Fort Myers Film Festival planning a week of indie international and local film screenings, parties
With less than two weeks to go, here is a curator’s list of top 10 things you need to know about the Fort Myers Film Festival, taking place May 17-21:
1) OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET GALA: The opening night film to screen at the red-carpet kickoff for the 13th annual fest will be the Florida premiere of “Bad Behaviour” (2023). The movie will screen Wednesday, May 17, at 7 p.m. at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. The 2023 film is about Lucy, played by Jennifer Connelly, who is a former child actress seeking enlightenment at a retreat led by spiritual leader Elon, played by Ben Withrow, while she also navigates the close yet turbulent relationship with her stunt performer daughter, Dylan, played by Alice Englert. Also starring Dasha Nekrasova. The film had its world premiere at Sundance in January 2023. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
The evening kick-off will also include the world premiere of the seven-minute short film “Yacht on Rocks,” featuring music by Straight No Chaser directed by Sasha Levinson. The evening will also include a performance by members of Straight No Chaser, who will be in attendance for the opening night.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. VIP attendees will include cast and crew from movies officially selected for the 2023 Fort Myers Film Festival. The event will conclude with a sunset champagne and dance afterparty on Sidney’s Rooftop at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Tickets are $20 for the movie only or $100 for the movie and VIP meet and greet. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
2) THERE WILL BE COSPLAY: The closing night will include a filmmaker panel and discussion, a cosplay competition in the street, and a Florida premiere screening of “Lost Cos” (2023). Directed by Robin de Levita and starring Evgeniya Radilova, the film focuses on Eni, who is haunted by her tortured childhood and the violent loss of the great love of her life and finds escape in Los Cos, a mysterious underground club where cosplay and burlesque intertwine and heroes and villains blur the line between fantasy and reality. An outdoor cosplay competition will take place Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. judged by Holtsclaw Cosplay, Geeks to Gods Fitness and Cosplay, Toxique0 and Avera Cosplay. Three winners will get tickets to see the film and attend the afterparty with the stars of the movie, which will culminate after the awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Sidney’s, on the roof of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Enjoy performances by Evgeniya and a champagne dessert and awards ceremony afterward with a sunset afterparty. Tickets for the movie, which screens at 4 p.m. on Sunday are HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
3) JASON MAMOA in DEEP RISING: Saturday’s 6 p.m. Florida premiere of “Deep Rising,” by Matthieu Rytz and narrated by Jason Momoa is one not to miss. Recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival, the film considers the fate of the planet’s last untouched wilderness — the deep ocean — as an organization is about to allow massive extraction of seabed metals to fuel the world’s energy crisis. IMAG is also screening this film Friday, May 19 at IMAG. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
4) BERNIE MAC: The popular comedian died of a disease the film “Warriors: The Bernie Mac Disease” documents. By Nicholas Markart and Steve Hilficker, the film shows Bernie Mac’s widow, Rhonda, taking us on a deeply personal journey through the life and legacy of the beloved comedian and the impact that sarcoidosis had on his rise to fame. The filmmaker and producer will also host a VIP afterparty. The film screens Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
5: FIRST RESPONDERS: Saturday, May 20, 12:30 p.m. screening of “Bridge to the Other Side,” by KT Curran will offer free entry to ALL first responders providing proper identification. The feature, shot in and around Lee County tells a story in which a world that’s falling apart, a grieving widow struggling with her own grief and self-destruction, fights to save young people struggling with a mental health crisis. She wants to save the world if the job doesn’t kill her first. The director and team will be in attendance. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
6: ADULT FUN: Stay up late Thursday, May 18 for the 9 p.m. screening “Perfectly Good Moment,” by Lauren Greenhall. This psychosexual thriller asks the question: what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic? This one is for adults only. The director and actors will be in attendance for a meet/greet Q&A. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
7: JOHN BIFFAR’s BOXING FILM: Local filmmaker John Biffar is a bit of a legend to the FMFF. Catch his freshest movie Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. The film, “Worth the Fight, ” tells the story of Steve Canton, current president of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame based in Fort Myers and has spent his entire life devoted to the sport of boxing both as a fighter and now mentor coach. “Worth The Fight” goes beyond the action in the ring and profiles seven unique fighters who, while sharing a love for boxing, also battle unique challenges outside the ring. Biffar, Canton and other stars from the film will be in attendance for a meet/greet Q&A. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
8: INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: This year’s festival truly has an international flavor. With short films from over a dozen different countries, pick a short block and tour the world. Check out fresh indie movies from Chile, France, Norway, Iran, China, Korea, Germany, Portugal, Mexico, Hungary, Canada, Netherlands and Spain in our international short blocks of films Thursday, May 18 at 2 p.m., Friday, May 19 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
9: ENVIRONMENTAL MOVIES: If playing movies can make a difference to help educate while entertaining our audience and save the planet this festival is all in. With numerous environmental blocks and films check our guide to see a movie that might just make a difference. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
10: RELATIONSHIP FILM: The Florida premiere of “Black White and the Greys” featuring Marchelle Thurman and Casey Nelson screens Friday, May 19 at 8 p.m. The film takes a serious look at a marriage that is put to the test when an interracial couple is forced to quarantine together through the COVID pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Stars and director Jessica Matthews are said to be in attendance for meet/greet Q&A. Get your tickets HERE. Download the full guide HERE.
Watch director Eric Raddatz on NBC and ABC every Thursday and on air on iHeart Radio every Monday
Be sure not to miss Eric Raddatz on ABC7 every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.; NBC2 in Fort Myers every Thursday at 11:15 a.m.; and every Monday at 8 a.m. on iHeart Radio; 105.5 broadcasting from the coolest town in the world.
The Fort Myers Film Festival supports Lee County Schools filmmakers, Raddatz Foundation, SalusCare, Lighthouse SWFL, Kimmie’s Recovery Zone, Family Initiative and Golisano’s Children’s Hospital and is sponsored by UNIT A, Florida Weekly, Marcus Jansen Foundation, J. Bert Davis M.D., F.A.C.S, Facial Surgeon, Black Tie Tuxedos, Aux Delicies, Luminary Hotel, Banyan Hotel, City of Fort Myers, SOHO, Riverside Realty, Starbucks, Pamela Templeton Unlimited, Capone’s Pizza and Kearns Restaurant Group.
Source: Fort Myers Film Festival