Florida Film Festival rolls out the red carpet in Maitland

The Florida Film Festival makes its annual premiere on Friday with a diverse selection of over 170 features, shorts and animated indie films, representing more than 30 countries at the Enzian Theater in Maitland.

As an Oscar-qualifying event, the festival draws an eclectic selection of entrants, each vying for the chance at Oscar nomination. Grand Jury Award winners in the Live Action Short and Animated Short Film categories automatically qualify to enter the following year’s Academy Awards.

“I just love this year’s group of films. While the selection process was more difficult than ever due to the sheer volume of compelling entries that made us sit up and take notice, I’m confident our audiences will be as entertained, engaged, surprised, and moved as we were," said Matthew Curtis, Florida Film Festival programming director.

This year’s festival includes features such as “Imperial Dreams,” based on a father’s true story of overcoming gang life and prison to care for his young son. “Imperial Dreams” is a Sundance Film Festival-award winner making its southeast premiere.

In the shorts category, local filmmaker and photographer, Brian Carlson presents his documentary “Mr. Gold,” the redemptive story of a well-known jewelry store sign-spinner who brings smiles to Orlando residents along busy Colonial Drive.

Co-directed by University of Central Florida grad Christopher Walker and University of Florida grad Michael Beach, “Welcome to Leith” is a gritty documentary about a white supremacist’s attempt to take over an isolated North Dakota village to make it into a haven for like-minded individuals. The film chronicles the plight of the town’s residents as they band together to halt the takeover.

The festival is also a great place to do some celebrity watching. In past years, Academy Award winners Jon Voight and Barry Levinson, and Academy Award nominee Glenn Close have attended.

This year, special guest Sam Rockwell who stars in “MOON,” a “2001: A Space Odyssey”-esque sci-fi thriller, will be on hand after the film’s showing for a question-and-answer session. Currently the showing is sold-out, with a stand-by only waiting list.

There are still seats available for An Evening with Bob Balaban, producer of “Gosford Park.” The seven-time Oscar nominee and Academy Award winner will be in attendance for a question-and-answer session after the showing.

Film aficionados and future filmmakers will enjoy the series of film forums this year, including Film in Florida, a discussion of the state of the industry; Making Meaning: Films That Change the World, Across the Pond, an account of U.S. screenwriters experiences working with acclaimed British directors; and the Filmmaker Forum.

And of course, there are the parties. During the festival there will be plenty of opportunities to mingle with the film industry elite and like-minded fans, beginning with the opening night celebrations on Friday, April 10, to multiple daytime food tastings, Sunday Brunch put on by the Enzian’s own Eden Bar, a block party at the Winter Park Village and concluding with the Awards Bash on Saturday, April 18, to announce the winners.

Budget need not be a concern to be part of the action. Throughout the festival there are four free movie screenings and all of the film forums are free and open to the public, as well as several of the daytime parties.

Please visit floridafilmfestival.com for schedules, ticket information and further details.