2026 Sarasota Film Festival
Schedule
Explore screenings by day. Times are shown in the festival's local timezone.
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Friday, Apr 10
- Opening Night Film: "Deep Water"Deep WaterThrillerLive Q&ANarrative FeatureOpening NightSpecial Events• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
In-Person Guests: Director Renny Harlin, Producer Gene Simmons. A Q&A with the filmmakers and shark experts follows …
- 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM
A charming evening reception following the Opening Night Film of the Sarasota Film Festival - " Deep Water", with direct…
Saturday, Apr 11
- Florida Narrative ShortsGangplankNarrative ShortFlorida FilmmakersShort• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Sidecar Sadie to the RescueFamily FriendlySpecial EventsShort• Ringling College / Morganroth Auditorium10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
A Q&A and a Humane Society showcase to follow the film.
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Following the screening, Curran joins students, school staff, and community experts for a panel discussion on bullying p…
- The Last 600 MetersThe Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and FallujahDocumentary FeatureWar• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Fish Fry & FellowshipFish Fry & Fellowship (Premiere)African AmericanFlorida FilmmakersLive Q&ADocumentary FeatureSpecial Events• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Filmmakers in attendance
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Give Me the Ball!Documentary FeatureSportsFemale CentricLGBTQ+Female Director• Suncoast Technical College3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Special Guests In Attendance
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Special Guests In Attendance
- Florida Documentary ShortsA Peanut in Palm BeachShortFlorida FilmmakersEnvironmentDocumentary• Suncoast Technical College5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- A Portrait of a PostmanAfrican AmericanArtDocumentary Feature CompetitionLive Q&ADocumentary Feature• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Filmmaker in attendance
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Special Guests In Attendance
Sunday, Apr 12
- One in a MillionDocumentary FeatureFemale DirectorSocial Issues• Ringling College / Morganroth Auditorium12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Anne Packard: An Artist's ResolveArtLive Q&ADocumentary Feature• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
In Attendance: Anne Packard, Director Arthur Egeli
- Fighting for FloridaFlorida FilmmakersEnvironmentLive Q&ADocumentary Feature• Ringling College / Morganroth Auditorium2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Special Guests In Attendance
- She Runs the WorldDocumentary FeatureAfrican AmericanSports• Ringling College / Morganroth Auditorium4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Newport and the Great Folk DreamNewport & the Great Folk DreamDocumentary FeatureMusicLive Q&A• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- The ScoutFemale DirectorNarrative FeatureNarrative Feature Competition• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Q&A with the filmmaker follows the film
Monday, Apr 13
- 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Tuesday, Apr 14
- Soul PatrolDocumentary FeatureDocumentary Feature CompetitionSocial IssuesAfrican American• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Occupational Hazard: The First Coral ReefersDocumentary FeatureMusicLive Q&A• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Special Guests In Attendance for Q&A
- 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Special Guest In Attendance
Wednesday, Apr 15
- 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
In Attendance: producer / director Rory Kennedy
Thursday, Apr 16
- 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
In Attendance: Director Loren Goldfarb
- HoneyjoonNarrative FeatureFemale DirectorComedyNarrative Feature Competition• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Friday, Apr 17
- Killjoy & Tether: a Special PresentationKilljoyShortUS Narrative Competition ShortsFlorida FilmmakersLive Q&AAfrican American• Ringling College / Morganroth Auditorium12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Premiere of new short films by two of our most exciting local filmmakers, followed by a Q&A.
- 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
- 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
A panel discussion with participants and Cedric Hameed will follow the screening.
- 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Director Julian Schnabel in attendance
- 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
A FREE Community Event that celebrates sports. Food trucks on site! Hear some great ideas, have your kids kick the ball …
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
THIS EVENT IS FREE
Saturday, Apr 18
- CharliebirdNarrative FeatureNarrative Feature CompetitionFemale DirectorLive Q&A• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Director in Attendance for Q&A
- Nuisance BearDocumentary FeatureFemale DirectorEnvironmentDocumentary Feature Competition• Suncoast Technical College12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Sunlight - Children MatterLive Q&ADocumentary FeatureFlorida FilmmakersAfrican American• Suncoast Technical College2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Q&A with the director follows the film
- 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Films made with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
- Closing Night Film: "In the Hand of Dante"In the Hand of DanteClosing NightNarrative FeatureSpecial Events• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
In Attendance: Director Julian Schnabel
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM
An artful evening reception following the Closing Night Film of the Sarasota Film Festival - "In the Hand of Dante," wit…
Sunday, Apr 19
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Special Guests In Attendance
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Soul PatrolDocumentary FeatureDocumentary Feature CompetitionSocial IssuesAfrican American• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Cookie QueensDocumentary FeatureDocumentary Feature CompetitionSpecial EventsFemale Director• Ringling College / Morganroth Auditorium2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Director in attendance for Q&A
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Meta Take OneNarrative FeatureLive Q&AAfrican AmericanThriller• New College of Florida/Sainer Pavilion4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM