What is your film festival’s mission?
Enzian Theater and the Florida Film Festival exist to entertain, inspire, educate, and connect the community through film.
What role does your film festival play in supporting your film community?
The Florida Film Festival brings over 170 independent films from 30 countries to the Greater Orlando area over the span of 10 days, and in 2015, 83% of the films screened during Festival were at minimum Florida premieres. The Festival gives our community the opportunity to see films first, and many that they would not be able to see anywhere else. Additionally, the Festival provides an impressive economic impact to Central Florida by attracting both locals and out-of-town attendees, catalyzing additional expenditures that go back into our local community.
What is something people look forward to every year at your film festival?
Each year, the Florida Film Festival delivers the finest in independent cinema and the filmmakers and industry professionals who make it all possible. Nearly 100 filmmakers are on hand throughout the Festival, and many spend the majority of their time at Enzian’s Eden Bar having intimate conversations with our guests. This is an experience most people cannot find anywhere else in town.
What do you want audiences to take away from your film festival?
We want our audience to know that they are receiving a unique experience at the Florida Film Festival. We offer a wide range of films and events, from programs perfect for families with children, to international films, animation, documentaries, shorts, midnight movies, and much more. We challenge our audience to open their mind, and see through the perspective of someone else. We believe that film is the most powerful and democratic form of storytelling, and the films programmed for the Florida Film Festival provide an intimate, personal, and compelling experience.
How long has your film festival been around?
The Florida Film Festival celebrated its 24th year in 2015.
How did your film festival come into being?
24 years ago, Enzian saw a great need to expand arts within our community and decided to do so by creating the Florida Film Festival.
Anything else you’d like to tell the audience about your festival?
The Florida Film Festival sets itself apart in that we are the Festival with a heart, where filmmakers and guests feel at home and the staff is as passionate about independent cinema as the artists and audience. The one-of-a-kind Enzian provides a beautiful and relaxing backdrop to a terrific and ever expanding film program. The audience comes for the films, but stays for the experience.
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The Audience Awards is film’s social network connecting audiences to films, filmmakers and film festivals. The Audience Awards hosts short film competitions where the audience chooses the best films.
