SPECIAL SCREENINGS

OLIVE GARDEN ITALIAN FILM SPECIAL
Sponsored by Olive Garden Restaurants

RESPIRO
ITALY, 2002, 90 MIN, RATED PG-13
IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
DIRECTED BY EMANUELE CRIALESE
Monday, March 10, 7:00 PM at Enzian
Winner of the Critics Week Grand Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, this engaging slice of life drama from acclaimed filmmaker Emanuele Crialese (Once We Were Strangers, FFF 1998) showcases the conflict between unbridled passion and the status quo. Based on a local legend, the story follows a free-spirited mother named Grazia, subtly portrayed by Valeria Golino (Frida), who begins to feel emotionally restrained by the daily routines of her island village. Her unpredictable actions, which entertain her children and frustrate her husband, bring a sense of vitality to the otherwise mundane existence of the community. However, Grazia's unorthodox approach to life is not enough for her to achieve a personal sense of freedom, resulting in her abandonment of the town and her family. With lush cinematography that beautifully evokes the wonder of the ocean, and a passionate eye for the complexities of human desire, Respiro is a delicately crafted film that authentically details the harmonious interactions that take place between the diverse personalities of a small town in Italy.

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FAMILY FILMS PROGRAM

WINGED MIGRATION
FRANCE, 2002, 89 MIN, DIRECTED BY JACQUES PERRIN
Sponsored by Spirit Airlines
2003 Academy Award Nomination,
Best Documentary Feature
Sunday, March 16, 4:30 PM at Park 3
Using groundbreaking camera techniques, Jacques Perrin gorgeously documents the flight patterns of several species of birds within both urban and exotic locales such as Paris, New York City, the Arctic, and the Amazon. Winged Migration is the third film in a massive anthropological experiment (including Microcosmos) that has been heralded by critics for portraying an emotionally resonant representation of the natural world. During the making of the film, Perrin's crew was able to capture the lives of the featured birds from birth, granting them a privileged opportunity to beautifully capture images of the birds' migration patterns without any obstruction. Four years and 400 hours of footage later, the breathtaking Winged Migration reveals a portrait of the world from an angle seldom experienced. Nature lovers and film fans of all ages should rejoice.

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FAMILY SHORTS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 85 MIN
Saturday, March 8, 11:30 AM at Enzian

WALLACE AND GROMIT'S CRACKING CONTRAPTIONS (X 10)-PART 1
UK, 2002, 1 1/2 - 3 MIN EACH
DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER SADLER &
LOYD PRICE
SOUTHEAST PREMIERES/2ND US SHOWINGS
Aardman Animation's world famous, cheese-loving inventor and his faithful canine sidekick return in this brand new series of ten short adventures.

"THE AUTOCHEF"
Kicking things off, Wallace's versatile "Autochef" has problems cooking breakfast, and Gromit is right to be wary of the cheeky robot.

"THE TELLYSCOPE"
When Wallace invents a remote control for the TV, the flaw in its design is obvious.

"THE SOCCAMATIC"
Gromit's goaltending prowess is too much for the frustrated Wallace when they play some friendly soccer in the park.

"THE 525 CRACKERVAC"
Takes the strain out of cleaning and has a "cracker sensor" to boot! But when things don't go quite as planned, it's up to Gromit to save the day.

"THE TURBO DINER"
Another chore Gromit dislikes is clearing the table. Wallace's "Turbo Diner" is designed to do the job fast and efficiently, that is until the lights start flickering.

PLAYING WITH

LITTLE MONK
USA, 2002, 30 MIN, DIRECTED BY CHAILLE STOVALL
With his all-kid crew and youthful tenacity, 13-year-old filmmaker Chaille Stovall (Party Animals, FFF 2002) follows Little Potato, a 6-year-old Tibetan boy who gives up all of his worldly possessions (including his toys) in order to join a Buddhist monastery. Highly informative and filled with magnificent locales, Little Monk is a charming and delightful journey that investigates the nature of sacrifice and spiritual faith.

