Save the date for SFF 2013: April 5-14!

In the film Moulin Rouge the extraordinary stage show meant to top all that had come before was called the SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR! For me, that was this year at the festival. A dazzling high wire act complete with pyrotechnics as the Flying Wallenda Family performed at our Cinema Tropicale celebration at the glorious Sarasota Yacht Club (followed by an encore at our President's Dinner inside the Sarasota Opera House)! Amazing breakdancing "robots" tearing it up at our opening night party at the Van Wezel in honor of the truly amazing ROBOT & FRANK. WWE Superstar wrestlers Rey Mysterio and Kelly Kelly walking the red carpet for THE DAY (did you see the little boy dressed like Rey, complete with mask and championship belt?) Frank Langella signing books and kissing babies at Bookstore1 as if he were running for office. (And you know what I've been saying from day one of the festival, I think he will be competing early next year in the Oscar race for his incredibly nuanced and touching performance in Robot & Frank, just like Christopher Plummer who was here with Beginners then went on to take the award! We had Dominic Monaghan from LOST and LORD OF THE RINGS, Ashley Bell, Jena Malone, Jess Weixler, the wonderful and gracious Jordan Gelber (star of Todd Solondz's Dark Horse)... the list goes on and on.

The most spectacular aspect of all from this year's festival was the emphasis on FILMS and FILMMAKERS. With over 235 films to choose from

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Saturday Night's Filmmaker Awards ceremony at the Sarasota Opera House (followed by our triumphant screening of Joe Berlinger's Paul Simon documentary Under African Skies) was a rousing success. The entire evening was enchanting and uplifting and perhaps never more so than when Allison Koehler brought out her youthFEST award winners to take the stage and take a well-deserved bow. These are the filmmakers of tomorrow here today and it will be a thrill to see what each of them does next. I had the pleasure of interviewing many of the filmmakers who won awards Saturday night and can tell you first hand the level of passion, committment and brilliance each and every one of our nominees and winners brings to their work. A big round of applause for everyone and without further ado, here are the winners!  

Photo by Becky Bolletti

Elena wins this year’s

Sarasota Film Festival Narrative Feature prize

Big Boys Gone Bananas!* wins Documentary Feature 

The Independent Visions Prize awarded to

The Unspeakable Act

Sarasota, Florida – April 21st – The 2012 Sarasota Film Festival announced this year’s jury and audience award winners at the historic Sarasota Opera House in downtown Sarasota. Elena directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev took home this year’s Narrative Feature Jury prize. Big Boys Gone Bananas!* by director Fredrik Gertten was the Documentary Jury Prize winner.  Two special jury prizes were awarded; in the Narrative category Alps directed by Giorgos Lanthimos took

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In the final years of World War II, many of the children who had survived the Jewish ghetto and time in the Nazi camps were sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp, where they were housed together in Kinderblock 66. In his profoundly moving film, executive producer Steven Moskovic joins his father Alex and several other survivors on a journey to reunite at Buchenwald for a commemoration of the liberation of the camp by Allied forces. The stories of the men who survived the camp cover a wide range of experiences, providing an important reminder that survival is only the beginning of a new story.

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Steven Moskovic, executive producer of this amazing film and very personal film. He told me, “This is a story about survival. We follow the lives of four men who, as adolescents, were incarcerated in Nazi concentration camps. We talk about their journey, how they were saved by the communist underground and how they were reborn on April 11, 1945 and started new lives.”

The film tells their stories from those early harrowing experiences to the present. “My father was one of those boys,” Steven reveals. “I knew very little of the details until June of 2009 when I visited Buchenwald for the first time. There I learned about this barrack where they housed boys, segregating them from the general population of the camp. This protected the boys from the harsh German winters; most of them didn’t have shoes or proper clothing. But the

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RED ALERT REMINDER: This is the Big Show, everyone, and at all happens at the Sarasota Opera House! See our stars and filmmakers on the red carpet. Enjoy an amazing and fun presentation honoring our top liners! See a spectacular screening of Joe Berlinger's documentary UNDER AFRICAN SKIES detailing the epic journey of Paul Simon to South African for the creation of Graceland, his biggest release, which helped shine a light on the very culture that apartheid sought to wipe out and his emotional and thoughtful return 25 years later to revisit this land to sit with one of his harshest critics and regroup with the performers who helped him usher in what would become the World Music Movement for a triumphant concert that will have you laughing, applauding and singing along. 

