Judy Greer and Jake Kasdan's THE TV SET. Peter Bogdanovich and an archival print of PAPER MOON. Chazz Palminteri coming in for the Full Sail panel. Samm (Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared) Levine and LIFE IS SHORT. The writers of FACE/OFF and THE MASK, AMERICAN PSYCHO and GO FISH, CRIMES OF PASSION, the CHILD'S PLAY series, and THE AIR I BREATHE all on the same screenwriting panel. The World Premiere of KNEE DEEP, the fascinating new doc feature from Michael Chandler, Oscar-nominated editor of AMADEUS, MISHIMA, and NEVER CRY WOLF. Some of the best shorts programs, both domestic and international, live action and animated, that you will ever get to see.

These are but a few of the highlights in store over the next ten days as the 16th annual Florida Film Festival takes flight on Friday evening. After 8 months of work, these 171 films from 24 countries--including 38 World, North American, and US Premieres--are ready for their close-up. We hope you can join us!

-- Matthew

This is Michael Ferraro, the Programming Coordinator for the 2007 Florida Film Festival, informing you of just a sample of short films playing in our awesomely deranged Midnight Shorts program.

Carles Torrens' Coming to Town plays out like Bad Santa on crack! It's a dark tale about Santa's alcoholic brother and demon assistant out to deliver one special 11-year-old girl her dream Holiday present - revenge! Needless to say, she probably won't be picked on too much more after this magical holiday evening.

Even more dark is Michael Medaglia's The Ratsnitch Angel - showing exclusively in 1 1/2 D - that's... well, you'll have to see this one for yourself. The Sundance alum songbird, directed by John Thompson, also takes a bizarre (and by bizarre, I mean gruesome) stab at revenge.

T. Arthur Cottam's Filthy Food is probably exactly what you'd expect the title suggest. Enjoy the mouth of a woman connecting with various foods in multiple ways we haven't seen before. And speaking of which, director Will Hartman's piece, entitled Moosecock, also has to do with eating but not in similar fashion. Brian Baumgartner (from NBC's The Office) co-stars in this take on the infamous joke told mostly in bars by people who've probably had more than one drink or two.

Oh, and have you ever wondered what would happen if you made your little sister drink a concoction of household cleaners (and such)? Hyperactive Ingredients, directed Trevor Piecham and Ben Spinney, has the answer. The Florida Film Festival Midnight Shorts Program has all of these hilarious (and somewhat disturbing) shorts, and many more.

You can see the Midnight Shorts Program this Saturday night, March 24th, at midnight at the Enzian, or next Saturday (3/31 at midnight again) at the Regal Winter Park Village.

See you at the festival!!

--Michael Ferraro

One week out from the launch of the 16th annual Florida Film Festival and I'm trying to grab my fleeting moments of amusement where I can. Though I didn't catch either game, you know it's a landmark day when both Duke and the Lakers are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Blue Devils were upset (not such a big one in my book) by Virginia Commonwealth University, beautifully coached by ex-Univ. of Florida assistant Anthony Grant. Coach K's team was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round for the first time since 1996, and the team unbelievably ended the season with four straight losses. I wonder when was the last time that happened?

The NBA's LA Lakers are another joyous story, especially if you resent the fact that Phil Jackson has never coached a team without at least one or two of the greatest players in the game in his line-up. But with key injuries to both Lamar Odom and Luke Walton, the team has been struggling mightily (even with Kobe). Last night's loss to Denver makes the current Lakers the first ever Phil Jackson-coached team to lose seven games in a row (hard to believe after 16 years in the league). And to add insult to injury, the Lakers had back-to-back blow out losses by more than 25 points for the first time ever, and last weekend experienced their worst home loss ever (by 30-something) to the superb Dallas Mavericks.

It's so nice to see the arrogant and high-and-mighty get taken down a peg every once in awhile. Now let's see if U of F can repeat--Go Gators!

--Matthew

While I could be writing about how pathetic and embarrassing and truly awful our local pro basketball franchise has become after such a promising beginning to the year, I've decided instead to dwell on more positive developments on the entertainment scene. It's always bothered me that the International Narrative Shorts and International Animated Shorts programs at the Florida Film Festival only got one showing each. Since these programs were so popular and so labor intensive and costly to produce (especially when considering return shipping charges), why not make it a priority to get them both an additional screening?

I'm happy to report that we've pulled it off for this year's 16th annual festival which opens next Friday, March 23. The two programs, which are comprised of 22 films from 9 countries, include 5 US Premieres and are two of the finest and most diverse shorts collections we've ever asembled. The International Animated Shorts program even has two documentaries(!) in its line-up: the stunning MCLAREN'S NEGATIVES from Canada about film artist and innovator Norman McLaren, and NEVER LIKE THE FIRST TIME! from Sweden, a fascinating and ingenious memory film with four people recalling their first sexual experiences.

