECTED BY RICK RODGERS, SOUTHEAST PREMIERET
HE TRICKS LIST – DIRECTED BY BRIAN BOLSTER, FLORIDA PREMIERE
WE LIVE THIS – DIRECTED BY JAMES BURNS, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
NARRATIVE SHORTS COMPETITION:
BAD AT DANCING – DIRECTED BY JOANNA ARNOW, FLORIDA PREMIERE
BLACK SWELL – DIRECTED BY JAKE HONIG, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
CHARLOTTE – DIRECTED BY ANGEL KRISTI WILLIAMS
CUDDLE PARTY – DIRECTED BY MATTHEW IRVING EPSTEIN, EAST COAST PREMIERE
DINNER WITH FAMILY WITH BRETT GELMAN AND BRETT GELMAN’S FAMILY – DIRECTED BY JASON WOLINER, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
FLORENCE – DIRECTED BY CALEB B. KUNTZ, WORLD PREMIERE
GEORGE AND THE VACUUM – DIRECTED BY CHADD HARBOLD, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS – DIRECTED BY BENJAMIN BERMAN, FLORIDA PREMIERE
HUX – DIRECTED BY MAGEINA TOVAH, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
KILLER – DIRECTED BY MATT KAZMAN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
LOS NIÑOS SICARIOS – DIRECTED BY ROB LAMBERT, EAST COAST PREMIERE
LOW BLOWS – DIRECTED BY JON BRYANT CRAWFORD, WORLD PREMIERE
MORE THAN FOUR HOURS – DIRECTED BY BRYAN POYSER, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
MY LAST FILM – DIRECTED BY ZIA ANGER, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
OTHER PEOPLE’S PEOPLE – DIRECTED BY JAMES FAUVELL, WORLD PREMIERE
PEACOCK KILLER – DIRECTED BY BOYD HOLBROOK, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
POLAROID – DIRECTED BY JAMES REPICI, WORLD PREMIERE
A REASONABLE REQUEST – DIRECTED BY ANDREW LAURICH, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
RED FOLDER – DIRECTED BY BEN KALLAM, EAST COAST PREMIERE
SAVASANA – DIRECTED BY BRANDON DALEY, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
THE SEAMSTRESS – DIRECTED BY FEDERICO SPIAZZI, WORLD PREMIERE
SNAKE BITE – DIRECTED BY TIM HYTEN, WORLD PREMIERE
SUNDAE – DIRECTED BY SONYA GODDY, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE/2nd US SHOWING
SYRAH – DIRECTED BY MIKE HOLT, WORLD PREMIERE
TAIL – DIRECTED BY MATT MERCER, WORLD PREMIERE
TEAR JERKER – DIRECTED BY AMY ADLER, WORLD PREMIERE
THUNDER ROAD – DIRECTED BY JIM CUMMINGS, EAST COAST PREMIERE
TOO LEGIT – DIRECTED BY FRANKIE SHAW, EAST COAST PREMIERE
TOUR GUIDES – DIRECTED BY DAVID BRUNDIGE, WORLD PREMIERE
VERBATIM: THE FERGUSON CASE – DIRECTED BY BRETT WEINER, EAST COAST PREMIERE
WHY THE SEA IS BOILING – DIRECTED BY ZACH SIEGEL, WORLD PREMIERE
ZELOS – DIRECTED BY THORANNA SIGURDARDOTTIR, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
ANIMATED SHORTS COMPETITION:
ALL YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS! – DIRECTED BY DANNY MADDEN, FLORIDA PREMIERE
BOB DYLAN HATES ME – DIRECTED BY CAVEH ZAHEDI, EAST COAST PREMIERE