PLAYING WITH

WALLACE AND GROMIT'S CRACKING CONTRAPTIONS (X 10)-PART 2
UK, 2002, 1 1/2 - 3 MIN EACH
DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER SADLER & LOYD PRICE
SOUTHEAST PREMIERES/2ND US SHOWINGS

"THE SNOWMANOTRON"
Wallace's new "SpeedeeSnowman" builds masterful snowmen at the touch of a few buttons.

"SHOPPER 13"
Wallace believes his guided shopping trolley is the answer to long trips to the supermarket. Under the weight of a giant Edam disaster strikes--can Gromit save the day and the cheese?

"THE SNOOZATRON"
Insomnia is a problem for our cheese-eating inventor, so the "Snoozatron" is a necessary creation. For Gromit, his part in the machine's cycle is a regular chore he could do without.

"THE BULLY PROOF VEST"
Home security can be a problem these days. It may be time to use the ultimate burglar deterrent, Wallace's fearsome "Bully Proof Vest."

"A CHRISTMAS CARDOMATIC"
With the holidays fast approaching, Wallace invents a card-making machine. Whilst painstakingly posing Gromit into his masterpiece, he fails to notice the obvious.

PLAYING WITH

SING!
USA, 2001, 36 MIN, DIRECTED BY FREIDA LEE MOCK
Nominated for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2002 Academy Awards, Sing! is the heartwarming, inspiring, and joyous new work from Oscar-winner Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision). The film focuses on the teachers, students, and training program of the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, a non-profit community group which has worked out of two rooms in a basement for the last 15 years creating extraordinary music despite severe budget cuts in the arts. From their nervous auditions though their schooling and amazing public performance, we follow a group of children as they blossom and develop an appreciation for art and music in their lives.

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MUSIC SIDEBAR

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE
USA, 2002, 95 MIN, RATED PG-13, DIRECTED BY
CHRIS HEGEDUS AND D.A. PENNEBAKER
Wednesday, March 12, 9:30 PM at Loews
Saturday, March 15, 7:15 PM at Park 2
In recent months, fans of classic R&B and Soul have been treated to two thrilling films on those responsible for some of the greatest American music of the 20th century with Standing in the Shadows of Motown and now Only the Strong Survive. Known for their groundbreaking and revolutionary music documentaries such as Don't Look Back and Down from the Mountain, D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus return with this captivating portrait of the great R&B singers from the Motown and Stax era who are still playing music today. Following the noble efforts of producer Roger Friedman to bring back a music form that seems to have died along with the passing of luminaries such as Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, this film reunites and records the "strong" musicians who continue to survive by playing on shoddy, dime-a-dozen tours. Featuring brilliant performances from Wilson Pickett, Mary Wilson, Isaac Hayes, the Chi Lites, Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, and many others, this passionate and emotionally charged film showcases the talents of an era who have weathered changes in the cultural landscape in order to perform the music they love.

RICHARD THOMPSON: SOLITARY LIFE
UK, 2003, 60 MIN, DIRECTED BY PAUL BERNAYS
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Monday, March 10, 9:30 PM at Park 2
Saturday, March 15, 4:15 PM at Park 2
This intimate portrait of Richard Thompson--legendary and enigmatic singer, songwriter, guitarist, and the man Rolling Stone calls "one of the great buried treasures of English rock"--follows his journey from shy childhood to reticent guitar hero to the acclaimed and spellbinding solo artist of today. While still a '60s teenager, Thompson wrote generation defining songs like "Meet on the Ledge" as a founding member of Fairport Convention, the first British band to interpret traditional folk music with electric instruments. In the '70s, with wife Linda, his songs of spiritual yearning yielded five classic LP releases but little financial success. Alternative living and devotional music gave way in the early '80s to Shoot Out the Lights, universally regarded as one of the great albums of the decade, but coinciding with the duo's divorce, which was dramatically played out on their legendary final US tour. Since then, whether live or in the studio, acoustic or electric, solo or with a band, his music has never failed to surprise or dazzle.

