 |  The Fort Myers Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for you this May 12-16. Join us for films, fun and friends. Tickets are on sale now. | Tickets are on sale now for the Fort Myers Film Festival’s 11th annual festival which will be held in the sunny, beautiful SW Florida region at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center May 12-16, 2021. Screenings will also take place at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Alliance for the Arts, IMAG and Lab Theater. The festival will feature in person and virtual activities including the screening of 60 fresh international and independent films, with some throwback Florida films featuring cult classics and local filmmakers. Participants and attendees safety will be prioritized with organizers implementing extra sanitization measures. Here are some of the details of what to expect this year: May 12: The Red Carpet Opening Night will feature the film “Pooling to Paradise (2021)” and will be celebrated with excitement and style at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center at 7 p.m. The event will begin with the red carpet rolling out, paparazzi clicking and doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for drinks, mingling & musical entertainment with local and international filmmakers prior to the featured movie. Tickets are $15 for movie only or $100 for movie and VIP meet and greet of cast and crew. Guests will enjoy fully-stocked bar and a chance to meet with the stars of the evening’s film, other filmmakers and event VIPs. The event will provide the delicious foods and beverages. To buy tickets head here. May 13-16: Then join us for all of the programming at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and other event centers around town. Films and short film blocks are $10 the rest of the festival. Participants and attendees safety will be prioritized with organizers implementing reduced capacity with spaced seating, extra sanitization measures, strongly encouraging the use of masks, and social distancing. For a complete list of films, times and schedules for the May 12-16, 2021 festival head here. May 16: Finish off the weeklong celebration with a closing night U.S. premiere of "The Lost Film of Nuremberg," filmmaker panel and awards ceremony. Join all of the local and international filmmakers as we celebrate the winners of the Fort Myers Film Festival. Champagne and dessert will be shared, short award winning films will be played and toasts will be deservedly pronounced. FILMS: The official films selected for the 2021 Fort Myers Film Festival will be curated from all over the world and include movies in the categories Features, Documentaries, Shorts, Short Shorts, Strictly Local, Student and Environment and will include 60 fresh international and independent films, with some throwback Florida films featuring cult classics and local filmmakers. Official selections for the 11th annual Fort Myers Film Festival to be held May 12-16, 2021 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center unless otherwise noted. For a complete list of films, times and schedules for the May 12-16, 2021 festival head here. WHAT: The 11th annual Fort Myers Film Festival
WHEN: May 12-16, 2021
WHERE: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center located at 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901; Some screenings to take place at Alliance for the Arts, Lab Theater, IMAG and Edison & Ford Winter Estates
TICKETS & INFO: Opening night film is $15 general admission or $100 VIP party; Tickets for all other films are $10. Some day passes will be offered for $20. Virtual access to intimate Q&As with filmmakers and some short films will be free. For tickets and more information head here. VIP memberships are still available for $295, granting access to all private and public parties, panels and screenings. For VIP memberships head here. |  Watch a virtual discussion with the cast and crew of “Pooling to Paradise” Q&A w Eric Raddatz, Jonathan Lipnicki, Caytha Jentis, Mark del Negro here. | |  The opening night film to screen at the red-carpet kickoff for the 11th annual fest will be the indie comedy "Pooling to Paradise (2021)." | OPENING NIGHT FILM: The Fort Myers Film Festival has announced that the opening night film to screen at the red-carpet kickoff for the 11th annual fest will be the indie comedy "Pooling to Paradise (2021)." The movie will screen Wednesday, May 12 at 7 pm. at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for general admission and 5:30 p.m. for VIP attendees, which will include cast and crew from the movie. The movie, written by Caytha