BORROWED TIME – DIRECTED BY ANDREW COATS AND LOU HAMOU-LHADJ
BOTTOM FEEDERS – DIRECTED BY MATT REYNOLDS, FLORIDA PREMIERE
FLAWS – DIRECTED BY JOSH SHAFFNER, EAST COAST PREMIERE
GLOVE – DIRECTED BY BERNARDO BRITTO AND ALEXA LIM HAAS
HEILA ORMUR – DIRECTED BY ROSE STARK, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
THE LINGERIE SHOW – DIRECTED BY LAURA HARRISON, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
THE LONELIEST STOPLIGHT – DIRECTED BY BILL PLYMPTON
OUR CRAPPY TOWN – DIRECTED BY ANDY AND CAROLYN LONDON, FLORIDA PREMIERE
PANIC ATTACK! – DIRECTED BY EILEEN O’MEARA, WORLD PREMIERE
PERFECT HOUSEGUEST – DIRECTED BY RU KUWAHATA AND MAX PORTER, FLORIDA PREMIERE
WELCOME TO MY LIFE – DIRECTED BY ELIZABETH ITO, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2nd US SHOWING
PURE CONCENTRICITY – DIRECTED BY EVAN MANN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
T.P. – DIRECTED BY BOB BLEVINS AND BRADLEY WERLEY, FLORIDA PREMIERE
TALES OF MERE EXISTENCE: “MEANING OF LIFE (VIA PIGEONS)” – DIRECTED BY LEVNI YILMAZ, WORLD PREMIERE
TALES OF MERE EXISTENCE: “THINGS THAT KEEP ME AWAKE AT NIGHT” – DIRECTED BY LEVNI YILMAZ, WORLD PREMIERE
TALES OF MERE EXISTENCE: “EX-GIRLFRIEND IN THE SUPERMARKET” – DIRECTED BY LEVNI YILMAZ, WORLD PREMIERE
THERE’S TOO MANY OF THESE CROWS – DIRECTED BY MORGAN MILLER, WORLD PREMIERE
INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE FEATURES:
BRIDGEND – DENMARK, DIRECTED BY JEPPE RØNDE
LAMB – ETHIOPIA/FRANCE/GERMANY/NORWAY/QATAR, DIRECTED BY YARED ZELEKE
MY BIG NIGHT – SPAIN, DIRECTED BY ÁLEX DE LA IGLESIA
SONITA – GERMANY/SWITZERLAND/IRAN, DIRECTED BY ROKHSAREH GHAEM MAGHAMI
INTERNATIONAL SHORTS:
AN ARM’S LENGTH – UK, DIRECTED BY MAX WEILAND, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
BACON & GOD’S WRATH – CANADA, DIRECTED BY SOL FRIEDMAN, FLORIDA PREMIERE
BOY-RAZOR – SWEDEN, DIRECTED BY PETER PONTIKIS, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
FIGURE – BELGIUM/POLAND, DIRECTED BY KATARZYNA GONDEK, EAST COAST PREMIERE
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!! – CANADA, DIRECTED BY CHARLIE TYRELL
NELLY – AUSTRIA, DIRECTED BY CHRIS RAIBER, EAST COAST PREMIERE
OKTOPUS – PHILIPPINES, DIRECTED BY JAIME HABAC, JR., EAST COAST PREMIERE
SEIDE – KYRGYZSTAN, DIRECTED BY ELNURA OSMONALIEVA, EAST COAST PREMIERE
SEMELE – CYPRUS/GREECE/USA, DIRECTED BY MYRSINI ARISTIDOU, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORTS:
ACCIDENTS, BLUNDERS AND CALAMITIES – NEW ZEALAND, DIRECTED BY JAMES CUNNINGHAM, EAST COAST PREMIERE
BUTTERFLY HUNTER – TAIWAN, DIRECTED BY MIN-YU CHEN
CARLO – ITALY, DIRECTED BY AGO PANINI, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
DEER FLOWER – SOUTH KOREA/USA, DIRECTED BY KANGMIN KIM, FLORIDA PREMIERE
EDMOND – UK, DIRECTED BY NINA GANTZ, FLORIDA PREMIERE