PLAYING WITH

JEFF BUCKLEY: EVERYBODY HERE WANTS YOU
UK, 2002, 60 MIN, DIRECTED BY SERENA CROSS
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Nearly six years after Jeff Buckley's untimely death at age 30, the steady influx of new fans discovering his small but remarkable body of work is proof positive of his music's potent ability to move people. A virtuoso guitarist and vocalist whose voice could swoop from a guttural yell to a delicate whisper, Buckley continues to inspire musicians and fans from all walks of life. Often drawing parallels between Buckley and his father, Tim Buckley (who died of a drug overdose at age 28, and whom Jeff Buckley never knew), Everybody Here Wants You weaves together interviews--including Jimmy Page, Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, Cocteau Twins's Elizabeth Fraser, and former bandmate Matt Johnson--with a rich archive of rare behind-the-scenes footage and concert clips from the Grace tour as well as from his early days in a high school rock band, an L.A. metal band, and at avant-garde N.Y.C. happenings. This stunning film offers an intimate and revelatory glimpse into the tragically short life of a doomed, romantic icon.

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MIDNIGHT MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASE
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: APPROX. 70 MIN
Wednesday, March 12, Midnight at Enzian
CURATED BY WILL BROWN, MVWire.COM
Music video directing is fast becoming a stepping stone to feature films, and many of the most talented and successful film and video artists working today, such as Spike Jonze (Adaptation), McG (Charlie's Angels), and Jonas Akerlund (Spun), all began their careers in the music world. The Florida Film Festival is proud to debut its first ever collection of music videos, presenting some of the most cutting-edge work in existence today. Many of these remarkable clips have never aired on the usual music television outlets, and you won't want to miss this rare opportunity to see them on the big screen in Dolby Digital sound. We have also included an on-camera interview with visionary director David Slade on the making of Rob Dougan's "Clubbed to Death," a song featured on the soundtrack to the original Matrix movie. So welcome to "Club Enzian," where there's no two-drink minimum or dress code, and the only requirement is an open mind. Enjoy!

NERF HERDER: "MR. SPOCK"
Directed by Mike Sloat, 3:28
In this ultimate pop homage to Star Trek, the geeks get the girl, the bad guy gets destroyed, and everybody dances.

FLAMING LIPS: "DO YOU REALIZE"
Directed by Mark Pellington, 4:30
A bittersweet electronica walk with singer Wayne Coyne, a couple of big pink bunnies, and dancing girls.

SIGUR ROS: "SHORT FILMS"
Directed by Floria Sigismondi, 6:00
A haunting look at the human ability to adjust to tragedy as school children rush to play in a post-apocalyptic playground.

PRODIGY: "BABY GOT TEMPER"
Directed by Traktor, 4:26
Men in suits arrive and check in for work at a carnival, resulting in Prodigy performing for cows and strippers. Really.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE: "A MOVIE SCRIPT ENDING"
Directed by Josh Melnick, 4:43
The bittersweet ending to a day in the life of a romance.

THE HIVES: "MAIN OFFENDER"
Directed by Stylewar, 2:37
Live action and comic book animation blend together to show a day in the life of Sweden's hottest retro garage band.

BADLY DRAWN BOY: "YOU WERE RIGHT"
Directed by Simon Henwood, 4:18
A man ignores all the love and life going on around him while searching for that elusive "something else."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE: "NO ONE KNOWS"
Directed by Dean Karr, 4:17
On a dark and lonely night the band is tricked into pulling over for an injured deer, but the animal has other plans.

INTERMISSION (10 MINUTES)
On camera interview with David Slade

ROB DOUGAN: "CLUBBED TO DEATH"
Directed by David Slade, 3:24
In a highly stylized '50s inspired world where everything and everyone runs in reverse, one man dares to move forward creating a fireball of change.

JOHNNY CASH: "HURT"
Directed by Mark Romanek, 3:51
The man in black covers this NIN tune, changing it from an industrial tale of revenge into a powerful ballad of sadness and regret.

