Well. The Sarasota Film Festival is locked and loaded. It's been a long, very fun four month process to get the film program of over 160 films in shape, but we are finally done and now just trying to make sure everything is in place and ready for the festival itself, which starts next Friday, January 28th. Yeah, I know. The rest of you are off to Sundance to wade through their always excellent program. But we've got some great films and it looks to be a very fun 10 days. This is what independent, non-profit film festivals are all about.

For me the highlight is going to be the new series I put together called INDEPENDENT VISIONS. Its a three film series that features a screening and a party with a great band playing. The series looks like this:

Sunday January 30, 2005
7:00pm
In The Realms of The Unreal
Director: Jessica Yu

9:00pm Independent Visions Celebration I
Band: DeVotchKa
Venue: Khrome

Monday, January 31, 2005
Ong Bak: Thai Warrior
Director: Prachya Pinkaew

9:00pm Independent Visions Celebration II
Band: Bob Mould
Venue: Sarasota Municipal Auditorium

Tuesday, February 1, 2005
7:00pm
Chain
Director: Jem Cohen

9:00pm Independent Visions Celebration III
Band: Ted Leo and The Pharmacists
Venue: Sarasota Municipal Auditorium

I think this is a great line-up and am excited to be able to host these artists for the festival. I think it will really add to the festval and make it an amazing event.

A complete look at the Film Program