GHOST CELL – FRANCE, DIRECTED BY ANTOINE DELACHARLERY, EAST COAST PREMIERE
LIFE SMARTPHONE – CHINA, DIRECTED BY CHENGLIN XIE, EAST COAST PREMIERE
LIFE WITH HERMAN H. ROTT – ESTONIA/CROATIA/DENMARK, DIRECTED BY CHINTIS LUNDGREN, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
SUPERVENUS – FRANCE, DIRECTED BY FRÉDÉRIC DOAZAN
TIMBER – SWITZERLAND, DIRECTED BY NILS HEDINGER
VIOLET – IRELAND, DIRECTED BY MAURICE JOYCE
LET’S DEUTSCHE: NEW GERMAN SHORTS:
90 DEGREES NORTH – GERMANY, DIRECTED BY DETSKY GRAFFAM, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
DISSONANCE – GERMANY, DIRECTED BY TILL NOWAK, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
LIFE IS RUGGED – GERMANY, DIRECTED BY SIMON SCHNELLMANN, FLORIDA PREMIERE
PITTER PATTER GOES MY HEART – GERMANY/AUSTRIA/USA, DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPH RAINER, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
VISITING (HAUSBESUCHE) – GERMANY, DIRECTED BY CLAUDIA MUELLER, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
WHOLE – GERMANY, DIRECTED BY VERENA KLINGER AND ROBERT BANNING, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
MIDNIGHT FEATURES:
BELLADONNA OF SADNESS – DIRECTED BY EIICHI YAMAMOTO, EAST COAST PREMIERE
THE CORPSE OF ANNA FRITZ – DIRECTED BY HÈCTOR HERNÀNDEZ VICENS, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
FEBRUARY – DIRECTED BY OSGOOD PERKINS, FLORIDA PREMIERE
IN SEARCH OF THE ULTRA-SEX – DIRECTED BY NICOLAS CHARLET AND BRUNO LAVAINE, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
MIDNIGHT SHORTS:
20 SECONDS TO LIVE: ASTAROTH – DIRECTED BY BEN ROCK, EAST COAST PREMIERE
20 SECONDS TO LIVE: CLEAR – DIRECTED BY BEN ROCK, EAST COAST PREMIERE
20 SECONDS TO LIVE: CLIMAX – DIRECTED BY BEN ROCK, EAST COAST PREMIERE
CARNAL ORIENT – DIRECTED BY MILA ZUO, FLORIDA PREMIERE
DEEP SPACE – DIRECTED BY BRUNO TONDEUR, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
DOUBLE-BLIND NO. 1 – DIRECTED BY THE DOUBLE-BLIND EXPERIMENTS
FUCKKKYOUUU – DIRECTED BY EDDIE ALCAZAR GWILLIAM – DIRECTED BY BRIAN LONANO, FLORIDA PREMIERE
MANOMAN – DIRECTED BY SIMON CARTWRIGHT, FLORIDA PREMIERE
PANGS – DIRECTED BY WENDY CONG ZHAO, EAST COAST PREMIERE
THE PAST INSIDE THE PRESENT – DIRECTED BY JAMES SIEWERT, EAST COAST PREMIERE
PORTAL TO HELL!!! – DIRECTED BY VIVIENO CALDINELLI THE PROCEDURE – DIRECTED BY CALVIN REEDER
PUDDING – DIRECTED BY RYAN BETSCHART, EAST COAST PREMIERE
THE PUPPET MAN – DIRECTED BY JACQUELINE CASTEL, EAST COAST PREMIERE
TAMPOON – DIRECTED BY JEANNE JO, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
WORM – DIRECTED BY BECKY JAMES, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2nd US SHOWING
SPECIAL SCREENINGS:
FAMILY FILMS:
APRIL AND THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD – DIRECTED BY CHRISTIAN DESMARES AND FRANCK EKINCI
