The Florida Film Festival, held in the Orlando, Florida, area and produced by Enzian Theater from April 9-18, features ten narrative features in its American Independent Competition.
Florida Film Festival American Independent Competition
Each film competes for up to three awards: a Grand Jury Award for best film in that category; a Special Jury Award given at the jury’s discretion for exceptional achievement; and an Audience Award determined by audience votes. Ten documentary features also compete against each other at the Festival, which includes other non-competing films in several showcases such as food films, midnight movies, and “sense of home” films.
The 2010 Florida Film Festival offers additional screening and special event venues than in previous years as it expands to include areas in downtown Orlando. Screenings will be held at Enzian Theater, Regal Winter Park Village 20, Plaza Cinema Café, and Lake Eola Park.
Competing Narrative Features: Journeys and Adventures
Bomber
An elderly British couple and their aimless grown son go on an emotional road trip to a German village. Confined in the car for extended periods of time, the trio must confront long-standing resentments and previously unspoken emotions.
- Starring Benjamin Whitrow, Eileen Nicholas, Shane Taylor
- Director: Paul Cotter
- Genre: Drama
- Run Time: 84 minutes
- Florida Premiere
Obselidia
A lonely librarian writing a book about once-beloved things that are now obsolete goes on a road trip to Death Valley with his friend Sophie, an optimistic movie projectionist. Their opposing views come into play when they talk to a scientist with his own take on the future of humanity.
- Starring Michael Piccirilli, Gaynor Howe, Frank Hoyt Taylor, Chris Byrne
- Director: Diane Bell
- Genre: Drama
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
- Additional Information: This film won two awards (the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize and the Cinematography Award) at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Cummings Farm
Three couples get together at a lakeside farm for an orgy in this raunchy comedy. Emotions, logistics, and other obstacles upset their plans for a night of abandonment.
- Starring Aimee-Lynn Chadwick, Jordan Kessler, Yasmine Kittles, Adam Busch, Laura Silverman, Ted Beck
- Director: Andrew Drazek
- Genre: Comedy
- Run Time: 99 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
Winter’s Bone
A 17-year-old girl must find her deadbeat druggie dad in one week’s time in order to save their house from repossession. Winter’s Bone is an adaptation of Daniel Woodrell’s novel of the same name.
- Starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Lauren Sweetser, Shelley Waggener
- Director: Debra Granik
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- Genre: Crime Thriller
- East Coast Premiere
- Additional Information: This film won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Punching the Clown
A singer-songwriter heads for Los Angeles to pursue his musical career. Two miscommunications, however, send events spiraling out of control.
- Starring Henry Phillips, Ellen Ratner, Matthew Walker, Audrey Siegel
- Director: Gregori Viens
- Genre: Comedy
- Run Time: 91 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
- Additional Information: Henry Phillips co-wrote the film with director Gregori Viens.
Competing Narrative Features: Offbeat Love Stories
Don’t Let Me Drown
In post-9/11 Brooklyn, two teens manage to find love despite the desperate circumstances around them in the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy. This film presents a combination of gritty realism and romanticism.
- Starring Ricardo Chavira, Gleendylis Inoa, E.J. Bonilla
- Director: Cruz Angeles
- Genre: Drama
- Run Time: 99 minutes
- Southeast Premiere
- Additional Information: This film is presented in English and Spanish with English subtitles.
Drones
An office romance becomes an issue of global importance when a man learns that the drones who share his workspace may not be human. Will the world literally come to an end if he doesn’t get the girl?
- Starring Jonathan M. Woodward, Samm Levine, Angela Bettis
- Directors: Amber Benson and Adam Busch
- Genre: Science Fiction Comedy
- Run Time: 98 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
- Additional Information: The directors both had ongoing roles on the television seriesBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
Homewrecker
During one long, crazy day, a locksmith, on work release from prison, helps a woman break into her boyfriend’s apartment. She then enlists him to spy on the boyfriend to be sure he isn’t cheating on her.
- Starring Anslem Richardson, Ana Reeder, Stephen Rannazzisi
- Directors: Todd Barnes and Brad Barnes
- Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama
- Run Time: 87 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
- Additional Information: Homewrecker won “Best of the NEXT” at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Lovely, Still
An aging bagger at a grocery store falls in love with a beautiful woman who moves in across the street. This new love brings him a new lust for life, but also brings on troubling nightmares.
- Starring Martin Landau, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Scott, Elizabeth Banks
- Director: Nik Fackler
- Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama
- Run Time: 92 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
My Suicide
Using live action, animation, and mixed media, My Suicide tells the story of a 17-year-old techno-geek who plans his suicide for a video class final project. As people react (including the prettiest girl in school), he gets more and more popular as his upcoming “death” gets closer.
- Starring Gabriel Sunday, Brooke Nevin, David Carradine, Mariel Hemingway, Joe Mantegna, Nora Dunn, Tony Hale
- Director: David Lee Miller
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Run Time: 106 minutes
- Southeast Premiere
To watch trailers for these narrative features and obtain a film schedule and list of programs for the Florida Film Festival, visit the official website.
Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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