Orlando Film Festival kicks off this week with more than 200 films
For the first time in two years, Orlando Film Festival returns for an in-person event featuring more than 200 independent films from around the globe.
These range from feature-length documentaries and fictional films to experimental shorts, all of which can be seen at CMX Plaza Cinema Café in downtown Orlando Oct. 28-Nov. 4. The in-person event, which is known to draw thousands of attendees from around the country and world, is back following a virtual edition in 2020.
“We’ve got films from Egypt to Korea, we’ve had films from all over the world. The beautiful thing is, these folks come in,” said Daniel Springen, the festival’s executive director. “We’re a film festival that’s by filmmakers ... We look through some of the issues with some films because we see the potential. We understand because this is what we do for a living.”
The festival, now in its 16th year, also doesn’t focus on or rule out any genres. Attendees this year can explore a documentary about craft beer, a film about California’s Camp Fire and feature-length narrative movies of all kinds. Cinema fans can also see several blocks of short films, music videos and animation.
“We’re open to everything except we don’t play films that use suicide as a way out. We don’t play any porn or anything X-rated,” Springen said. “Festivals are the way to be able to view independent cinema ... You’re not going to get these stories anywhere else than a festival.”
This year, Springen and his team chose “The Retaliators” as the festival’s opening night film, a genre-bending work that combines elements of horror, thriller and zombie movies.
“We’ve never shown a thriller/horror at the Orlando Film Festival for opening night. But I felt that the production quality was there, the acting was there,” Springen said.
The film centers on the idea of revenge as the main character, John Bishop, played by Michael Lombardi, wrestles with his own morality and emotions.
“This film allows the audience member to take their revenge fantasies on a walk,” Lombardi said. “We all can relate to that, some people on a daily basis like if someone is road-raging on you. In this case, it’s about a loved one.”
“The Retaliators” was written as a form of therapy for Darren and Jeff Geare, whose younger sister survived a sexual assault. Later, the brothers had to face their sister’s attacker in court and wrote the screenplay as a way to cope.
“I think it should make you think a little bit,” Lombardi said. “It’s in the realm of morality and religion and justice.”
Prizes on the line for up-and-coming filmmakers include two $500,000 “First Look” deals with Valencia Motion Pictures for the winner of best feature and best un-produced screenplay.
“We give out somewhere in the ballpark of 30 to 35 awards during our award show. We understand what those awards mean to these young filmmakers,” Springen said.
In addition, the festival also chooses an actor or actress each year for the “Cinematic Icon Award.” This year, John Amos (known for “Roots,” “Die Hard 2″ and “Coming 2 America”) has been chosen to receive the honor for his contributions to the film industry over more than five decades.
Amos appears in the dramatic comedy “Because of Charley,” which will screen twice at the festival. The film tells the story of two estranged, racially mixed stepfamilies stuck in a Central Florida home as Hurricane Charley passes through.
Ultimately, the festival is a celebration of the collaborative nature and art found in films.
“There’s no other art form where more artists get together to create something than cinema,” Springen said. “In my opinion, it’s the greatest art form. Because it takes so many artists to get it right. And everybody gets to put their own mark on it.”
If you go
Orlando Film Festival is Oct. 28-Nov. 4 at 155 S. Orange Ave. in Orlando. Day passes cost $20 each, or a 7-day festival pass costs $100. VIP passes are $150 and VIP elite passes cost $300. Attendees are expected to show their vaccine cards to enter the festival. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be required to wear a mask. Masks are recommended for all attendees. For more information and a full schedule, visit offvirtual.com.
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