PHANTOM BOY – DIRECTED BY JEAN-LOUP FELICIOLI AND ALAIN GAGNOL, FLORIDA PREMIERE
TAKING FLIGHT – DIRECTED BY BRANDON OLDENBURG, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
FOOD FILMS:
KING GEORGES – DIRECTED BY ERIKA FRANKEL
SEED: THE UNTOLD STORY – DIRECTED BY TAGGART SIEGEL AND JON BETZ, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
MUSIC FILMS:
DANNY SAYS – DIRECTED BY BRENDAN TOLLER, FLORIDA PREMIERE
HI, HOW ARE YOU DANIEL JOHNSTON? – DIRECTED BY GABRIEL SUNDAY, EAST COAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW – DIRECTED BY IDO HAAR
SYL JOHNSON: ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS – DIRECTED BY ROB HATCH-MILLER, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
RETRO FILMS:
Popcorn Flick in the Park: ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. – DIRECTED BY DON CHAFFEY (FREE in Central Park) Closing Night
Retro: WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? – DIRECTED BY MIKE NICHOLS
FLORIDA FILMS:
FLORIDA SHORTS:
THE BEST OF BROUHAHA: CARTERPILLAR – DIRECTED BY ARIEL ZENGOTITA, WORLD PREMIERE
THE DEATHS OF JAMIE SMITH – DIRECTED BY STEPHEN JEAN-JACQUES AND JORDAN LOSCALZO, WORLD PREMIERE
DIXIE – DIRECTED BY ARMAAN UPLEKAR, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE
ESCAPE FROM AQUA PLACE – DIRECTED BY RICHARD LEE, WORLD PREMIERE
THE FUNSPOT – DIRECTED BY JAKE HAMMOND
HOLA LLAMIGO – DIRECTED BY CHRISTINA CHANG AND CHARLIE PARISI, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
NO RAGRETS – DIRECTED BY PAIGE CALLAN, WORLD PREMIERE
NONE OF THAT – DIRECTED BY ANNA HINDS PADDOCK, KRITI KAUR, AND ISABELA LITTGER, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
OPEN MIKE’S – DIRECTED BY STERLING SIMS, WORLD PREMIERE
PUBERTY – DIRECTED BY LYDIA DULLINGER, FLORIDA PREMIERE
SANCTUARY – DIRECTED BY GRACE MARRERO, WORLD PREMIERE
WAN MEI – DIRECTED BY YIYI YIN
FLORIDA DOCUMENTARIES:
MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART – DIRECTED BY CECILIA ALDARONDO, SOUTHEAST PREMIERE/2ND US SHOWING
PINK BOY – DIRECTED BY ERIC ROCKEY
WRESTLING ALLIGATORS – DIRECTED BY ANDREW SHEA, WORLD PREMIERE
CELEBRITY EVENTS:
An Evening with Mark Duplass, featuring The Puffy Chair
Sunday, April 10, 7–10PM at Enzian
Mark Duplass can currently be seen starring opposite Amanda Peet, Melanie Lynskey, and Steve Zissis in the HBO series Togetherness, which he wrote, directed, and produced with his brother Jay. Mark was previously seen starring opposite Elizabeth Moss in Charlie McDowell’s subversive relationship comedy The One I Love, which premiered to fantastic reviews at Sundance. Variety wrote Mark’s performance is “spectacular” while Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Duplass is excellent…great at being playfuland loving, equally good at exposing [his] irritated, not so forgiving side.”
