FLIFF: Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Calendar of Events

October 22 - November 11, 2010

Date:                Friday, October 22

Event Title:        NICE GUY JOHNNY - The Opening Night Film of

The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Time:                7:00PM

Venue:              Bailey Hall - Broward College Campus, 3501 SW Davie Road, Davie

Tickets:             General Admission Film Only $10

Students and Seniors Film Only $8

FLiFF Members Film Only $6

Broward College Students Film Only $3

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      The 25th Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) goes into high gear with the Opening Night Film, Nice Guy Johnny attended by writer/ director/actor Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen, She's The One) and many of the other celebrity guests attending FLiFF over the weekend.  In the laugh-a-minute comedy Nice Guy Johnny, Burns portrays Johnny's Uncle Terry,  Matt Bush (Adventureland) stars as Johnny and Kerry Bishé (Scrubs) as Brooke.  "Nice Guy", Johnny Rizzo  a sports-talk jock devoted to his fiancée Claire (Anna Woods) and 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 Film is followed by the Starry, Starry Night Gala at The Signature Grand.  Tickets to attend the Gala include the ticket to attend Nice Guy Johnny.

Date:                Friday, October 22

Event Title:        Starry Starry Night Gala

Time:                9:30PM

Venue:              Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             FLIFF Members $65 | General Admission $75 In Advance, $80 At The Door

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:   Rub elbows with celebrity guests at this year's Starry Starry Night Gala, the spotlight Opening Night event of the 25^th Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF). The evening includes a sumptuous buffet, live music by Euphoria, dancing, and a silent auction.  Beverages are available for purchase. Held at the Signature Grand, the event is less than a five minute drive from Bailey Hall where the opening night film, Nice Guy Johnny, will be held.  If you have never been to the Gala, the Silver Anniversary celebration is a great time to start. Attending this years Gala are special guests Edward Burns (Nice Guy Johnny, The Brothers McMullen, She’s The One, Saving Private Ryan), Michael Murphy (M.A.S.H., Nashville, Manhattan, An Unmarried Woman), Jimmy Bennett (Bones, Trucker, Star Trek, Evan Almighty) and more.

Date:                Saturday, October 23

Event Title:        Michael Moore Speaks! An Evening with America's Conscience

Time:                9:30PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $15 | FLIFF Members $10

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) presents Michael Moore Speaks! An Evening with America's Conscience. The Oscar & Cannes Golden Palm Award Winning Director, returns for his 4th visit to FLiFF.  The evening begins with a montage of his work followed by some introductory remarks by Michael and an audience Q&A.  Throughout the 90 minutes, clips from selected films will screen followed by commentary. Moore is known for films including: Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, and Capitalism: A Love Story - four of the top nine highest-grossing documentaries of all time.

Date:                Saturday, October 23

Event Title:        Actor Michael Murphy Award Presentation and Screening of The Trotsky

Time:                7:00PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $15 | FLIFF Members $10

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to actor Michael Murphy (M.A.S.H., An Unmarried Woman, Woody Allen's Manhattan) in recognition of his vast body of work.  Following the award presentation is the premiere of The Trotsky, the riotous comedy about 17-year old Leon Bronstein, a passionate high schooler  who is convinced he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky.  He is a teen champion of the proletariat…launching a hunger strike at his father’s factory, devouring all info available of the Russian Revolution and eventually leading his schoolmates against the evils of, oddly enough, the totalitarian environment created by the administration. Michael Murphy co-stars with Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder) and a great cast that includes; Colm Feore, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Emily Hampshire, Saul Rubinek, Taylor Baruschel, Dan Beirne, Jesse Camacho, Angela Galuppo, Tommie-Amber Pirie

Date:                Saturday, October 23

Event Title:        Actor Jimmy Bennett Award Presentation and Screening of Bones

Time:                3:00PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $10 | Seniors and Students $8 | FLIFF Members $6

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      Promising young actor Jimmy Bennett (Trucker, Star Trek 2009, Evan Almighty) is honored by the 25^th Anniversary Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) with The Star On The Horizon Award.  The screening of his new film, Bones, the coming of age story of four teens growing up in blue collar Long Island. A single incident turns their world upside down and they search for strength within each other to survive the confines of their dead end town. Bones is a dark tale that leaves just enough light to see the true beauty in a seemingly hopeless environment. Bones also stars Zakk Wylde, Melissa Ordway, Jonna Walsh, Andrew Lawrence.

Date:                Friday, October 30

Event Title:        Short Stuff Shorts, For Kids -by Kids -or About Kids

Time:                10:30AM

Venue:              Cinema Paradise, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             5 ADULTS | $3 CHILDREN

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:  The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival presents Short Stuff Shorts, three films For Kids -by Kids -or About Kids.  The films will followed by an ice cream party outside in the Courtyard.  The first film is CHILDREN OF COLOR is about Sol, a self proclaimed child “full of color”, ponders the question, “Are there any other kids like me on the planet?” She goes on an international journey discovering how special and full of color other children of color really are.