Jentis’ and directed by Roxy Shih, is an 80-minute feature starring Taryn Manning ("Orange Is the New Black," "Hustle & Flow"), Jonathan Lipnicki ("The Resident," "Jerry Maguire," "Stuart Little"), Dreama Walker ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," "Gran Torino," "Gossip Girl"), Lynn Chen ("Saving Face," "Go Back To China") and comedian Jordan Carlos ("Broad City," "Guy Code," "Girl Code"). This will be the first in person premiere for the film internationally. Get a preview by watching our virtual discussion with the cast and crew of “Pooling to Paradise” with Eric Raddatz, Jonathan Lipnicki, Caytha Jentis, Mark del Negro here. For more information about the film check out Tom Hall's in depth coverage here. WHAT: Fmff opening night film “Pooling to Paradise (2021),” with red-carpet reception, meet and greet and afterparty.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center located at 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
TICKETS & INFO: $15 general admission or $100 VIP party; For tickets and more information head here. |  One of the most exciting features of Fort Myers Film Festival's virtual options this year are great Q&As with cast and crew from this year's official selections, many with ZOOM reunitings with surprise guests and more! | | FMFF 2021—a year with flashback films and cult classics you can see nowhere else In addition to providing fresh indie films — most not yet in distribution, but soon will be — the Fort Myers Film Festival will show respect to cult classic Florida filmmakers this year by screening several films shot in and around SWFL. Some of these you may have heard of and wanted to see. Some have become local legends and many remain undistributed. But this year we will be screening them!: Head to our YouTube channel to watch many of the casts and crews reunite in anticipation for their screenings in the festival this year Thursday, May 13 at 6 P.M.
“Captiva Island” (1995)
Dir. by John Biffar
While vacationing on Captiva Island, Florida with his parents, a teen, gloomy about his future, finds love and friendship when he meats a cute girl and 3 kooky pensioners with passion for life and crazy schemes. Starring Arte Johnson, Ernest Borgnine, Bill Cobbs and Norma Miller.
Throwback; Strictly Local; 1h 25m
YouTube cast & crew reunite with discussion here
TICKETS HERE Saturday, May 15 at 12 p.m.
“The Knife” (2011)
Dir. by Karen Whitaker, J. Bert Davis
Stephanie thinks her husband Terry is cheating on her with Karen. That night they attend a party at Karen's house. The guests begin to play 'spin the knife', asking questions to whomever the knife lands on. They take a break and eventually Stephanie notices her husband and Karen are gone.
Throwback; Strictly Local; 17m
TICKETS HERE Saturday, May 15 at 4 P.M.
“Trans” (1998)
Dir by. Julian Goldberger
Ryan Kazinski, 16, is in juvenile detention in Fort Myers, Florida. He gets away one day, and the world is all before him: where should he go, what should he do? Should he try to find his mom? Should he head for Colorado, where he's daydreamed about life in the woods. He has a younger brother, so under cover of night, Ryan visits him. At night, Ryan is on the streets where there are other youth at loose ends, including one who wants Ryan to help with a burglary. The police are looking for him as well. Where might a 16-year-old of limited experience, with no money, imagine he could be safe?
Throwback; Strictly Local; 1h 20m
YouTube cast & crew reunite with discussion here
TICKETS HERE Saturday, May 15 at 6 P.M.
“Pose Down” (2006)
Dir. by Erika Yeomans
A dark comedy set in Southwest Florida revolving around three former high school classmates whose lives become entangled after the airing of a tabloid news program. It's 1995, cell phones, email and I-chat have yet to change the channels of communication.
Throwback; Strictly Local; 1h 27m
YouTube cast & crew reunite with discussion here
TICKETS HERE Saturday, May 15 at 7:30 P.M.
“A Day to Love and Die” (2005)
Dir. by Eric Raddatz, Larry Block
Joe and James are bored newspapermen who stumble across a bright paralegal in distress who had found out that her prominent attorney boss is a protector of the manatee because he is harvesting them to use them as aphrodisiacs to sell to Asian buyers online. Southwest Florida scenic conspiracy thriller is a story about love, friendship, taking risks and taking a stand. Manatee protection has a wicked and devious motive when the protectors are actually killing, harvesting and selling ground up manatee parts as a competitor to viagra illegally online as part of a Columbian mafia effort in Fort Myers, Florida.
