Fort Myers Film Festival attendees enjoy local, world-class films
“Fort Myers Film Festival is a top of the line event and a great ‘all eyes on Us’ A+ for our community,” is the sentiment buzzing through downtown Fort Myers after a knockout grand opening gala at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall for the U.S. premiere of “A Swedish Midsummer SexComedy” with producers Ian McCrudden and Melissa Davis and first day of shorts from local and international filmmakers. The first gallery from the event to make it online was from Naples News. Keep up with updates at www.facebook.com/fortmyersfilmfestival and www.twitter.com/fortmyersfilm or hashtag #FMff
“People are really digging it,” Eric Raddatz, FMff founder and executive director, “I’m so excited to sit and watch these films again with an intellectual audience who really have an appreciaiton for the art of film.”
Programming continues with some of the bigger powerhouses of the festival including Polish Bar, Meth, Fambul Tok, The Violinist and A Lonely Place for Dying, to name just a few. In attendance today are filmmakers and producers Jennifer Marquis Muradaz, Sara Terry, Steve Nemsick to name just a few.
FMff screenings will be held today through March 27 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers, also at the Alliance for the Arts March 25-26. A climactic closing night award ceremony will be hold at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre that will show winning short films, honor John Biffar and other local filmmakers including student Fredy Hernandez Jr. who won the student commercial competition for his commercial he produced for the festival. Attending filmmakers will include dozens from around Southwest Florida and many who have travelled from all over the world including Melissa Davis, Sara Terry and Danielle Camastra and Bill Cobbs. The event will be hosted by Chad Oliver. Tickets are $25 for anyone who has attended any film and includes a champagne toast, screenings of winning short films, a full dinner and black tie awards ceremony.
Independent films playing in the inaugural Fort Myers Film Festival span the globe with selections from as far as Sierra Leone, Ireland, Poland & Sweden to dozens of films made right here in Southwest Florida. “We all need to support local film, local business and local filmmakers in today’s economy. Knowing our area has something viable to offer in the realms of moviemaking will contribute towards economic growth and stability,” Raddatz continues. “I am so thankful to all of the support we have received from the city and county as well as the local businesses. We need to come together in these difficult economic times and show the world we have something strong to offer here in Southwest Florida.”
Of local filmmakers attending with projects screening are Gail Kowatch, John Scoular, Hank Sorrick, Edward Clay, Donald McQuade, Gerard Damiano Jr., Jennifer Marquis, Tim Ritter, Patrick Mitchell, Melissa Davis, Eric Raddatz, Elizabeth D’Onofrio, Danielle Camastra, Greg Helton, Flip Minott, John Biffar, Waddy Padilla, Connie Bottinelli, Fredy Hernandez, Madison Absher and Rusty Farst. A panel of local and visiting filmmakers will be in attendance at the opening night gala and interactive Q&A’s through the festival including Sara Terry, Ian McCrudden, Daniel Herrera, Gene D’Onofrio and Jackie Gomez.
Stars such as Meat Loaf, James Badge Dale, Tom Felton, Marcus Jansen, Imelda Staunton, James Cromwell and Judd Hirsch are only a few faces you may find recognizable in films playing through the week such as Polish Bar, White Other, A Lonely Place for Dying, For Once In My Life, Fambul Tok, Baby and The Violinist to name just a few.
A complete program guide for the festival is available for download online and at participating venues. A black-tie awards ceremony is set for Sunday evening, March 27, at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre to honor winning films and local filmmakers including John Biffar, hosted by Chad Oliver.
A portion of the festival’s proceeds will go to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
For tickets and more information, visit www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com, become a fan to get breaking updates at www.facebook.com/fortmyersfilmfestival or see tweets in realtime by following at www.twitter.com/fortmyersfilm