This is a night that will live in your heart forever. Don't miss it!

BREAKING NEWS!!! 

Two for Tuesdays! For the first time ever, buy one ticket for any Sarasota Film Festival Tuesday screening and receive a second ticket of equal value free. Premium platinum value! Titanic savings! (No, you don't get into that movie, you have to see one of ours!) Such the deal!

OFFER GOOD ON TUESDAY SCREENINGS ONLY. Must redeem in person at the Box Office at Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20, 1993 Main St., Sarasota. 

MATINEE MADNES continues! All screenings before 5:00 PM today are only 8 bucks. (And yes, they are two for one as well! Yow! SHAZAM!!!)

Okay, let me catch my breath here and get back to the business of giving you the head's up about some great films we're showing today.

Our spotlight goes to I AM A GOOD PERSON, I AM A BAD PERSON by the very talented Ingrid Veninger. Her first screening is today at 5:00 PM. Ingrid is a SFF mainstay. I'd tell you how many times she's been here, but she does such a great job of getting that (and so much more) across that I'm going to let her take it away. CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON to hear Ingrid tell you all about her work and her last est film!

I AM A GOOD PERSON, I AM A BAD PERSON also plays Friday at 7:30 PM at the Neal Auditorium!

So what else do we have for you? Well, since you asked so nicely...

FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE

SHORTS 5: SHORT SLICES OF LIFE

2:00 PM

* ABUELAS | Afarin Eghbal 2011

* AQUADETTES | Drea Cooper & Zackary Canepari

* CATCAM | Seth Keal

*

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Jenn (Jenn Harris) and Matt (Matthew Wilkas) are childhood friends facing an age old dilemma; neither of them is having much success finding a boyfriend and Jenn's biological clock is relentlessly, incessantly ticking. And so, the pair decide to act upon an old agreement; they decide to make a baby together. The old fashioned way. In Jonathan Lisecki's hilarious GAYBY, the problems of modern living are front and center, allowing a real tenderness to emerge between the laughs. A film for lovers of comedy, GAYBY is filled with characters who are equally adept at baring their claws as they are baring their souls.

GAYBY SCREENS THURDAY, APRIL 19, 8:00 PM AND ENCORES SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 4:30 PM!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW!

I also strongly suggest grabbing tickets (while they last) for Ira Sach's stunning LGBT-interest drama KEEP THE LIGHTS ON! You'll see an interview with Ira shortly about the film. In the meantime, CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW!

THE INSIDER: What is Gayby about?

JONATHAN LISECKI: Gayby is about two best friends from college-a straight woman and a gay man-who decide to fulfill an old promise to have a child together. Because of some absurd mix of nostalgia, phobia, and feeling dared, they decide to actually have sex. Once the seriousness of impending parenthood starts creeping in, they try to get their lives together in time for the arrival of their gayby. It's an often hilarious comedy with a huge heart and amazing performances. I guarantee a good

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From January through April, more than 5,000 students participated in 12 education programs covering all aspects of filmmaking—from film critique and review to screenwriting and production.  Last Night was a celebration of many of those participants and the amazing work they have accomplished through our programs. The Sarasota Film Festival is distinguished in its commitment to accessibility and affordability and we are extremely proud to be able to offer all of our Education programs at absolutely no cost to the thousands of participants.  

(Photo by Becky Bolletti)

JURY AWARDS

The 2012 SFF Young Filmmakers Showcase PROMISING YOUNG FILMMAKER AWARD (Best Film) goes to Gaby Connor and Colton Bazenas for RAGE (Booker High School)

The 2012 SFF Young Filmmakers Showcase Honorable Mention goes to THE GOOD KIDS by Benjamin Edelman, Sidney Wright, Levi Waxler, and Samantha Harris (Inspired Minds)

The 2012 SFF Reel Life Studio BEST FILM Award goes to Colton Bazenas, Sebastian Gottwald, Keishen Lloyd, and Pearce Rouwhorst (Booker High School)

AUDIENCE AWARDS

The 2012 SFF Reel Life Studio Audience Choice Award goes to Cindy Allen, Madelaine Perruso, Adele Streissguth, and Alyssa Vanwagner (Booker High School)

CLASSROOM CRITICS

From Booker Middle School: CORNELIUS STEPHENS

From St. Stephen’s Episcopal School: JULIA WOODSON

From Pineview School: CONNOR FLAHERTY

From Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences: MICAH GALLAGHER

Classroom Critic is

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DON'T FORGET, all films today before 5:00 PM are only 8 bucks! Today we have a great audio interview with Peter Sanders, director of Altina, co-hosted by morning drive radio superstar Robyn Davis from WWPR 1490 AM's Henry Raines Show! Listen to Henry's show for more great talk and some SFF surprises! 