Throwback; Strictly Local; 41m
TICKETS HERE Saturday, May 15 at 8:30 P.M.
“Still Green” (2007)
Dir. by by Jon Artigo
The summer of their senior year, ten best friends rent a beach house for one last week before separating for college. A tragic accident in the ocean changes and tests their friendship. In this dark teen drama, everything can change in an instant. With Vonzell Solomon.
Throwback; Strictly Local; 1h 27m
YouTube cast & crew reunite with discussion here
TICKETS HERE |  For a recent Q&A and discussion about the upcoming screening and making of the film with Eric Raddatz, Jean-Christophe Klotz, K.C. and Sandra Schulberg, head to our YouTube channel here. | |  Stuart and Budd Schulberg spearheaded the collection of films for the Nuremberg trial in the 2021 FMFF closing night film "The Lost Film of Nuremberg" | CLOSING NIGHT FILM: The Fort Myers Film Festival has announced that the closing night film and awards ceremony to be held on May 16, 2021 at 4 p.m. at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center will include the U.S. premiere of the documentary “The Lost Film of Nuremberg (2021)” by Jean-Christophe Klotz, and will honor local filmmakers including K. C. and Sandra Schulberg. Following the film there will also be a panel and discussion. WHAT: Fmff closing night film “The Lost Film of Nuremberg (2021),” with panel and awards ceremony to follow
WHEN: Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center located at 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
TICKETS & INFO: $10; For tickets and more information head here.](https://www.sbdac.com/fort-myers-film-festival-2021/) |  Get your tickets now to the 2021 red carpet rollout May 12, 2021 at SBDAC | | The Fort Myers Film Festival was awarded the prestigious 2015 Chrysalis Award for Cultural Achievement by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Inc. at their annual Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon and Trade Show at the Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers. The Fort Myers Film Festival was founded by Eric Raddatz, the award-winning presentation editor of Florida Weekly, regular contributor for NBC-2 in Fort Myers, and host of Fort Myers Film Festival’s indie film show, “T.G.I.M.” SUPPORT: The Fort Myers Film Festival supports Lee County Schools filmmakers, Raddatz Foundation and Golisano’s Children’s Hospital. Sponsored by and partnered with The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Edison & Ford Winter Estates, IMAG, Lab Theater, UNIT A, Florida Weekly, Bennett’s Fresh Roast Coffee, J. Bert Davis M.D., F.A.C.S, Facial Surgeon, Sam Galloway Ford, Black Tie Tuxedos, Aux Delicies, Riverside Realty, The Luminary Hotel, Blu Sushi, Douglas E. Spiegel. P.A., Capone’s Pizza, Five Star Talent, Alliance for the Arts and Kearns Restaurant Group. | Press Keep up with all the latest intimate details of filmmakers by heading to ARTSWFL as Tom Hall covers the festival like no other. |  Get your tickets to an awesome outdoor experience as the FMFF and Edison & Ford Winter Estates pay tribute to Sam Galloway Jr. Friday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. | |  Stay at the best hotel in SWFL for the 2021 Fort Myers Film Festival—The Luminary Hotel! | | Stay downtown for the fest, make it the experience of a lifetime Stay downtown the entire week, mix and mingle and party at the beautiful Luminary Hotel with FMFF discounted rates here. | Brought to you in part by Black Tie Tuxedos, a proud sponsor of the Fort Myers Film Fest from the very beginning. They are a family owned and operated business with over two decades of service to our Fort Myers community. They offer Film Fest Gala attendees a special pricing and great attire from fun fashion jackets to traditional James Bond, they carry a variety of styles of suits and tuxedos. Visit the shop and be sure to mention the film fest. | | |