So you now have two shots apiece at catching the International Shorts programs from Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1--chances are, there won't be another opportunity to ever again see these on the big screen in Central Florida. You don't want to miss out...and don't forget to vote on your Audience Award ballots.

--Matthew

I'm never quite sure why it takes so long to get my three Florida Film Festival juries locked down and confirmed. After all, we fly people down to Central Florida during the most gorgeous time of the year (late March) to spend 4 - 5 days relaxing (with a little work mixed in), watch a reasonable amount of great films, eat wonderful food (during the movies themselves if the screening's at Enzian), party, and engage in conversation with others as passionate as themselves about cinema. Or perhaps it's the balance I always strive for in each jury, with a combination of both men and women, a filmmaker in that particular genre, a distributor, and a third person from another part of the industry such as producer, actor, critic, journalist, publicist, etc. For whatever reason, it's a surprisingly difficult and stressful process and I'm thankful when we're able to finally put together such a distinguished set of juries as we have this year:

Narrative Features: James Shapiro - Director of Rental Sales, Planning, & Acquisitions, Starz Entertainment/Anchor Bay Entertainment; Gene Seymour - Film Critic, Newsday;and Guinevere Turner - Actress/Director/Screenwriter (GO FISH, AMERICAN PSYCHO, THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE)

Documentaries: Charles Coleman - Film Program Director of the Facets Cinematheque; Daniel Anker - Filmmaker (SCOTTSBORO: AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY, IMAGINARY WITNESS: HOLLYWOOD AND THE HOLOCAUST); and Michael Schmidt - Director of Theatrical Marketing, Kino International

Live Action & Animated Shorts: Thelma Adams - Film Critic, Us Weekly; Mark Bell - Editor-in-Chief, Film Threat; and Scott Calonico - Filmmaker (THE KING AND DICK, FULL METAL SLACKS, SAFETY FIRST)

We look forward to having them down as our special guests and demonstrating some Southern hospitality.

-- Matthew

Nice to see a superstar give back to his community, especially after the devastating events of a few weeks ago just an hour or so outside of Orlando. In fact, one of those tornadoes actually touched down in Seminole County (where I live), but luckily it was a ways away and did little damage. WILD HOGS, which had a huge opening weekend despite (because of?) its painfully lame trailer and big name cast in goofy situations, certainly proved the critics wrong. All except Pete Hammond of Maxim magazine of course, who found it "Hysterically Funny!" and called it "CITY SLICKERS on Bikes!"--damn, I wish I had coined that one. Anyway, I'm glad to see this witless mid-life crisis "comedy" do some good for someone other than Disney.

John Travolta donated $15,000 to victims of a tornado in Florida at the premiere of his new biker film Wild Hogs on Friday night. The actor presented a personal check to Mayor Max Pullen of Lady Lake, Florida, where a string of tornadoes killed 21 people in the area on 2 February. Travolta, who has lived in nearby Ocala for four years, said, "These things happen in Florida and when they happen we all have to do something to help. "I just felt the time was right. We're promoting a movie. I think the best movie openings and promotions are when you can do it for charity and help people. I live here. These are my people." Pullen added, "This means a lot and helps lift the spirit of our people. When they know somebody as big a star as John Travolta cares about them, it makes a difference." The screening of the biker comedy raised an additional $15,000 and Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers presented the star with a key to the city.

--Matthew

In my 16 years of working on the Florida Film Festival--the first five as Selection Committee member and the last eleven as Programming Director--I have never seen such a dominant showing of formidable talent from one film school as we have this year. Those of you who attended Sundance are probably already aware of the extraordinary artistry displayed by Columbia University students and alumni, since 10 of the 71 shorts selected out of more than 4000 submissions all came from this one institution--remarkable!

Well that trend continues at this year's Florida Film Festival, ready to launch in just three weeks. While the numbers aren't quite as staggering as the Sundance percentages, 6 out of the 27 shorts in the American Independent Narrative Shorts Competition (selected from over 600 entries in that category) are all from Columbia. Yet only three played in Park City: Lilah Vandenburgh's BITCH, Sophie Barthes' HAPPINESS, and Moon Molson's POP FOUL. Our other three are just as good, yet didn't make it into the Sundance 10: Tobin Addington's DANCING GROUND, Benjamin Gray's THE HUNTER, and Julia Kots' NATURALIZED.

Not only that, but had the filmmakers struck a 35mm print like they indicated on their submission forms, we would also be playing two more outstanding works: Ian Olds' BOMB and C.C. Webster's CIVIL WAR. Unfortunately, by the time we found out that they were actually video only, our video shorts programs were all locked and confirmed. But it easily could have been 8 out of the 27 instead of 6, and either way it's unprecedented. And what's even more impressive is how diverse this group of films really is, with nothing really in common except their excellence.

There are a lot of fine film schools in this country, including a few right here in Florida, but what this group of student filmmakers from Columbia University has achieved can only be described as stunning. Hopefully you'll get to experience these fine films for yourselves.

--Matthew