A true multi-hyphenate, Mark is also a writer, director, and producer credited with helping to create the mumblecore film movement: Modestly budgeted movies shot in a casually realistic manner with semi-improvised dialogue, low-tech production values, and a truthful but unpretentious style. After gaining acclaim with such mumblecore films as The Puffy Chair (2006 FFF) and Baghead, Mark parlayed his success into an independent acting career by winning starring roles opposite Emily Blunt and Rosemarie Dewitt in Your Sister’s Sister (USA Today referred to his performance as “wonderfully funny”) and Melissa McCarthy in Tammy (“Sweetly droll,” wrote Entertainment Weekly), as well as supporting roles in Kathryn Bigelow’s award-winning Zero Dark Thirty, and Peter Landesman’s examination of the Kennedy assassination, Parkland.
While focusing on his burgeoning film career, Mark simultaneously starred as a series regular for six seasons on FXX’s The League while also managing to become a fan-favorite recurring character on Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project.
THE PUFFY CHAIR
USA, 2005, 85 MIN
DIRECTED BY JAY AND MARK DUPLASS
Mr. Mark Duplass will be in attendance for a Q&A after the film.
A recliner is supposed to be relaxing. No so for Josh (Mark Duplass), who finds a perfect purple armchair on eBay and decides to take it to his dad as a birthday gift. He extends a guilt-induced invitation for this road trip to long-time girlfriend Emily (Katie Aselton), while nouveau-hippie brother Rhett invites himself. At the end of this road—by turns hilarious and wince-provoking—the trio is in a very difference place…and not just geographically. A hit at the 2006 Florida Film Festival, Mark and Jay Duplass deliver a surprising, funny, and scathing first feature which hits so squarely on the most awkward moments of relationships you may feel you’ve starred in some of these scenes. THE PUFFY CHAIR (a two-time Independent Spirit Award nominee and winner of the Audience Award at SXSW) smartly revitalizes both the relationship and road trip genres with tart wit, unblinking honesty, and brilliant comedic instinct.
An Evening with Sissy Spacek, featuring Badlands
Friday, April 15, 7:30-11PM at Enzian
Sissy Spacek has been one of the industry’s most respected actresses in a career spanning four decades. Her many honors include an Academy Award®,a Screen Actors Guild Award, five additional Oscar® nominations, a Grammy nomination, three Golden Globe Awards, and numerous critics awards.
She first gained the attention of critics and audiences with her performance in Terrence Malick’s widely praised 1973 drama Badlands. In 1976, Spacek earned her first Academy Award nomination and won a National Society of Film Critics Award for her chilling performance in the title role of Brian De Palma’s Carrie, based on the Stephen King novel. The following year, she won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for her work in Robert Altman’s Three Women.
In 1980, Spacek starred as Loretta Lynn in the acclaimed biopic Coal Miner’s Daughter, winning the Oscar and Golden Globe Award for her performance. Spacek also swept the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics, National Board of Review, and National Society of Film Critics Awards for her portrayal of the country music legend.
Spacek received another Golden Globe nomination the next year for her work in Raggedy Man, directed by her husband Jack Fisk. She earned her third Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her role in Costa-Gavras’s 1982 drama Missing, opposite Jack Lemmon, and her fourth Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her work in 1984’s The River, in which she starred with Mel Gibson.
In 1987, Spacek gained her fifth Academy Award nomination and won another Golden Globe and the New York film Critics Circle Award for her performance in the dark comedy Crimes of the Heart. Her most recent Oscar nomination came for her portrayal of a mother grieving for her murdered son in the drama In the Bedroom, for which she also won a Golden Globe Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and an AFI Film Award for Best Actress. In addition, she garnered Best Actress Awards from a number of critics’ organizations, including the Los Angeles, New York, and Broadcast Film Critics. Her work in In the Bedroom also brought Spacek two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominations, one for Outstanding Lead Actress and another for Outstanding Cast, shared with the rest of the film’s ensemble.
Some of Spacek’s other film credits include A Home at the End of the World; The Straight Story; Affliction; JFK; The Long Walk Home; Hot Rod; Night, Mother; Four Christmases; Get Low; and The Help. She can currently be seen in Netflix’s Bloodline.