MONEY MARK: "INFORMATION CONTRABAND"
Directed by Logan, 3:17
A highly stylized ride through a futuristic city full of food, kung fu fighting, and 3D anime overlays.

ZERO 7: "IN THE WAITING LINE"
Directed by Tommy Pallotta, 3:50
The story of a lonely robot's search for meaning and emancipation from the monotony of daily existence in outer space, created by utilizing the same real-time 3D technology as video game engines known as Machinima (see NextArt),

INTERPOL: "PDA"
Directed by Chris Mills, 3:44
The desperation of the working man is shown with repetitive perfection via his daily work routine.

WHITE STRIPES: "DEAD LEAVES AND THE DIRTY GROUND"
Directed by Michael Gondry, 3:03
As Jack returns to his weathered home to find his girl has left him, the ghosts of better times are all around him.

THE AVALANCHES: "FRONTIER PSYCHIATRIST"
Directed by Kuntz & Maguire, 4:16
A surreal dream world set in a Lynchian landscape full of turtles with men's heads and a Mariachi band.

MOBY: "NATURAL BLUES"
Directed by David LaChapelle, 4:25
An aged Moby, warehoused in an old folks home, has bittersweet memories about his youth until he's rescued by angel Christina Ricci and made new again.

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FLORIDA FILM SIDEBAR

TOM DOWD & THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC
USA, 2003, 90 MIN, DIRECTED BY MARK MOORMANN
Tuesday, March 11, 9:30 PM at Park 2
Sunday, March 16, 7:00 PM at Park 2
What do Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, The Allman Brothers, and Ray Charles, among many others have in common? The answer is Tom Dowd, a brilliant and charismatic producer and recording engineer whose enthusiasm for music and ability to communicate with artists led to his involvement in recording some of the most important music of the last century. Whether working on such legendary rock 'n roll songs as "Layla" and "Stand By Me"; engineering the soul sounds of Otis Redding and Booker T. & the MG's; or improvising in the studio with jazz legends Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane, Dowd always managed, according to Clapton, to bring out the best in them.

Fresh from packed screenings at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, Moormann's hugely entertaining and dynamic film will have you smiling from start to finish, and running to the record store immediately after.

DUNSMORE
USA, 2002, 88 MIN, DIRECTED BY PETER SPIRER
WORLD PREMIERE
Saturday, March 8, 9:15 PM at Park 3
Saturday, March 15, 2:15 PM at Park 3
One of the best looking productions to come out of Florida in recent years, Peter Spirer's shockingly violent Dunsmore tells the true story of a vicious murder in a small backwoods town. Hated by everyone and suspected to be responsible for all of the major crimes in Dunsmore, Ronny Roy Pritcher (W. Earl Brown, Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back) is brutally murdered by a spray of shotgun fire from an unidentified mob. With the local sheriff unable to make an arrest, the State Attorney General sends in Special Investigator Walter Taylor (Kadeem Hardison, TV's A Different World) to crack the case. One by one Taylor speaks with the citizens of Dunsmore, and the truth of what happened to Ronny and, more importantly, why it happened is reluctantly revealed. Also starring Talia Shire (Rocky and The Godfather) and Barry Corbin (TV's Northern Exposure), Dunsmore is an intelligently crafted character study that investigates the mentality behind acts of mob violence and proves that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction.

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FLORIDA SHORTS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 94 MIN
Saturday, March 15, 4:30 PM at Enzian

A GIFT FOR MUSIC
USA, 2002, 6 MIN
DIRECTED BY ERIC BREITENBACH
WORLD PREMIERE
Eric Breitenbach (My Father's Son, FFF 2002) returns with an insightful short that documents the annual recital of the Walt Disney World funded music program "A Gift for Music." Concise and compassionate, the film makes an observed argument for the importance of music education in Florida's public schools.

