The 11th Sarasota Film Festival presented its awards at the Filmmaker Tribute event held at the Sarasota Opera House on Saturday evening, April 4. Actor Stanley Tucci served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and introduced the presentations. SFF Board President, Mark P. Famiglio, made introductory remarks before Tucci introduced the competition winners.The Sarasota Film Festival, in partnership with the companies Film Movement and First Run Features, presented our very first feature ...

The 11th Annual Regal Entertainment Group SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL will get underway on Friday evening March 27, 2009 and run through Sunday, April 5, 2009. The Festival will be presented at Sarasota’s Hollywood 20 Cinemas with Opening Night at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, Closing Night Tribute at the Sarasota Opera House, screenings and conversations at the Historic Asolo, and other area venues. This year’s Festival will present over 160 narrative, documentary and short films from t...

The highly regarded Newport International Film Festival (a local Cannes, according to one travel magazine) has announced that Jennifer Maizel has become the new Executive Director of the Newport International Film Festival. Maizel had a prior stint with NIFF in 2006 as the Director of Guest Services. Most recently, she has served, for the past three years, as Managing Director of the Sarasota Film Festival. “Jen is a superb addition to the NIFF, just the kind of person to take us to the nex...

Dr. John D. Welch, Founder & Chairman of the Board of the Sarasota Film Festival, has been reappointed by the President of the Senate to the Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Council for a 4 year term. The purpose of the Council is to serve as an advisory body to the Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development and to the Office of Film & Entertainment to provide these offices with industry insight and expertise related to developing, marketing, promoting and providing service to Florida...