Fort Myers Beach features films

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Filmmakers, actors and staff gathered for a ribbon cutting to launch the 11th annual Fort Myers Beach Film Festival.

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Volunteers of the Friends of the Arts helped hand out drinks and cookies and sold film fest swag during the opening celebration.

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“Preserving Our Waters” producer and director, Tom James, and executive producer, Barbara Linstrom, attended the opening ceremony with members of the Estero Bay Buddies group. Their film was the first to air at the Beach Theater to start the festival.

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Fort Myers Beach Chamber President Jacki Liszak taps glasses with Kyle Thompson with Red Flight Pictures.

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The Mound House hosted a family movie night as part of the festival. Families gathered at the historical site Friday night to watch Moana. Photo courtesy of Anita Cereceda.

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This year’s Fort Myers Beach Film Festival launched with a showing of a film close to home.

“Preserving Our Waters,” a documentary film about the 50-year history of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, aired right after the film fest’s opening ceremony at the Beach Theater, Wednesday, April 26.

Tom James, producer and director, and Barbara Linstrom, executive producer, made the film in partnership with WGCU Public Media and the Estero Bay Buddies.

“People don’t realize it was the first aquatic preserve in the state of Florida,” James said.

The film was first shown in December, during a celebration of the preserve’s 50th anniversary.

“People were concerned with the water back then, even before environmental issues started happening,” James said.

James’ documentary wasn’t the only southwest Florida film to get screentime during the five-day festival.

Judy Copeland, a producer and actress of Naples, said the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival always takes very good care of the local filmmakers.

“I’ve been to lots of (film fests), and this is my very favorite,” she said. “It’s very intimate, and they really nurture their filmmakers.”

Copeland is the main actress in the film she produced, “Talk to Me.” Her comedy-drama focuses on a psychotherapist who is burned out from being around “crazy” people anymore, but during interviews for a new career, she finds that the bosses are “crazier” than her patients.

Frank Panico of Stuart also attended the opening ceremony with Raymond Battey, the star of Panico’s film, “My Friend Raymond.” The true-life story tells Battey’s story. At the age of 11, he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike. Battey says that he saw heaven for a few moments after the accident, and now his life is dedicated to pursuing the purpose God gave him, although he’s not sure quite yet what it is.

Panico met Battey at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where they are both members, and was drawn to Battey’s upbeat mentality despite his struggles in life.

“He always has a positive attitude,” Panico said.

The local film festival also holds workshops for the filmmakers, which Copeland said she enjoys and always attends. This is her sixth year at the festival.

This year’s workshops included an acting and filmmaking workshop hosted by Red Flight Pictures and a concept to completion workshop hosted by Stanley Isaacs of 100% Entertainment and Alyn Darney of Chaos Films.