Florida Film Fest Announces Jury
Nine Film Industry Experts Bring Range of Experience
The 17th Annual Florida Film Festival, presented by Enzian Theater, recently announced jury members for its American Independent Competition.
The Festival, which includes 160 independent films from 20 countries, runs March 28 through April 6. With venues located throughout the Orlando, Florida, area, about 23,000 people attend the Festival each year.
Florida Film Festival Awards
At the Festival, Grand Jury and Special Jury Awards are given to two narrative feature films, three short films, and three documentary films screening in competition. In addition to these top jury prizes, one film in each of the three categories is eligible to receive an Audience Award as determined by ballots distributed at individual film screenings.
“We are honored to be hosting such talent within our industry,” says Shanon Larimer, executive director of the Festival. “This year’s jurors’ passion, commitment, and creativity embody the Festival itself.”
The Festival also includes a variety of films not included in the American Independent Competition, such as Spotlight Films (advance screenings of hot new indie films that are creating the loudest buzz), Florida Sidebar (films from Florida’s most promising new talent, at colleges, universities, and working independently), Midnight Shorts (over-the-top animation, live-action explicitness, and not-ready-for-prime-time fare), Music Sidebar (festive collaboration of musical talent and filmmaking techniques), and Retro Films (classic movies, often newly restored and presented outside in the park).
Festival Jurors
For the narrative feature competition, Producer Effie T. Brown (Real Women Have Curves, In the Cut, Rocket Science), Acquisitions Manager David Laub (THINKFilm), and Film Critic Rex Reed (New York Observer) will serve as jurors.
For documentary features and short films, Managing Editor Brian Brooks (indieWIRE), Manager Greg Rhem (Original Programming, HBO), and Filmmaker Kate Davis (Southern Comfort, Pucker Up: The Fine Art of Whistling) will do the judging.
For narrative and animated shorts, Film Critic Karen Durbin (Elle Magazine), Regional Publicity Manager Nat Baruch (IFC Films), and Manager Cara Longo (Acquisitions & Programming, Sundance Channel) are on the jury.
In addition to the jurors and filmmakers, special guest Anthony Bourdain (host of the Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly) will appear at events throughout the Festival. The awards are announced at the conclusion of the Festival at an awards ceremony followed by the Revel 17, an elaborate dinner party held at a country club.
This year’s lineup of films includes two world premieres and seven East Coast premieres, with 15 filmmakers making their feature debuts. The Florida Film Festival is a core program of Enzian Theater, a nonprofit organization serving the Central Florida community for more than 23 years.