And tonight's the night for Rory Kennedy's IN CONVERSATION at the Sarasota High School at 5:30 PM! This is your chance to see history come alive as Rory discusses her film ETHEL (all about the extraordinary life of her mother Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert Kennedy.) CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW!

SPOTLIGHT FILM WITH FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE: ALTINA DIRECTED BY PETER SANDERS 

A sheltered heiress who grew up cloistered in one of New York City's most richly-historied mansions, kept, along with her sisters and beautiful young mother under lock and key by a well-meaning but domineering, old world tycoon father, Altina Schinasi Miranda (1907-1999), a pre-feminist visionary, broke wildly free of her constraints and forged a free-spirited, civically active, and creatively prolific life.

Altina screens at 5:45 PM today. CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW!

CLICK THE GREEN "PLAY" BUTTON TO HEAR THE DIRECTOR DISCUSS HIS FILM!

ALSO TODAY WITH FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE (Click on the titles to buy tickets!)

NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING

6:00 PM 

NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING examines Adele, a young woman dying to escape Bartow, FL. Driven by the

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The big day is here! In just a second we’re going to talk MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES! But first, tonight we have ROBOT & FRANK, our Opening Night Film at 7:00 PM starring FRANK LANGELLA (who will be in attendance with director Jake Schreier) PLUS our stupendous OPENING NIGHT PARTY at 9:00 PM! Both are at the always incredible VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER! Woo-Hoo! Tomorrow Mr. Langella signs his flat-out fantastic memoir DROPPED NAMES: FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN AS I KNEW THEM at 11:00 AM at BOOKSTORE1 on Main Street (only books purchased from Bookstore1 will be signed) and at 1:00 PM he will be at Sarasota High School for his sure-to-be riveting IN CONVERSATION moderated by New York Magazine and IN CONVERSATION moderated by New York Magazine and NPR’s Fresh Air contributor DAVID EDELSTEIN! (Click on any of those titles to buy tickets now! And if you are a theater enthusiast, you will definitely want to see Mr. Langella live. He's a three time Tony-Award winner!)

Now I’d like to shine a light on two incredible attractions that SFF offers on many of our films. First up, you may see the phrase FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE in our flyers or Morning Buzz Newsletters (go to our home page and enter your e-mail and zip code under SFF News to subscribe). Here’s what that’s all about: We not only have big name film stars attend the festival, we also have dozens and dozens of amazing independent filmmakers come here to promote their screenings.

Think about that. When you come to one

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Amy Seimetz is a multi-talented artist who has appeared at SFF many times in recent years. As an actor you will recognize her from SFF's acclaimed THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER & TINY FURNITURE (and, of course, last year's wonderful film by Megan Griffiths' THE OFF HOURS.) She also appeared in the SFF film THE JONESTOWN DEFENSE and A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE from V/H/S wraparound director Adam Wingard!

This year Amy is here in support of her feature film directorial debut, SUN DON'T SHINE. This is a magnificent achievement, a film rich in atmosphere, nuance and tension filled with outstanding performances and shot in and around St. Petersburg and Bradenton! SUN DON'T SHINE screens THIS SATURDAY at 7:00 PM and encores Thursday, April 19 at 6:00 PM. Amy will be here for Q&As after both screenings! Click here to buy tickets now!

Before we talk to Amy, a few recommendations of great films at SFF 2012 from other returning alums! Click on the titles to buy tickets! They're going fast!

LEAVE ME LIKE YOU FOUND ME: The directorial debut of Adele Romanski who produced SFF alums MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER and THE FREEBIE! Adele will be here for Q&As after her screenings! Friday, April 20, 6:15 PM, encores Sunday, April 22, 7:00 PM.

ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA: Part of our Documentary Feature Competition, an amazing exploration of nuclear power plant communities and more from Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce (ROCK SCHOOL, LAST DAYS HERE, ART OF THE STEAL.) Don and Sheena will be

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HOT LIST FILM RECOMMENDATIONS: SOME FOR THIS WEEKEND!

