Photo by Mollie Grady

Seriously, where else might you attend as fascinating a motion picture as the new Kevin Kline movie THE EXTRA MAN at a venue as glorious as the opulent Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall? And then get to stay to see the star and his amazing directors, the husband wife team Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini discuss their amazing film!

Plus we had our intensely exciting and wonderfully edifying IN CONVERSATIONS WITH series featuring a stunning succession of great talents: Kevin Kline, Don Hahn (producer of THE LION KING), Patricia Clarkson and Vincent D’Onofrio.

Photo by Ellie P. Campbell

The stars came out for HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS, our celebration of the fine work of SFF’s Outreach and Education division helmed by Allison Koehler-and they were so young! These are our filmmakers of tomorrow and SFF is thrilled and delighted to help them hone their craft and receive the acclaim they deserve.

UNIFEM’s Through Women’s Eyes series and our Cinema Diaspora: Perspectives on Jewish Identity enjoyed strong support at their showings (and they had such fine films to offer!) In fact, SFF 2010 put nearly 170 movies before attendees at the Regal Hollywood 20 this year (props to our friend J.J.!) thanks to the fine picks by artistic director Tom Hall and director of programming Holly Herrick, who deserve a huge round of applause of their tireless and amazing efforts!

There were so many incredible screenings with filmmakers in attendance, far too many to be listed here, and were proud to honor our Florida filmmakers at the Sarasota Yacht Club for Cinema Tropical!

SFF 2010 also hosted a mind-bendingly awesome staged reading of QUEER from the screenplay by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Oren Moverman (SFF 2009’s THE MESSENGER) with performances by Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci, Ben Foster, Lisa Joyce and John Ventimiglia. When QUEER (based on the novel by the acclaimed William. S. Burroughs) is produced it will surely by an Oscar-caliber film–and those who attended saw it here, first.

Photo By Fernando Leon/Elevation Photos

This year’s Filmmaker Tribute to John Landis was a thriller–and it became a matter of John versus
the Volcano as this legendary director (ANIMAL HOUSE, BLUES BROTHERS) was trapped in England and had to attend via Skype, yet the audience cheered to his witty observances and hilarious tales of Hollywood filmmaking. It was a night of awards as well, with WINTER’S BONE, THE OATH, GASLAND, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE, COLD WEATHER, INGELORE, THE NEW YEAR and so many more taking home major wins!

Photo By Fernando Leon/Elevation Photos

Patti Smith rocked the house at the Closing Night After Party at Ceviche, another great surprise, and her acoustic set included not only her signature song BECAUSE THE NIGHT but many other classics and some fun audience sing-alongs like BE MY BABY. Everyone was smiles and love that night—and heck, that feeling permeated the entire festival. I spoke with countless filmmakers at our filmmaker lounge at Urban Reef and audience members everywhere who said that was indeed the best year of SFF ever.

Photo by Mollie Grady

Our excellent closing night film SATURDAY NIGHT directed by James Franco and it capped a final day of amazing films and filmmakers. And through it all, at our parties and screenings, the hoopers from THE HOOPING LIFE added to the celebration!

The staff and volunteers were tireless and amazing, Mark Famiglio and Kathy Jordan were the heart and soul of this amazing event, Robert and Shannon Warren of the Warren Backpack Program were all smiles everywhere they went, and, as filmmaker Ingrid Veninger (MODRA and four-time SFF attendee) said, “The warmth of the audiences and filmmakers is incredibly inspiring. This is a huge reason why I make films, to come to festivals and meet great people. Sarasota Film Festival is up there as one of my favorites in the world!”

Then there was that little industry pub called VARIETY that praised us as the acme of film festivals. Not too shabby!

Can’t wait for more? Then mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Sarasota Film Festival April 8-17, 2011! See you at the movies!

I am—

THE INSIDER—wanted by motion picture executives for revealing industry secrets to a public with the Right to Know, “The Insider” has spent over 15 years working behind the scenes in almost every aspect of “The Biz” developing a secret network of contacts, spies, moles, and highly trained counter-intelligence operatives and movie ninjas whose only goal is to inform and entertain you—and help you make this the best year of the Sarasota Film Festival ever!

Our closing night film plays at Regal Hollywood 20 just like our other films. A heartfelt apology from SFF 2010 for any confusion regarding where it would screen. (Our daily newsletter carried incorrect information this morning and we are preparing to send out a correction now.)

In the meantime, THE FILM!

In December of 2007, James Franco spent an entire week behind the scenes at America’s most famous comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Given unprecedented access to the production process, Franco captures the making of a single episode in all of its hilarious detail. The film follows the cast and writers as they meet with host John Malkovich on Monday afternoon to pitch him sketch ideas through to the final live performance of the show on national television. In between, we see the fast paced and quick-witted world of the performers as they scramble and compete to have their ideas accepted and their sketches integrated into the final show. SATURDAY NIGHT is a one-of-a-kind record of one of America’s longest running television programs, a funny and engaging look at the weekly tightrope walk undertaken by these talented performers as they create an entire 90 minute show in just six days. The Sarasota Film Festival is proud to present SATURDAY NIGHT as our 2010 Closing Night Film.

LISTEN UP!

Remember, there are almost always rush tickets available, so get out there and see this one–it sports a cool quotient that is off the charts!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!

