25th Annual Florida Film Festival Announces Program Lineup, Celebrity Guests, and New Oscar® Accreditation

25th Annual Florida Film Festival Announces Program Lineup, Celebrity Guests, and New Oscar® Accreditation

Orlando, FL – (March 16, 2016) – The Florida Film Festival announced today the program lineup for the 25th Annual Festival, April 8-17, 2016, in Maitland and Winter Park, Florida, with Primary Sponsor Full Sail University and Primary Public Partners Orange County Government and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. The Festival will screen more than 180 films representing 36 countries, along with celebrity guest appearances, forums, and parties. Of the films selected, 138 have premiere status, including 24 world premieres. Full lineup listed below. Film descriptions, trailers, stills, and schedule available at: https://www.floridafilmfestival.com/

For over a decade, the Florida Film Festival has been accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in both Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film categories. As of December 2015, the festival has also been accredited in the category of Documentary Short Subject, making it one of the select few in the world to be accredited in all three shorts categories. Recipients of the Festival’s Grand Jury Awards will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Subject categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

Henry Maldonado, President of Enzian and the Florida Film Festival, remarked, “Twenty five years, and still getting better! For ten glorious days, we’ll have parties, movie stars, even a farmer’s market, and of course, movies. Those of you who come year after year know it and love it. So, for those of you who have not been, our friendly festival is filled with charming, fun days where you can mingle with great filmmakers and talent.”

“I just love the diversity and filmmaking talent that will be on display in this year’s lineup,” commented Matthew Curtis, Florida Film Festival Programming Director. “With the most films we’ve ever programmed in one FFF, the most countries ever represented, the most female filmmakers (59), and an exciting mix of new voices and 35 FFF alumni returning with outstanding new work, this promises to be a truly banner year as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.”

The 20 feature and 67 short films in the American Independent Competition will be eligible for up to three awards each: a Grand Jury Award for best film in that category, a Special Jury Award given at the jury’s discretion for exceptional achievements, and an Audience Award determined by audience votes for Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and Best Short Film. International films are also eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature and Best International Short. New this year, due to the extraordinary popularity of the Midnight Shorts category, an Audience Award will be given for Best Midnight Short as well.

Click on download link for entire press release.