PERSISTENCE
USA, 2002, 10 MIN
DIRECTED BY JAMES J. CULLINANE
WORLD PREMIERE
Is Henry Cook just a pesky old man causing trouble at the nursing home? Or is something more going on? The wonderfully expressive face of Richard Hoover is a major asset in this touching story of determination.

HEMISPHERES
USA, 2002, 15 MIN
DIRECTED BY DEREK W. TOW
WORLD PREMIERE
A man leading an uneventful life is suddenly forced into a battle with his conscience when presented with an opportunity to cheat on his wife with a beautiful co-worker. Hemispheres humorously displays the inner torments of a person torn between the rational and the impulsive--and who hasn't been there?

TIME AND AGAIN
USA, 2002, 22 MIN, DIRECTED BY TODD THOMPSON
WORLD PREMIERE
Can one escape fate if destiny has a mind of its own? Acclaimed actor Seymour Cassel (In the Soup and Rushmore) stars as an elderly clockmaker who discovers a way to magically "turn back the clock" in order to redeem time with his dying wife. Time and Again is a poignant and intelligent fantasy that pulls at the heartstrings.

SEASONED VETERAN: JOURNEY OF A WINTER SOLDIER
USA, 2002, 41 MIN, DIRECTED BY MICHAEL KIRSCHBAUM, BENITO ARAGON, MELINDA KAHL
A stunning portrait of the psychological effects of the Vietnam War, Seasoned Veteran is a thought provoking film that addresses the personal sacrifices of being an activist during an era in which the suppression of dissent was the status quo. Focusing on the life and times of Vietnam vet Scott Camil of Gainesville, Florida, this film brilliantly documents the effects of the war on young soldiers as well as the implications of his participation in the infamous anti-war group, Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

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RETRO FILMS

THE BIG HEAT
USA, 1953, 89 MIN, DIRECTED BY FRITZ LANG
Sunday, March 16, 9:30 PM at Enzian
If you've only seen it on television, you haven't seen it. Glenn Ford gives the performance of his career as a cop who has to quit the force to fight corruption. Lee Marvin is the essence of cruelty and evil, and Fritz Lang's tight noir style makes this hard-hitting exposé a classic of its genre. But the picture really belongs to Gloria Grahame. Never has her dark sexuality or her lost-in-the world expression been put to better use. Never has a gangster's moll been more sympathetic or pivotal to the plot. This is the film where she gets scalding coffee in the face and turns to the truth not for revenge but for redemption, where the focus of her performance brings life to a character we might otherwise dismiss. Noble and tragic, she steals the show with sensual ease. There are no actresses like her today. Only imitators. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, The Big Heat is presented in a gorgeous, recently struck 35mm print.

THE GENERAL
USA, 1927, 74 MIN, DIRECTED BY BUSTER KEATON & CLYDE BRUCKMAN
Sponsored by Darden Restaurants Foundation
Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 PM
at Central Park (Downtown Winter Park)
This film is FREE and open to the public.
A silent masterpiece from one of the true legends of cinema, Buster Keaton's The General is a brilliantly conceived and executed Civil War story in which the dramatic flow of action and the comic situations and gags complement each other in perfect harmony. Based on a true incident, Keaton plays Johnnie Gray, a Southern railway conductor with two loves in his life: his locomotive "The General" and the beautiful Annabelle Lee. He attempts to enlist at the outbreak of war but is turned down for service because he's more valuable as an engineer. Annabelle thinks Johnnie was too cowardly to fight and refuses to speak to him until he is in uniform. Time passes, and Union spies hatch a plot to steal a certain Confederate train, unknowingly kidnapping Annabelle in the process. So it's up to our tiny civilian hero to pull off one amazing feat (and chase scene!) after another and rescue both his loves. Considered by many to be the best of Keaton's silent comedies (and his personal favorite), this thrilling and ingenious epic has been voted one of the top ten films of all time by Sight & Sound and is a classic for the ages.

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Florida Film Festival 2003
Produced by Enzian Theater
1300 South Orlando Ave., Maitland, Florida 32751
Telephone (407) 629-8587   Fax (407) 629-6870