A mother’s protection, a child’s innocence, the cruel realities of the outside world - all of these themes are punctuated in Orlando local producer/writer/actress Sara Oliva and Orlando native, Molly E. Smith’s short film, Lioness, which premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival this week. The eight-minute short film is a part of the Female Led Florida Narrative Short Film category and focuses on a mother - a survivor of domestic violence - barricading herself and her young daughter in a motel room for their own safety.

Sara Oliva, who wrote, produced, and stars in the film as the mother, was initially inspired by the film’s location - a sketchy motel somewhere in Florida - from her time spent on a commercial shoot years before. “It’s just this bizarre space and I started thinking of what kind of people would come here and what their stories might be,” says Oliva.

Oliva’s time spent volunteering at a domestic violence shelter is what ultimately propelled her to write Lioness and begin the path to production. “I saw a woman, who had clearly been a recent victim of domestic violence, pay no mind to her bruises while preparing a Thanksgiving meal. She had stuff to do, there was a feast to prepare and joy to be brought to the table. Once I’d witnessed that, the story for Lioness - the beginning, middle, and end - had all taken place,” attests Oliva.

Lioness features an all-female cast and nearly all-female crew including the director, cinematographer, and editor Molly E. Smith - who was a Senior in high school at the time of shooting - and up and coming actress Lily Jane. The film runs for only eight short minutes, yet still manages to pack in a complete story. “There’s only one line of dialogue in the entire film. The whole film consists of mostly images - when doing short films you cannot be extraneous when using language. In Lioness you can really capture the tenderness and might of a moment without using words,” says Oliva.

“Lioness” premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival on April 6th. The short-film can be screened virtually throughout the duration of the festival: https://www.sarasotafilmfestival.com/film/lioness/ 

Pictured: Behind The Scenes: Molly Smith Lioness Film. Photo by Eli Dreyfuss.

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presents pianist Ying Li in recital as part of State College of Florida’s Pianopalooza Festival, Thursday, May 5 at 4:00 pm, at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. Li will be joined by principal string musicians of the Sarasota Orchestra in a program to include music by Mozart and Dvorak. Tickets are $40, and can be purchased online at ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or by calling 941-306-1202, M-F 10 am-4 pm.

Twenty-three-year-old Chinese pianist Ying Li was the First Prize winner of the 2021 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions. She has received top awards in numerous national and international competitions, including the Antonio Mormone International Prize, Sarasota Artist Series Piano Competition, Brevard Music Festival solo and concerto competitions and the International Liszt Piano Competition for Young Pianists. Her May 5 performance will include Mozart's famous Piano Concerto #23 in A Major and the Dvorak Piano Quintet #2, joined by principal string musicians from the Sarasota Orchestra. On May 4, Li will conduct a masterclass for local pianists as part of the Pianopalooza Festival at State College of Florida. 

For more information click here

Groundskeeping is a complicated modern romance of a couple from opposite backgrounds. Spot on perspectives on family dynamics; an adult trying to relate to outdated parents with whom he’s evolved past. Set on a college campus and out in the boondocks that will make you want to visit Knoxville.

The book is set just after the 2016 election and rumbles with the undercurrent of the underserved throwing their weight around, others cringing at the daily news. This backdrop is fitting for a lost thirty-something attempting to make sense of his life and career.

I appreciated the relationship struggles spanning all types; romantic, parent-child, occupational. Lee Cole’s character and natural descriptions reminded me of John Knowles A Separate Peace, tinged with both halcyon and bittersweet nostalgia.

Highly recommended for anyone with southern roots or struggles with those of opposing political affiliations.

Groundskeeping is available at BookStore1 Sarasota 117 S. Pineapple Ave. or on their online store at www.sarasotabooks.com. Groundskeeping by Lee Cole Published March 1, 2022 ISBN: 9780593320518 

RE/MAX Platinum Realty, a luxury real estate brokerage with 70 associates in Manatee and Sarasota counties, has received the RE/MAX Total Volume Achievement Award for closing more than $365 million in 2021, which averages to more than $5.2 million per agent. The award is inscribed, "Congratulations to your brokerage and Sales Associates for the tremendous results you’ve produced for buyers and sellers in your community. Thank you for being a great example of RE/MAX professionalism in action." 

To learn more click here

Children First is proud to announce a significant planned gift commitment to the agency’s legacy society, Children First Forever, from long-time supporters and community philanthropists Stephanie and Allen Hochfelder. As the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, Children First serves children and their families living at or below the Federal Poverty Level ($23,030 for a family of 3) across 15 locations each year. The Hochfelders also committed to a multi-year gift of $300,000 that will go toward the agency’s annual support fund. The first installment has already been dispersed with the focus on raising staff salaries and supporting overall employee well-being.

“As a classroom volunteer and former Speech Pathologist, I’ve seen firsthand the critical work that the teachers and staff are putting in each day as they engage with our community’s most vulnerable children and families,” says Stephanie Hochfelder. “Allen and I understand how meaningful a quality education can be and how impactful it is to be given an opportunity to overcome your circumstances to succeed. We also know that the more you give, the more you have. That is why we felt compelled to leave our legacy with Children First, and the incredible children and families the agency serves.”