The second, JUNGLE SPIRITS is a fable about two girls venturing out into the bush on All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd, in search of the spirits despite warnings from their parents. They discover the hostile and caring forces of nature and return with a respect for tradition and the natural world around them.  The basic story was written by a young Belizean girl. She and her family also act in the film.  Jungle Spirits was produced in the rain forest of Belize, Central America, using solar power.

The third film,  MONEY FOR NOTHING will be attended by the director, Britney Purser and cast Britney Purser, Vincent Natiello, Emily Pacini, Anthony Pacini, David Marmol, Jessica Garces and Chris Purser.  MONEY FOR NOTHING is about a boy named Rich, once able to win the hearts of his friends by wielding large fistfuls of cash, he now finds himself caught between the grip of his greed, his vanishing friends, and his own sister, in a story about what family and friends really mean when the chips are down.

Date:                Saturday, October 30

Event Title:        25th Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Centerpiece Film and Party

Time:                7:30PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission Film & Party $20 | FLIFF Members Film & Party $15

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      Beginning at 7:30pm, THE MONTEREY CLUB will present one of their top local bands in the courtyard.  At 8:00pm, Actor Judd Nelson attends his new filmed-in Florida crime thriller, 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, a college-educated, smart-ass transplant from Seattle. As the mystery unfolds, both must put aside their differences, relying on each other to locate the woman before it’s too late.  After the film, join Judd in the Paradiso Patio Courtyard for the annual Centerpiece Party, featuring an array of your favorite Asian appetizers: California rolls, egg rolls, lo mein, potstickers & fortune cookies.

Date:                Sunday, October 31

Event Title:        The Halloween BOO-tacular

Time:                5:00pm - 7:00pm

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets: FREE!

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description: The annual Halloween BOO-tacular, presented by The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale is a free, fun family event featuring a spooky pumpkin patch,  a scream and costume contests, hayrides and on the big screen, a not so scary movie, Quackbusters starring Daffy Duck.

Date:                Saturday, November 6

Event Title:        FAB! Films For Kids

Time:                10:00AM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets: FREE!

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:  FAB! FILMS FOR KIDS and the 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival present the U.S. Premiere of family film, HERE COMES LOLA. In 9-year-old Lola’s world things are not quite as they usually are: Lola's father is from Brazil, her mother is called Viktualia and her aunt is only 2-years-old. In her dreams the bright, adventurous girl turns into a famous pop singer. However, what Lola longs for most of all, is still missing in her life: Lola does not have a best friend. At her new school, Lola meets the strange girl Flo, who smells horribly of fish. And her attempt to make friends with adorable classmate Annalisa is unintentionally ruined by her father. It becomes pretty obvious that Lola is going to have to think of another way to find a best friend. So she sends her dearest wish up into the sky, tied to the end of a balloon – and gets back a mysterious message in a bottle …

After the movie, kids can gather in the Courtyard for FREE refreshments and kids Karaoke!

Date:                Saturday, November 6

Event Title:        Claire Bloom - Award Presentation & Tribute Screening of Limelight

Time:                4:30PM

Venue:               Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $15 | FLIFF Members $10

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      Meet legendary actress Claire Bloom as the 25th Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival honors her vast career in acting.  The event begins at 4:30pm with a Wine & Cheese Reception prior to a tribute as FLiFF presents her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Following the presentation there will be a screening of Charlie Chaplin's Limelight, the film that launched Bloom's career.   After the film, Foster Hirsch will host an Inside the Actor's Studio style Q&A.

Theatre critic Walter Kerr once described Claire Bloom by writing, “She could not be more beautiful without upsetting the balance of nature.” Bloom was born in London and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Central School of Speech and Drama. She began her career on BBC radio programs and made her stage debut at the age of 15 with the Oxford Repertory Theatre Company. Bloom received critical acclaim for her early work in Shakespearian plays including her portrayal of Ophelia in a production of “Hamlet” at Stratford-on-Avon when she was just 17.

Bloom’s first film role was in “The Blind Goddess,” a British courtroom drama. Charlie Chaplin then selected her to star in his film, “Limelight,” a role that propelled the young actress to stardom. In his review of the film for The New York Times, Bosley Crowther described Bloom’s performance as “beautifully sensitive and expressive.” She followed “Limelight” with a number of distinguished film performances playing opposite the leading actors of the day including “Richard III” with Laurence Olivier, “Alexander the Great” with Richard Burton and Fredric March, “The Brothers Karamazov” with Yul Brynner, and “The Buccaneer” with Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston. Some of her other films include “The Haunting,” “Look Back in Anger,” “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” “The Chapman Report,” “Charly,” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors”.

Date:                Saturday, November 6

Event Title:        Claire Bloom - Tribute Screening of The Haunting

Time:                4:30PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $15 | FLIFF Members $10

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:  The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) presents the original 1963 horror  thriller The Haunting, directed by Robert Wise and starring Claire Bloom in the role of Theo.  “You may not believe in ghosts, but you cannot deny terror!” This sentence was one of the advertising lines used to promote Robert Wise’s production of “The Haunting,” listed as “number one” on Martin Scorcese’s list of the “11 Scariest Horror Movies of All Time” compiled by the filmmaker for “The Daily Beast" in 2009.

