Pictured: SFF President Mark Famiglio addresses a cinephile crowd at the SFF kickoff at Westin Sarasota.

With all hands called to the set at Westin Sarasota last night, the 20th annual Sarasota Film Festival announced itself with aplomb and style, complete with red carpet, thumping beats and a confirmed slate of films, guests and auxiliary programs to make this anniversary festival one for the books. The festival’s reputation has grown and the world is watching, notes SFF President Mark Famiglio. “And they’re going to be very, very impressed,” he says.

Kicking off April 13, the festival begins at the Sarasota Opera House with the opening film, Class Rank, directed by Eric Stoltz (Pulp Fiction, Rob Roy), who will also be in attendance and participating in an In Conversation event at Florida Studio Theatre the following day. Centerpiece films include Yen Tan’s 1985, about a closeted gay man during the beginning of the AIDS crisis coming home to his conservative parents, played by Emmy-winning Michael Chiklis and Oscar-nominated Virginia Madsen, who will also participate in a later In Conversation, and the feature film debut of rising star comedian Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade, which garnered high praise at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

With 223 films coming from 47 countries across the globe, listing all here would be infeasible, but special mention to friend of the festival Rory Kennedy, who returns for the closing night film with her documentary, Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow, as well as the documentary playing earlier on closing day, Love Means Zero, telling the tale of famed tennis coach and IMG Academy founder Nick Bollettieri. Additional spotlight films include star turns from recognizable faces like Ethan Hawke, Saoirse Ronan, Juliette Binoche and Steve Buscemi. “This year, more than any other year,” says Famiglio, “we’ve received a lot of very good films.”

Curating many into various SFF Focus programs, staff assembled films analyzing topics such as Sports in Cinema; Environment, Science and Sustainability; Redefining Masculinity; Women’s Comedic Voices (in addition to the return of Through Women’s Eyes programming); and Musings on Musicians, a new focus for the festival. Each Focus recommends anywhere from four to ten films that address the subject in some manner, helping interested audiences sort through their many options.

And despite recent construction, Famiglio confirmed that Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 – Sarasota would remain the festival’s stalwart partner for this 20th year. The seats may be more comfortable now, and fewer, but ticket prices will remain the same, says Famiglio.

Famiglio also took the opportunity to announce imminent construction at SFF headquarters, located off the corner of Fruitville Road and Cocoanut Avenue, creating a 10,000-square-foot “multipurpose” space for the Sarasota Film Festival “and a few friends.” Designed by Mark Sultana, Gates Construction will handle the building.

And as if that weren’t enough, Famiglio ends with a warning: there will be more to come. He expects to announce further guests and events as the festival approaches. “As we do every year,” he says.

The Sarasota Film Festival runs April 13–April 22. Tickets go on sale to members on March 24 and the general public on March 26. For more information and a complete listing of films, follow the link below.

Pictured: SFF President Mark Famiglio addresses a cinephile crowd at the SFF kickoff at Westin Sarasota.

Sarasota Film Festival Film Guide