Last year's THROUGH THE TUNNEL told a remarkably moving story that engaged a huge audience and illuminated an important part of African American history that unfolded in our area. This year VETERANS OF COLOR does all that and more. This is a must-see documentary telling the stories of what African American veterans faced upon returning home after their service in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. And all the subjects live in our area. These are the amazing stories of your neighbors and you must hear them firsthand. This is a movie everyone will be talking about this weekend, so get your tickets now! Filmmaker Mark Parry is scheduled to appear for after screening Q&As!

VETERANS OF COLOR screens this Saturday at 7:15 PM and encores Tuesday, April 17th at 5:30 PM.

Coming up in just a moment is an exclusive interview with VETERANS OF COLOR director Mark Parry. Before that, take a quick look at—

A LOT LIKE YOU	ALL ME: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WINFRED REMBERT	GIMME THE LOOT	RHYTHM OF STRUCTURE: BOWERY AND BEYOND	WELCOME TO PINE HILL
Activist turned filmmaker Eliaichi Kimaro, goes in search of her identity and discovers long held family secrets.	In the 1960’s, a lynch mob in a small Georgia town confronted a young man named Winfred Rembert during a civil rights march....	Malcolm and Sofia are graffiti loving teenagers on a mission; they want to tag the ultimate New

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Florida film school graduates represent! Both the director and producer of Not Waving But Drowning graduated from the Film School at Florida State University and portions of the film were shot here in Florida. So what's this one about? 

Not Waving But Drowning is a chronological look at growing up, formed from two different stories. The first is based on the short story The Most Girl Part of You by the acclaimed American author, Amy Hempel. In the days after his mother commits suicide, Big Guy and his best friend, Amy, begin to see each other in new ways. Dark yet sweet, the story brings rushing back the excitement of those moments when you know childhood is gone and your real life is just about to begin. The second story is less about growing up and more about growing out. Growing out of old friendships, growing out of your skin and growing out of who you thought you wanted to be. 

The stories are connected by the characters common discovery of the American dilemma: the tear between longing for the past and the desire to explore. 

NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING screens Monday, April 16 at 6:00 PM and Wedneday, April 18 at 5:00 PM with Director Devyn Waitt and Producer Nicole Emanuele scheduled to attend after-screening Q&As.

THE INSIDER: What inspired you to tell this story?

DEVYN WAITT: A lot of experiences and ideas that felt unique and urgent followed by a time of feeling really lost and needing to take up space. As the project gained traction I think I came up with

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Debra Zimmerman, Executive Director of Women Make Movies is the recipient of the SFF 2012 IMPACT AWARD, which will be presented by UN Women US National Committee Board Member Carol Poteat Buchanan at the Filmmaker Tribute, Saturday, April 21st at 6:00 PM at the Sarasota Opera House. And as part of our SFF&SCF program, Debra will appear as a panelist in our free In Conversation with Women in Film. This panel discussion will be held Friday, April 20 at 5:30 PM at the Neel Performing Arts Center on the campus of The State College of Florida.

Zimmerman tells us, "Women Make Movies is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year and we are excited to be partnering again with the Sarasota Film Festival and Through Women's Eyes on such great programming and with the Side by Side mentorship program. This program is one of 40 worldwide events spanning the globe that will celebrate the organization's work in transforming the landscape for independent women's films and filmmakers."

Would you like an A-Z for Women Make Movies and recommendations of five great films SFF 2012 is showing in honor of WMM and Debra's achievements? Well, then, you've come to the right place!

THE INSIDER: When was Women Make Movies founded?

DEBRA ZIMMERMAN: 1972.

THE INSIDER: Why was it established?

DEBRA ZIMMERMAN: WMM was founded by Ariel Dougherty and Sheila Page in 1972 with a very specific mission: to put cameras into the hands of women who wanted to learn how to make films. Back then, very few women

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In 1985, after hearing a cassette tape of an instrumental song called "Gumboots", performed by the South African band Boyoyo Boys, the singer-songwriter Paul Simon set out to South Africa to record with local musicians who could help him emulate the sound with which he had fallen in love. The result of that collaboration was the 1986 album Graceland, which went on to not only become Simon's most successful album, but also launched the "world music" genre of the 1980's. But not everyone was happy; by recording in South Africa and touring with a band of South African musicians, Simon was accused of violating the cultural boycott of South Africa, erected in an attempt to help bring down the nation's racist apartheid regime. Joe Berlinger's Under African Skies is the story of Graceland, from its inception to the political uproar it created. Filled with footage of the recording sessions, live performances and the incredible music of Simon's legendary album, Under African Skies is a triumphant story of the power of music to transcend our differences and bring the world together in song. The Sarasota Film Festival is proud to present Under African Skies as our 2012 Closing Night Film.