BADLANDS USA, 1973, 94 MIN
DIRECTED BY TERRENCE MALICK
Ms. Spacek will be in attendance for a Q&A after the film.
In 1958, Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate’s teenage killing-spree made headlines across the country as the pair of lovers-on-the-run murdered ten people over nine days. Fifteen years later 28-year-old American Film Institute graduate student Terrence Malick (Tree of Life, Days of Heaven) re-imagined their violent folktale as his lyrical debut feature BADLANDS. Starring Martin Sheen as Kit Carruthers, a restless young man with James Dean looks, and introducing the world to the ethereal innocence of then relatively unknown Sissy Spacek as Kit’s 15-year-old girlfriend Holly, the film follows the reckless exploits of this modern day Bonnie and Clyde as they make their way aimlessly across South Dakota, after the murder of Holly’s father. Equal parts storybook romance and American horror story, the film is carried by Spacek’s wistful voiceover—a blend of poetic reminiscence and contemporaneous naïveté. Hailed by critics as a “ferociously American film,” BADLANDS has since gone on to become one of the most respected films of the 1970s.
FESTIVAL FORUMS:
Perseverance: Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves
Sponsored by Full Sail University
Wednesday, April 13, 11AM–12:30PM at Enzian
In a record-breaking year, 59 women directors are represented in the 2016 Florida Film Festival. And while we are incredibly proud of that fact, the sad truth is it is an anomaly in the world of film. In February of this year, the Media, Diversity & Social Change (MDSC) Initiative at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism released a landmark study that assessed gender for a total of 4,284 directors across all episodes of 305 scripted series and 109 motion pictures. What this study discovered was that only 3.4% of all film directors were female—a ratio of 28.5 to 1 with their male counterparts. Featuring several acclaimed female filmmakers from this year’s festival—including Claire Carré whose film Embers was named of the “10 Best Undistributed Movies of 2015” by IndieWire, Nanfu Wang whose film Hooligan Sparrow had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and writer/director/producer/star Erica Fae of FFF world premiere To Keep the Light—this forum will provide insight from a group of wildly courageous women who are breaking through the glass ceilings of Hollywood to make their distinctive voices heard. Moderated by Anne Russell, Program Director—Film Production MFA at Full Sail University.
An Introduction to Cinematography
Thursday, April 14, 9AM–4PM (2 Sessions) at Full Sail University
Morning Session open to Full Sail Students: 9AM–NOON
Afternoon Session open to Passholders: 1:30–4PM
Former Kodak Imaging scientist and educator Randy Tack will lead a lesson in color theory as it relates to film, film exposure and light meters, and basic film lighting. Also learn how to operate, load, and shoot both 35mm and 16mm motion picture cameras with Kodak Motion Picture Film. Want to learn all about film? Now is your chance!
The Bigger Picture: From Shorts to Features
Thursday, April 14, 11AM–12:30PM at Enzian
From Bottle Rocket and The Evil Dead, to Frankenweenie and Boogie Nights, there is a long and storied history of adapting short film projects into feature films. In 2013 the Florida Film Festival featured three short films—director Clay Liford’s “Slash,” and actor/writer Chris Dinh’s “Things You Don’t Joke About” and “Crush the Skull.” That same year, Kris Avedisian was wowing Slamdance audiences with his short film “Donald Cried.” These three filmmakers, each featured in competition at this year’s festival, have adapted their acclaimed shorts into brilliant, inventive, and hilarious full-length films. They will join us on the Enzian stage to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities available when translating a short subject into a long-form feature film—as well as take your questions.
Filmmaker Forum
Friday, April 15, 11AM–12:30PM at Enzian
The Florida Film Festival hosts some of the most talented new independent filmmakers every year and always sets aside one day just to pick their brains. This lively and dynamic exchange of ideas and know-how inevitably defines a high point in the festival—peppered with tales of triumph, challenge, and creative methods. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime airing of artistic laundry by the filmmakers who get the job done. FFF selections committee member and Rollins College Professor Denise Cummings, Chair of the Department of Critical Media and Cultural Studies, will moderate.
