SFF 14: April 13-22, 2012
Hollywood hits the beach for the 14th Annual Sarasota Film Festival, featuring ten days of screen stars, seven epic events and more than 180 films. Known for its artistic caliber and education programs as well as excellent parties, SFF invites its guests to see their world in a new way by diving into the best independent films and experiencing the passion of new and veteran filmmakers on and around the No. 1 beach in the world.
The 2012 Festival kicks off on Fri., April 13, with Opening Night at the bayfront Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The evening features a highly anticipated film and great party after a red carpet honoring the stars and filmmakers. The Festival then continues for ten days with over 180 films for audience of all ages, more celebrity appearances and special conversation-style events with actors, writers and directors. Films run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20 on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. Plus, YouthFest film selections are free for children 12 and under. The 2012 film guide will be available and tickets go on sale March 23.
The latest info about the stars and screenings is available at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com and you can find printed materials at the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau or reach the Festival by phone at (941)366-6200 and (866)575-FILM.
Tickets and Passes
The SFF box office opens in the spring inside Regal Hollywood 20 downtown. Tickets for films and events as well as packages and passes will be available for purchase in person, via phone and online.
Film Festival Events
The Sarasota Film Festival is honored to host a number of special events featuring celebrity guests, the best in local dining, great live music and hundreds of film-loving guests celebrating the art in style. Information about locations and dates is released in March, including info on the Opening Night Film and Party, Cinema Tropicale event, Filmmaker Tribute, and Closing Night Film, plus lots more.
More information about all the events in 2012 is coming soon! Visit www.sarasotafilmfestival.com or follow SFF on Facebook and Twitter for details as they are announced.
More about The SFF
The mission of the Sarasota Film Festival is to celebrate the art of filmmaking and the contributions of filmmakers by hosting an international film festival and developing year-long programs for the economic, educational and cultural benefit of the community. The Festival supports and encourages individual filmmakers by supplying essential networking opportunities and open dialogue with intelligent, creative and inquisitive consumers of film. Further, it promotes Sarasota, Manatee and surrounding Gulf Coast communities as artistic hubs, contributing to the financial and cultural success of our southwest Florida Suncoast region. The Sarasota Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
The first SFF took place in 1999 with just eight films and six actors and has grown to an annual ten day event with over 200 hundred films, more than 250 filmmakers in attendance, multiple special events, symposiums, panels and conversations featuring leaders in the film industry. In 2010, Variety referred to The Sarasota Film Festival as "the acme of regional film festivals."
The award-winning Outreach and Education programs of the Sarasota Film Festival are recognized by both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for their community involvement. These programs bring the art of filmmaking to students in regional public and private schools and are completely free, fostering year-round creative and cultural development in the Sarasota region. Specific year-round programs target varied audiences including independent and student filmmakers, at-risk and under-served youth, arts organizations in a variety of disciplines, and social service agencies.
The Festival is also proud to partner with an array of community organizations including: FSU/Asolo Acting Conservatory, Film School of Florida State University, Ringling College of Art and Design, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, First Step of Sarasota, Florida Film Commission, Florida Studio Theatre, Florida West Coast Symphony, Girls, Inc., Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, State College of Florida, Manatee County Arts Council, Rowlett Magnet School for the Performing Arts, Sarasota County Arts Council, Sarasota Manatee Bar Association, Reach Out Recovery, School Board of Sarasota County, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, United Nations Development Fund for Women, FSU College of Medicine, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Roskamp Institute, YMCA Community Coalition for Children, Young Professionals Group of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
Hollywood meets Sarasota
The guest actors, directors and producers who visit Sarasota for the Film Festival are definitely an annual highlight. Attendees always have many opportunity to meet them and learn about the art of filmmaking during evening events and the SFF Conversation series. Special guests over the years have included Jon Favereau, Marlee Matlin and Peter Sarsgaard (1999); Gena Rowlands and Jon Voight (2000); Alan Alda, Tippi Hedren and Christian Slater (2001); William H. Macy and the late Sydney Pollack (2002); Aerosmith, Elmer Bernstein, Richard Dreyfuss and Rita Moreno (2003); Billy Crystal, Sam Elliot, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Woody Harrelson (2004); Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, (2005); the late Robert Altman, Werner Herzog, Felicity Huffman, Allison Janney, William H. Macy, Jason Ritter and Robert Towne (2006); Steve Buscemi, Marcia Gay Harden, Norman Jewison, Chad Lowe, Edward Norton, Joe Pantoliano, Michelle Trachenberg and Patrick Wilson (2007); Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsand, Stanley Tucci and Liv Ullmann (2008); and Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Bill Paxton, Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi, Jon Voight, Bert Young, and Christo and Jean Claude (2009); Kevin Kline, Patricia Clarkson, Patti Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio (2010); and Geena Davis, Sarah Green Christopher Plummer (2011).
The 2012 guest star roster will be announced in March.
Many significant films have been showcased at the Sarasota Film Festival before going on to win awards and making household names of their stars. Award-winners among previous SFF selections: are "Before Night Falls;" "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not;" "Spellbound;" "Kings and Queen;" "Millions;" "Murderball;" "A Prairie Home Companion;" "Kinky Boots; "Lucky Number Slevin;" "Transamerica;" "Waitress," "Grizzly Man;" "Wordplay;" "Roman de Gare;" "The Visitor" (with the starring performance by Richard Jenkins nominated in 2009 for an Oscar); "Young at Heart;" "The Messenger" (with two major 2010 Oscar nominations); "Every Little Step;" "The Maid;" "The Lemon Tree;" "Goodbye Solo;" "Food, Inc.;" "Sugar;" "Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times;" "Tabloid" and "Beginners." The 2012 film list will be announced in March.
The Sarasota Film Festival looks forward to sharing another exceptional ten days of cinema and celebration with you.
Get more information online at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
