Tribeca Film Festival

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Monday, April 28-------Last evening at the fab Hotel QT off Times Square, the oranges were out in force in the Big Apple for the annual fete presented by Film Florida, a non-profit organization representing a variety of Florida film commissions, industry associations and labor organizations. The Apples And Oranges Party was set around the indoor pool of the Hotel QT, bringing a bit of Florida sunshine to the somewhat gloomy weather of New York in late April.

Film Florida is promoting the Sunshine State as a location destination, as well as promoting the film festivals and professional organizations that are thriving there. "Independent filmmakers are increasingly discovering the advantages of working in Florida", said Graham Winick, Film Florida President. "We're a very indie friendly state in terms of resources and we now have funds earmarked exclusively for independent filmmakers."

The Florida contingent was also supporting five Florida-based films that are screening in various sections of the Festival. BART GOT A ROOM, a rollicking comedy that stars Florida natives William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines, is set in a Florida retirement community. Writer/director Brian Hecker shot the film in his hometown of Hollywood Florida, bringing out the beautiful pastel colors of South Florida. The film was the recipient of Florida's Entertainment Incentive program and was made with partnerships that were formed at the Sarasota Film Festival, which has become one of the country's leading regional events.

THE OBJECTIVE by Daniel Myrick, one of the directors of the indie sensation THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, is a suspenseful mystery story that chronicles a precarious CIA mission in Afghanistan in the months after 9/11. Myrick graduated from the University of Central Florida film school and calls Orlando home.

CELIA THE QUEEN, a tribute to the salsa queen who died in 2003, was produced by Miami-based production companies Cineworks and HispaFilms. The film is a loving tribute to the life and work of Celia Cruz, who together with such musical greats as Tito Puente, Willie Colon and Johnny Pacheco, put Cuban "son" music on the international map. Directors Jose Cardona and Mario de Varona use rare archival footage and lots of concert performances to tell the inspiring story of a little girl from Havana who became an international music diva.

90 MILES THE DOCUMENTARY is another musical tribute, devoted to Gloria Estefan, one of Miami's musical superstars. The film, which is the directorial debut of her husband Emilo Estefan (who also serves as Gloria's manager and mentor) chronicles the 90 MILES recording sessions that paid tribute to the history and influence of Latin music. The film features interviews and performance sequences of Estefan and such Latin legends as Arturo Sandoval, Chocolate Armenteros and the late Israel "Cachao" Lopez who died just last month. The film screened as a Gala Event at last month's Miami International Film Festival, and was the last public appearance by Cachao.

In KILLER MOVIE, debut director Jeff Fisher (who hails from Hollywood, Florida) uses his experience directing reality shows such as the MTV hits The Simple Life and The Real World for a sly satire on the slasher film genre. The film screens in the Midnight section of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Florida has a strong presence at this year's Festival and the efforts of Film Florida to promote these films and to increase awareness of the production locations and incentives that are unique to the Sunshine State are important to the creation of new jobs in the film and entertainment industries and to promoting economic development and tourism. For more information on Film Florida, visit their website: www.filmflorida.org

Sandy Mandelberger, Tribeca FF Dailies Editor