The Florida Film Festival Kicks Ass!

I just returned to Los Angeles from the Florida Film Festival and I’ve come back its biggest fan.  If you love independent film this is the place for you.I saw excellent documentaries (Exit Through the Gift Shop, The Lottery and Cleanflix) and wonderful shorts (Watermelon Man and On The Road to Tel Aviv).  Unfortunately I missed the features because I didn’t stay long enough to enjoy everything the fest had to offer but I heard they were great.

This is a film festival run by film lovers and it can be felt everywhere.  There’s great food, really fun parties and a very welcoming casual atmosphere.  The audiences and other filmmakers were lovely to hang out with.  The volunteers are the best!  And the guests, speakers and judges are the real deal.  I went to panel with Gena Rowlands and hung with Chris Gore, whose excellent books I’ve been using to navigate the festivals since before Withoutabox.  So thank you Chris!

The only small downside is that some of the venues are a bit spread out (which cuts back severely on my drunken stumbling but maybe that’s not such and thing) but their quality makes up for the distance.

On top of it all I was very fortunate for my film TOUCH to have won the grand jury award for best short film.  And since the Florida Film Festival is an Oscar qualifying fest we’re now one step closer to the very heavy naked gold man.  It’s still a long road from here to there but every step counts and this one was especially fun.

I want to particularly recognize Matthew Curtis and Brian Quain who did a wonderful job making me feel welcome.  Thank you so much!

Central Florida really has a gem in the Florida Film Festival and I hope to be back again very soon.

Filmmakers, they begin accepting submissions again in October.  Put it on your list.

Bleary-eyed from the Florida Film Festival

I am having a wonderful time at the fantastic Florida Film Festival.  If readers are in the Orlando and Maitland, FL areas come down and check out the great films and excellent events.

My film, TOUCH, screens tonight at 9pm at the Regal Winter Park Village Cinema.  And tomorrow I speak on a panel with Chris Gore (Film Threat, The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide) at 1:30pm at the same theater.

We’ve also been invited to screen at Cannes at the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. We’ll screen there on Thursday, May 20th in the shorts program from 4:30pm - 6:30pm at the Roger Ebert Center.  We’re very excited about this  as only ten American films have been invited!

You can check out the trailer and upcoming screenings on the film website at http://www.touchthefilm.com.