The Florida Film Festival staff wishes to extend a hearty congratulations to the creative team behind CONVENTIONEERS, one of the ten narrative features in competition for 2006. This past Saturday night at the Independent Spirit Awards, Director/Co-writer Mora Stephens and Producer/Co-writer Joel Viertel were honored with the "John Cassavetes Award" (best feature made for under $500,000) for their terrifically acted blend of sexual politics and moral quandaries set against the 2004 Republican National Convention in NYC. Festival attendees won't want to miss the Southeast Premiere of this surprising, real, and totally involving love affair that so skillfully blurs the line between fact and fiction.

--Matthew