THE STORY: It’s hard to get any peace of mind when you have a house that’s teeming with the lost souls of the dead, but if you’re a good fortune-teller like Zel, at least you can make a profit from it. The dead souls that inhabit Zel’s decrepid, backwoods home earn their keep by supplying tips that keep her psychic business bustling. But when the souls receive a strange message from beyond earth, Zel realizes that her attachment to them goes beyond business interests. ALL MY FRIENDS ARE FUNERAL SINGERS is the first narrative feature created by Tim Rutili of the band Califone, whose members appear in the film and provide its beautiful, haunting score.

I am—

THE INSIDER—wanted by motion picture executives for revealing industry secrets to a public with the Right to Know, “The Insider” has spent over 15 years working behind the scenes in almost every aspect of “The Biz” developing a secret network of contacts, spies, moles, and highly trained counter-intelligence operatives and movie ninjas whose only goal is to inform and entertain you—and help you make this the best year of the Sarasota Film Festival ever!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!

LISTEN HERE for a wonderful chat with the delightful director Ingrid Veninger and her star Hallie Switzer about their first screening at SFF 2010 and this marvelous movie! 

Listen to her talk about her experiences at SFF, the movies she’s seen and the ones she’s looking forward to before the festival wraps tomorrow night!

THE STORY: Lina (Hallie Switzer) is seventeen years old and lives in Toronto with her mother. For one week during the summer holidays she plans to visit her extended family in Modra, a small town in Slovakia. Suddenly single, Lina invites Leco (Alexander Gammal), a cute boy from school, to join her for the journey. Arriving in Modra, Lina’s relatives mistakenly assume that a romance is afoot, setting off a chain reaction which leads to an explosion of repressed desire and confusion. MODRA is a journey into a time when adulthood has not yet arrived, but childhood seems to have already long vanished.

This is a screening of a Work In Progress. Please join Director Ingrid Veninger and Star Hallie Switzer (also the director’s daughter) for a in-depth discussion of your reactions to the film.

I am—

THE INSIDER—wanted by motion picture executives for revealing industry secrets to a public with the Right to Know, “The Insider” has spent over 15 years working behind the scenes in almost every aspect of “The Biz” developing a secret network of contacts, spies, moles, and highly trained counter-intelligence operatives and movie ninjas whose only goal is to inform and entertain you—and help you make this the best year of the Sarasota Film Festival ever!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW!

Remember, there are almost always tickets available in our rush line, so don’t miss this amazing film tonight!

It’s the last summer weekend before school begins in Detroit, Michigan, and several groups of high schoolers prepare for a night of parties that will kick off their social lives in the new year. Anxieties about drinking, crushes and friendships will create high drama, and only one thing is certain: it’s going to be a long and intense night for all. For those no longer in high school, MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER transports us back to the excitement, mystery and agonizing pain of those first kisses and crushes, and paints an authentic and moving depiction of experiences universal to American youth.

I am—

THE INSIDER—wanted by motion picture executives for revealing industry secrets to a public with the Right to Know, “The Insider” has spent over 15 years working behind the scenes in almost every aspect of “The Biz” developing a secret network of contacts, spies, moles, and highly trained counter-intelligence operatives and movie ninjas whose only goal is to inform and entertain you—and help you make this the best year of the Sarasota Film Festival ever!

LISTEN HERE!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!

In THE KIDS GROW UP, filmmaker Doug Block (51 BIRCH STREET) turns his lens on his family to tell a larger story about fathers and daughters, marriage and modern-day parenting. Lucy Block is the filmmaker’s only child and, from the moment of her birth, Doug has documented much of her life – and their relationship – on camera. Their connection is the focus of a larger story about the joys and angst of parenting and the aging of the baby boomer generation. As Block struggles with letting his daughter go, the family’s personal experience takes on a universal dimension.

You can see it on Sunday at 4:15 PM by!  Simply–

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!

And listen here for an audio interview! 

THE STORY: The rootless characters of COLD WEATHER are living in a world of unknowns, which is why they know that there are few things as satisfying as getting to the bottom of a true mystery. Brother and sister Doug and Gail have just moved back to their hometown of Portland, Oregon, hoping for another chance at jumpstarting their grown up lives. When Doug’s ex-girlfriend comes to town unexpectedly, only to disappear shortly after, Doug, Gail, and their new friend Carlos appoint themselves as detectives in what they see as a real life Sherlock Holmes situation. While it is part classic mystery, at the heart of COLD WEATHER is a beautiful, natural story of family camaraderie and friendship.

I am—

THE INSIDER—wanted by motion picture executives for revealing industry secrets to a public with the Right to Know, “The Insider” has spent over 15 years working behind the scenes in almost every aspect of “The Biz” developing a secret network of contacts, spies, moles, and highly trained counter-intelligence operatives and movie ninjas whose only goal is to inform and entertain you—and help you make this the best year of the Sarasota Film Festival ever!

LISTEN HERE!

THE FILM: Granting redemption is never easy, but sometimes forgiveness is the only way to heal yourself. Meet Julie (Christine Kelly), a conservative Christian girl who spends her days working and her evenings volunteering in order to serve her faith. When she falls victim to a sexual assault, Julie decides to keep the child conceived in this violent act and to try and forgive the man responsible by visiting him in prison and trying to get him to change his outlook on life. LOVING THE BAD MAN is a faith-based film that seeks to give voice to the message of forgiveness.

I am—

THE INSIDER—wanted by motion picture executives for revealing industry secrets to a public with the Right to Know, “The Insider” has spent over 15 years working behind the scenes in almost every aspect of “The Biz” developing a secret network of contacts, spies, moles, and highly trained counter-intelligence operatives and movie ninjas whose only goal is to inform and entertain you—and help you make this the best year of the Sarasota Film Festival ever!