Under African Skies screens with our FILMMAKER TRIBUTE AWARDS Saturday, April 21 at 6:00 PM at the Sarasota Opera House.

SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL: What were your feelings twenty-five years ago when you first heard Graceland and witnessed the controversy surrounding the record and tour?

JOE

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Frank Langella's Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them is a fantastic and fun memoir that indeed drops the names (and delivers amazingly juicy dish) on celebrities ranging from Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor and Bette Davis to Noel Coward, George C. Scott and Roger Vadim (and dozens and dozens more). On Saturday, April 14th from 11:00 AM to Noon, you can meet Mr. Langella and have him sign a copy of his book at Bookstore1! (Please Note: Only copies of the book purchased from Bookstore1 will be signed.)

Click here for a rave review from USA Today!

And if that's not enough Frank Langella for you (and how could it be, the man is endlessly fascinating) he will be booking it (see what I did there?) right from his signing to Sarasota High School for his In Conversation chat at 1:00 PM. That Inside The Actor's Studio-style chat will be moderated by New York Magazine and NPR's Fresh Air contributor David Edelstein!

And one last plug (gotta do it) be sure to see our Opening Night Film, the moving and wonderful Robot and Frank on Friday, April 13th at 7:00 PM at the illustrious Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall! Frank Langella is a consummate actor at the height of his power and he shines brighter than ever in Robot & Frank. This Oscar-nominated and Tony award-winning actor was Dracula, Sherlock Holmes and Richard Nixon. Remember what happened with Christopher Plummer and Beginners after last year's SFF? I'll betcha the same thing happens in 2013 for Mr. Langella

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Each year the always incredible Allison Koehler, our dynamic Director of Education, offers the unique opportunity to students throughout our community to submit competing reviews of a few of our outstanding youthFEST films. This year's winners of our Classroom Critics competition follow. The first two reviews have been published in The Observer. The following pair will see publication next week. Congratulations to all the winners!

A SHADOW OF BLUE  

Julia Woodson

Saint Stephen's Episcopal School

7th Grade

     A gaunt little girl sits on a park bench and allows her imagination to wander. Director Carlos Lascano brings together emotional music and characters in an adventurous story. A Shadow of Blue is a touching story full of adventure.

    A little girl fills her time on a park bench creating a majestic blue paper butterfly. The butterfly comes to life, along with the girl's shadow. She imagines enthralling adventures with her shadow in the lead. There are suspenseful twists as her shadow skips and jumps, reaching for the butterfly. A nasty crow acts as an antagonist and plots to scare the little girl away. The actions are expressive and the music adds eerie suspense. Everything is not as it seems as the plot develops.

    Since there is no dialogue, the actions are clear and expressive. The actions are dramatic and the little girl's leaps and jumps are expressed through flailing arms; crying with the heaves of the little girl's shoulders. Even in shadow, actions

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It’s time to get pumped and muscle your way down to our box office inside the Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20 (or to get a workout flexing your online ticket buying skills) because today SFF 2012 gets physical! Want to know how it feels like to walk the highwire with Sarasota’s own Flying Wallenda Family (and to see Tino perform the highwire at the Sarasota Yacht Club live and in person for our Cinema Tropicale)? Want to feel the burning reality of playing in the NFL (and learn of its sometimes heartrending consequences?) Want to meet two incredible WWE Superstars and see a post apocalyptic thriller with the stars of Lost and Last Exorcism? We’ve got just the ticket! (You know that’s right.)

Check this! WWE Superstars Kelly Kelly and Rey Mysterio will be attending our Saturday, April 21 8:30 PM screening of The Day alongside Dominic Monaghan (Charlie from LOST), Ashley Bell (from The Last Exorcism) and Director Douglas Aarniokoski. See them on the Red Carpet! Hear Douglas and the stars talk about The Day! (More on that in just a moment.)