FESTIVAL EVENTS AND PARTIES:
Opening Night Party
Friday, April 8 8PM–2AM
Film & Party ticket price $110
Film ONLY ticket price $25
Party ONLY ticket price $95
Enzian & Eden Bar
1300 South Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
Celebrate opening night of the 2016 Florida Film Festival and sample food and cocktails from your favorite local spots. Following a fabulous Opening Night Film, this legendary party launches a non-stop, fun-filled, 10-day celebration of Film, Food, and Friends.
Eden’s Cocktail hour 8-9PM
Food will be served 8:30–11PM
Drinks will be available all night.
Festival Block Party
Saturday, April 9
Sponsored by Winter Park Village 3-5PM
Regal Winter Park Village
510 North Orlando Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
Free for all Festival Ticket and pass holders Look for the Winter Park Village fountain—located across from the Regal Cinema—for a Block Party celebration of the Florida Film Festival. Festival ticket and pass holders will receive free drinks and appetizers from select Winter Park Village restaurants and also enjoy live entertainment. Space is limited so plan to arrive early.
Locally Fresh!
Sunday, April 10 11AM-12:30PM
Tickets are $12 each
Farmers Market NOON- 2:30PM FREE
Enzian 1300 South Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
Feed all your senses! Central Florida farmers and food purveyors partner-up with local filmmakers at this utterly unique (and mouth-watering) event—a festival favorite! Filmmakers dig into the stock and trade of what makes Central Florida delicious. Watch their documentaries accompanied by cooking demonstrations and sumptuous samples. A feast for the eyes… and the taste buds.
After Locally Fresh! the lawn at Eden Bar transforms into a Farmers Market, filled with local products fresh from the field. Get to know Central Florida’ s finest famers and vendors… and don’ t miss this delicious opportunity to take some local goodies home for your own feast.
Sunday Brunch Buffet
Sunday, April 10
$13.99 11AM-2PM
Enzian & Eden Bar
1300 South Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
Enjoy a yummy pre-movie brunch with friends and compare notes on all things Florida Film Festival! This mouth-watering brunch prepared by our own chef is sure to leave a good taste in your mouth. No ticket necessary.
Filmmaker Welcome Party
Sponsored by Full Sail University
Thursday, April 14 8–11PM
Invitation Only
The Hourglass Brewery
480 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd.
Longwood, FL 32750
Full Sail University invites filmmakers, festival fans, and industry movers-and-shakers to spend the evening mingling in high style. This classy event will bring a little swank to your Thursday night and warm you up for the final weekend of the Festival.
Industry Party
Friday, April 15 8–11PM
Invitation Only
The Copper Rocket
106 Lake Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
Filmmakers and film lovers gather for a casual evening of fun. New friends and future projects are celebrated in a casual atmosphere… with plenty of beer.
Awards Bash
Saturday, April 16 4:30PM
Dinner Buffet 5:30PM
Awards Ceremony 6PM
After Party at Eden Bar
Ticket are $45 in advance,
$50 day of the event
Enzian & Eden Bar
1300 South Orlando Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
Have you picked your favorite films of the Festival? At the annual Awards Ceremony, you’ ll be among the first to find out if they’ve won prestigious Jury and Audience Awards. Dinner is included in the ticket price and will be served before the Awards Ceremony… and after the last award is given, roll out to Eden Bar to raise a glass and kick up your heels at the Awards Bash After Party.
Closing Sunday Brunch Buffet
Sunday, April 17 $13.99 11AM-2PM
Enzian & Eden Bar
1300 South Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
Enjoy a yummy pre-movie brunch with friends and compare notes on all things Florida Film Festival! This mouth-watering brunch prepared by our own chef is sure to leave a good taste in your mouth. No ticket necessary.
