The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) announced their highly anticipated film line-up for the 25th Anniversary edition. The landmark event will begin September 27 and conclude November 11 presenting over 175 films including 10 World Premieres, 11 U.S. Premieres and heralding a host of celebrity and filmmaker guests.
“In celebration of our 25th year, we’re pleased to announce one of our most exciting film line-ups ever. With so many wonderful films, and only one auditorium at our year-round art theatre, Cinema Paradiso, we opted to extend the festival to include them all.” commented Gregory von Hausch, President and CEO of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
The festival begins with FLiFF Rewind, a representation of festival films from 2009 – 1986 which takes place September 27 and concludes October 21. Showcased throughout this earlier segment are several of the festival’s official selection of shorts, documentaries, and feature films.
FLiFF goes into high gear October 22nd with a star-studded Opening Night Film and Gala. Selected for their opener is the Southeast Premiere of the laugh-a-minute comedy Nice Guy Johnny. Writer/producer and actor Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen, She’s The One) and the two leads in the film – Kerry Bishé (Scrubs) and Matt Bush (Adventureland) will attend the screening followed by the spotlight event, the Starry, Starry Night Gala. In Nice Guy Johnny, Bush stars as Johnny Rizzo, a sports-talk jock devoted to his fiancée Claire (Anna Woods) who has promised that he will trade in his dream job for one that pays bigger bucks. So, Johnny flies off solo to The Big Apple repeating a silent mantra that this is all for the best. The weekend changes when he’s met in NY by his Uncle Terry (Burns) – a lovable rogue, screw-up, womanizer whose plans for Johnny’s weekend eventually lead to the alluring Brooke (Kerry Bishé).
The opening night short film, selected for its inspiring story and unique subject matter, is Riding the Wave of Autism directed by Josh Hansbrough who will attend the Opening Night festivities. The film, features volunteers from all walks of life who throw off their coats and ties for a week to teach autistic kids to surf at HEAL’s surf camp. We relive the euphoric feelings of child-like excitement as the children break down their own barriers of capability.
The official Closing Night film, held November 7, is the Southeast Premiere of Casino Jack, from award-winning director George Hickenlooper, the film traces the rise and fall of one of the most fascinating characters in recent political history …Jack Abramoff, lobbyist extraordinaire. Of particular interest to South Florida audiences is the Abramoff/Scanlon takeover of Sun Cruz Casinos (SunSail in the film) and its founder Gus Boulis. The film’s all-star cast includes Kevin Spacey as the ambitious Abramoff, Barry Pepper as the scandalous Scanlon, Jon Lovitz as the sleazy mattress monarch, Kelly Preston as Pam Abramoff, and a host of other wonderful performances of some intriguing individuals.
Throughout the festival filmmakers and celebrities are scheduled to attend screenings of their films including actor Judd Nelson, for his new filmed-in Florida crime thriller and FLiFF’s Centerpiece film, Endure. Nelson stars as detective Emory Lane who is called to the site of a traffic accident on a remote highway. Discovered inside the wreckage: a photograph of a young woman gagged and tied to a tree. Assigned to help Lane unravel the identity and whereabouts of the woman is detective, Zeth Arnold (Devon Sawa) a college-educated, smart-ass transplant from Seattle .
World Cinema features include: Cafe Du Pont, from France, stars Bernard Campan, Cécile Rebboah, Thomas Durastel, and Sergi Lopez in a delightful tale that captures a slice of life during a nostalgic period of French provincial life in the 40’s. Empire of Silver, from Hong Kong, is a dynastic saga, a passionate romance, and a moral parable drawn from historical events starring Aaron Kwok and Jennifer Tilly. Jerry Cotton, from Germany, stars Christian Tramitz as New York’s star FBI agent in this crime comedy based on the dime-store novel series. Carancho, stars Martina Gusman and Ricardo Darin in what Screen International describes as an “expertly crafted thriller steeped in the social injustices of Buenos Aires.” As If I’m Not There, from Macedonia-Ireland-Sweden, is about an extraordinary woman who endured the most frightful and traumatic situation during the Balkan wars in 1992. At World’s End, from Denmark, is an action- adventure-comedy with thrills and surprises akin to a Bond film.
American Independent features include: Chameleon, starring Ellen Barkin, reveals the bizarre and unsettling mystery thriller based on the true story of the missing teen found in Europe and returned to his dysfunctional family in Louisiana. Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as a ballerina who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company; also starring Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey. 127 Hours, from Oscar® winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), comes the remarkable true story of mountain climber Aaron Ralston. A Marine Story highlights the absurdity of the military ban on gays through the personal story of one courageous woman. Clear Blue Tuesday is a rousing indie rock musical drama. Conviction, stars Hillary Swank and Sam Rockwell, in the inspirational true story of a devoted sister who dedicates her life to overturning the murder conviction of her brother. Rounding out the cast are Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo and Juliette Lewis.
October 23, FLiFF proudly honors actor Michael Murphy (M*A*S*H, An Unmarried Woman) with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and promising young actor Jimmy Bennett (Trucker, Star Trek) will receive The Star on The Horizon Award. In November, film icons Claire Bloom and Jane Russell will be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Murphy will be presented with his award prior to the Southeast Premiere of The Trotsky, in which he appears opposite Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder). This riotous new comedy is about seventeen year-old Leon Bronstein who is convinced he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky. Bennett will receive his award prior to his new film Bones, a dark tale about four teens growing up in a blue collar Long Island town. A single incident that turns their world upside down leads them to search for strength within each other to survive the confines of their dead-end town. Claire Bloom’s award will be presented to her on November 6, prior to the tribute screening of Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight in which she starred. After the film, Foster Hirsch will host an Inside the Actor’s Studio style Q&A. Following Limelight, FLiFF will present the original 1963 horror thriller The Haunting, directed by Robert Wise and starring Bloom as Theo. On November 8, following the tribute screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Jane Russell will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.