The 24th Annual Florida Film Festival, held on April 10-19, is a celebration of over 170 films that span a variety of genres and categories.
Shorts, Documentaries, Florida, International, Retro, Family and the eclectic Midnight films are just a few examples of what you will see at this event. The primary venues are Enzian & Eden Bar, The Copper Rocket and RanGetsu in Maitland, as well as Regal Winter Park Village and Central Park in Winter Park.
Enzian is a non-profit organization that is devoted to nurturing a creative and educational culture in Central Florida. By attracting audiences from around the country and beyond, viewers can anticipate an experience that will allow them to engage with others and have an opportunity to network with a plethora of filmmakers and creative minds alike.
Food makes its way into the program with parties featuring buffets, luncheons, Locally Fresh! Farmers market, and evening pitcher shows.
Among the free public discussions presented are Film in Florida, Films that Change the World, American Screenwriters and British Madmen and a Filmmaker Forum.
Dr. Denise Cummings, professor at Rollins and part of the Council Advisory Board for the Florida Film Festival, reflected on why Rollins students should become more involved in this artistic community, her own personal experience having worked with the festival for over a decade and having taught Film as Art with Dr. O’Sullivan over the past few years.
“It is a way that I learn every year. When you watch that many films, you understand something not only about the tastes and trends of filmmaking, but also what kind of equipment is being used, you can tell all these things,” said Cummings.
Cummings continued to explain other good reasons to make the short trip to the film fest from Rollins.
“There are all sorts of reasons to head over, like meeting filmmakers and stars. Enzian is not a producer of the film festival that throws a lot of money at stars, but we have been lucky to get a lot of interesting people. Some of the most generous in the past have been John Waters, Jon Voight, Susan Sarandon, and Emma Stone. These people are willing to come out on the patio and just chat with people. Rollins is not the only school that attends this event, so it’s an excellent networking opportunity. We are in a film rich community here in central Florida,” Cummings said.
This year the special guest is actor Sam Rockwell, in attendance for a Question and Answer session after a viewing of the film Moon, of which he is the star.
In the fall semester, the Global Peace Film Festival is offered as a course for aspiring filmmakers and activists who wish to not only hone their skills but have a creative outlet for their manifests.
For aspiring filmmakers here at Rollins, Dr. Cummings had a few pieces of advice for having your art be shown.
“Like Brouhaha, Film Slam is another opportunity for Rollins student work to be submitted. For those students who may be reticent, there are all these wonderful opportunities to gain confidence and to get critiques. I think it’s hard to get an official submission into the film festival, but I don’t think it’s impossible,” said Cummings.
“One of the things that can benefit any student who is making and working in a craft is go see alot, you learn, you have to see a lot of film to understand what’s happening. The medium is still so young. Students have a world of opportunity in front of them; it’s easier to make film now, and there are lots of outlets for it. One of the things that I am passionate about is more inclusive cinema, more voices, more women, and more diversity. Everybody has a story, and that’s what film is about, telling stories.”
Tickets may be purchased online, in person or by phone. For more information about the festival and passes, packages and individual tickets, feel free to visit www.floridafilmfestival.com.
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