As most of you know (and I have posted it numerous times on the Sanford365 Facebook page), this weekend it’s movie time in Sanford!! It looks like the Love Your Shorts Film Festival will be another great success this year! I attended opening night yesterday (Friday, February 15th) and wanted to share some pictures and impressions of the event here with you.
The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center proves to be the best venue for the festival again, the seats were comfortable (and at 33 weeks pregnant you need comfortable, trust me!) and the atmosphere truly like that of a film festival – including the red carpet and Rolls-Royce parked in front of the theater: I felt quite glamourous in Sanford! The sponsor of the night was the Higgins House Bed and Breakfast in Sanford and the innkeepers Lou and Sharon Jobin got to say a few words before the show, truly the cutest couple!
The movie selection was excellent, there were in fact several movies that stood out to me and it amazes me how such short movies can make such an impact on you: they can lift you up or make you sentimental (even get some tears out of you). One of the movies, which happened to be one of the shortest ones truly gave me chills, it was done so simple yet so strong. That movie was the 6 minute piece of director Rafael Rojas-Diez from Spain, “I hate you”. Spain is by the way one of the altogether 12 countries that are represented at this year’s festival.
My two favorites were “Underground” (director Akil DuPont was actually present at the event and explained a bit more about his vision after the movie block which was great!) and “Good Karma $1” by Jason Berger & Amy Laslett.
At the end of the movie block the audience gets to vote: it’s simple, just tear the ballot paper next to the movie of your choice. As you can see on my ballot, I voted for “Good Karma $1”, and this also happened to be the winner of the night. I loved the message and humor of the movie and, just as described in the program booklet, it made me think about communication and generosity and was super interesting to me since I have a background in advertising/marketing and design (it is actually a documentary, watch the trailer here!). The movie will be shown again at the “Best of Fest” night on Sunday (see program below) where each movie block winner will compete against each other to take home the grand award (the Monroe, named after Lake Monroe here in Sanford).
After the movies we attended the opening night reception: great food, drinks and music and very interesting people to talk to, including film makers and fellow Sanfordites.
There is still time to get your tickets for some of the short film blocks. Visit the Love Your Shorts Movie Festival Web Site to learn more or click here to order your tickets directly.
Here is what you can still see this weekend:
Saturday, February 16, 2013
5:00 p.m. | Filmmakers Panel (free to attend)
Don’t miss this free event! This is your chance to hear how some of these films were made.
8:00 p.m. | Comedy (sponsored by shreve & company)
Laughs for all tastes.
10:00 p.m. | Sci-Fi / Horror (sponsored by the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens)
Dare to dream of the far out and be a little creeped out too!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
1:00 p.m. | Drama (sponsored by The Imperial at Washburn Imports, Sanford and The Original Christo’s, Sanford)
Emotional and intense drama from around the world.
3:00 p.m. | Florida Flavor (sponsored by Owens Distributors)
We are very excited to support our local filmmakers! These films were either made by Floridians or filmed in the state.
7:00 p.m. | Best of the Festival (sponsored by Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe’)
You voted for them . . . now which film will be crowned “Best of the Fest” by our panel of industry judges?