Check this! Tino Wallenda and the Flying Wallenda Family will attend the World Premiere screening of The Show Must Go On on Friday, April 20th at 5:30 PM at the Sarasota Opera House. And Tino will perform the high wire at our spectacular Cinema Tropicale event! (More on that in just a moment, too!)

Check this! NY Giants Hall Of Fame legend Harry Carson will attend our screening of American Man on Thursday, April 19th at 7:30 PM at the

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When she was a young woman, Ethel Skakel met a handsome young man on a skiing trip and they soon fell in love and married. That man, Bobby Kennedy, went on to become one of the central figures in American politics in the 1950's and 60's. But few know Ethel Kennedy's own amazing story, the story of a wife, mother and humanitarian who experienced first hand some of the most important events of our times. In Ethel, director Rory Kennedy shares her mother's story with grace, humor and a deep passion for life, creating one of the most entertaining documentary films of the year.

Ethel screens Sunday, April 15 @ 6:45 PM with Rory Kennedy in Attendance and Monday, April 16 @ 7:30 PM with Rory Kennedy in Attendance.

Rory Kennedy will also appear IN CONVERSATION on Monday, April 16 @ 5:30 PM at Sarasota High School.\

THE INSIDER: What inspired you to make a documentary about your mother's life?

RORY KENNEDY: My mother is an extraordinary woman.  I was inspired to share her personal history with a broader audience. She has lived a remarkable life, a life that is intertwined with our collective national history. She has been on the front lines of many major events in American history. So her story and that of my family, is, in many ways, an American story. I certainly learned a lot in making this film—and I hope it has something to offer.

THE INSIDER: Did you expect her to agree to serving as your subject?

RORY KENNEDY: I thought she would never do it.

Sheila Nevins at

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RED ALERT! RED ALERT! Film star JENA MALONE will be here for screenings of this movie. Don't miss your chance to see her join director Brian Savelson for our always amazing after-screening Q&As! It's RDW (Run Don't Walk) time to get thee hither to our box office inside the Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20 on Main Street or to get your fingers flying on your keyboard to CLICK HERE AND BUY TICKETS ONLINE! IN OUR NATURE also stars John Slattery from MAD MEN and Gabrielle Union! I've seen this film and I can tell you, if you're a fan of warm, wonderful and insightful films about family and love, THIS is your movie. If you grabbed a ticket for Lawrence Kasdan's DARLING COMPANION on Wednesday the 18th then you'll want to make your SFF experience complete by seeing this one either Friday the 20th at 8:00 PM (date night, dinner and a movie, go to the Half Shell Oyster House just a few doors down then come meet a movie star on a very contented tum, perfect!) or Saturday the 21st at 1:45 PM (get a nice lunch at the Half Shell and come on by — sounds like a plan to me!) 

THE INSIDER: Brian, the film feels very personal, very real. Was it based on actual events? Tell me what inspired this story.

BRIAN SAVELSON: Well that's funny that you ask that. Every time I try to explain this, I just seem to dig the hole deeper. I'm glad that it feels personal because I wanted for these characters to feel very real and familiar. What I set out to do was take the 'two couples go up to a cabin' setup

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I cannot urge you enough to take a look at all the amazing entries in our Documentary Film Competition! If you're interested in nature and the environment you will love Chasing Ice and The Atomic States of America! Interested in the economy? Detropia is the one for you. Ballet? First Position offers a visually stunning look at young ballet dancers in competition. The justice system? Justice for Sale is your flim. In you were enlightened and moved by How to Die in Oregon last year than you must see The Patron Saints this year! The David "little guy" versus the "Goliath" big corporations? Big Boys Gone Bananas is your ticket. And if you love fringe radio and want to know how giants like Bob Dylan first gained notice on the air, I present to you Radio Unnameable! CLICK ON ANY OF THE FILM TITLES I JUST LISTED TO BUY TICKETS NOW! I mean it, Speed Racer, they're going FAST!

THE INSIDER: What inspired you to make a documentary about the legendary radio presenter Bob Fass? 

PAUL LOVELACE: I co-directed a previous film called The Holy Modal Rounders... Bound to Lose (which screened at SFF in 2006) about the psychedelic folk duo from New York City. They were on Radio Unnameable many times in the 60's and 70's, especially co-founder Peter Stampfel, who still goes on Bob's show today. Peter would talk about this crazy and great radio program that was unlike anything on the air, then and now. We also heard that Bob Fass had in his possession an unprecedented audio archive, so we were

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