After 8 months of planning, lots of new faces and energy on the staff, and vast amounts of incredibly hard work, the 17th annual Florida Film Festival is finally here! The Southeast Premiere of YOUNG @ HEART preceded by the World Premiere of THE PLUSH LIFE kicks things off Friday night the 28th and sets the tone for 9 more days of great cinema, parties, food, celebrities, and special events. Anthony Bourdain, Malcolm McDowell, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Jennifer Tilly will all be in town for what is shaping up to be the most exciting and well-attended festival yet.

A total of 159 films will hit the silver screen from March 28 - April 6, including World Premieres of Tom Gustafson's WERE THE WORLD MINE, Jeremy Zerechak's LAND OF CONFUSION, and Tony Cane-Honeysett's MONDO BONDO, along with the North American Premiere of Chris Rodley's FACTORY: MANCHESTER FROM JOY DIVISION TO HAPPY MONDAYS. And it all culminates in this year's Closing Night Retro screening, a gorgeous archival print of Roman Polanski's ROSEMARY'S BABY, playing in conjunction with Jeffrey Schwarz's SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY and a rare 35mm screening of Castle's own Joan Crawford shocker, STRAIGHT-JACKET (at midnight of course).

Info on the complete line-up is available at http://www.floridafilmfestival.comYou can also check out this week's Orlando Weekly, Friday's Calendar section in the Orlando Sentinel, or head on over to Festival HQ at the Best Western - Mt. Vernon Inn, with the infamous Red Fox Lounge featuring Mark & Lorna. Don't miss it--be sure you're a part of one of Cenrtral Florida's great (and most fun!) cultural events.

--Matthew

I miss Mark & Lorna. Have a great festival!

Whenever Magnolia Pictures releases TIMECRIMES this year, please book it. I promise to see it at least three times, paying the general admission price each time. I will do this even after the movie screens on HDNet Ultra VOD.