The story revolves around a group of paranormal investigators who venture to Hill House, an aging mansion believed to be haunted.  Their goal is to spend a night and document any paranormal activity they encounter. Two critical elements to the film’s success were the casting of the key roles and the clever utilization of special effects.  The cast was headed by Claire Bloom, Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn as the quartet of “ghost hunters.”  They were joined by an excellent supporting cast which included Lois Maxwell.

Date:                Sunday, November 7

Event Title:        Beneath The Blue with Actor David Keith

Time:                5:15PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $10 | Seniors & Students $8 | FLIFF Members $6

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description: David Keith, currently starring in the new hit Fox TV Series Lonestar and best known for his work in An Officer and a Gentleman and Behind Enemy Lines, will attend the screening of his new film Beneath The Blue, on November 7, during the 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Keith stars as Hawk in the environmentally themed adventure story inspired by actual events and real scientific issues. The story follows a teenage girl, Alyssa and her friends who risk getting caught in the deadly sonar testing when the US Navy abducts a scientific research dolphin.  Filmed in the Bahamas, Beneath the Blue stars Paul Wesley from the smash CW hit television series Vampire Diaries and Caitlin Wachs who was named one of People Magazine’s 20 Teenagers Who Will Change The World and received the Young Star Award from The Hollywood Reporter.

Director, Michael D. Sellers, will also attend for an audience Q&A with David Keith after the film. Both will also attend the post screening reception in the courtyard which is Free with your Ticket to the film.  The reception includes a sampling of pigeon peas & rice a real staple of Bahamian cooking served in the courtyard.

Beneath The Blue is rated PG-13 and is appropriate for families with children (7 years and older) as well as entertaining for adults.

Date:                Sunday, November 7

Event Title:        The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Closing Night Film & Wrap Party

Time:                5:15PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $30 | FLIFF Members $25

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:   The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) presents

the Southeast Premiere of Casino Jack as their Closing Night Film. 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. 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.

Casino Jack is a finely orchestrated dance that is laced with humor and seasoned with shock. The fact that it is all (or mostly) true and a great deal of it happened in South Florida, makes the film even more enthralling.  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. Following the 5:15pm screening of "CASINO JACK"  is the 25th Anniversary FLiFF Wrap Party hosted by Allied Kitchen & Bath which includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, and soft drinks,  at their magnificent showroom located at 616 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale.

Date:                Sunday, November 7

Event Title:        Casino Jack

Time:                7:00pm

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $15 | FLIFF Members $10

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:   The 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF) presents

an encore screening of Casino Jack, their Closing Night Film. 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. 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.

Casino Jack is a finely orchestrated dance that is laced with humor and seasoned with shock. The fact that it is all (or mostly) true and a great deal of it happened in South Florida, makes the film even more enthralling.  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.

Date:                Monday, November 8

Event Title:        Jane Russell – Award Presentation and Tribute Screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Time:                5:30PM

Venue:              Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $15 | FLIFF Members $10

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      Meet film legend, Jane Russell asThe 25^th Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival pays tribute to her vast career in acting. The event begins with a reception at 5:30pm followed by a montage of her film career as FLiFF presents her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  After the presentation, FLiFF will present one of Russell's most popular films, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which she starred opposite Marilyn Monroe.

Russell was discovered by producer and studio mogul Howard Hughes and director Howard Hawks. Hughes signed her to a seven-year contract at his RKO Studios and she was cast as the female lead in “The Outlaw”.  Russell followed “The Outlaw” with a number of other film roles including “The Paleface” and “Son of Paleface,” both with Bob Hope. When she starred with Robert Mitchum in “His Kind of Woman,” columnist Louella Parsons described the team as “the hottest combination that ever hit the screen.” They co-starred again in “Macao,” and she teamed with Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Some of her other films include “The Las Vegas Story,” “Underwater!” “The French Line,” “Foxfire,” “The Tall Men” with Clark Gable, “The Revolt of Mamie Stover,” “The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown,” and “Fate Is the Hunter.”

Date:                Wednesday, November 10

Event Title:        Jan Kasoff -  Discussion and Clips Behind The Scenes at Saturday Night Live and NBC

Time:                6:00PM

Venue:               Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6^th St., Fort Lauderdale

Tickets:             General Admission $5 | FLIFF Members FREE

Website: www.fliff.com

Phone:              954-525-3456

Description:      Jan Kasoff, an  NYU graduate, was a cameraman for the NBC Television Network for 36 years (1965-2001), During those 36 years he was a cameraman for Saturday Night Live for 26 of those years. Jan also worked for the News & Sports Divisions covering the Olympics, Watergate Hearings, national political conventions, Meet the Press, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw/Brian Williams, MSNBC, Major League Baseball, and National Football League games. Jan won six Primetime Emmy Awards for Saturday Night Live plus two for Sports coverage of the Olympics.

At this very special event, Jan will talk about his life behind the camera, the personalities he worked with and a number of backstage stories that will delight and entertain. Video clips from the show will be shown and your questions will be answered!