Sarasota Film Festival Expands to Bradenton

When the l kicks off in April, moviegoers and partiers should see changes to make seeing the films easier for folks in the area, according to Festival Director Tom Hall. And that includes residents in Bradenton.

The festival is working on plans to have screenings and events in Manatee County and Bradenton, Hall said. 

"We're working on an increased presence in Manatee County this year," Hall said during the Sarasota Film Festival Town Hall at Wednesday night. 

"Our goal this year is to bring films and filmmakers to Manatee County during the festival itself. In the past, we did events prior to the festival but never concurrent," he added.

Film Festival Board of Directors President Mark Famiglio told  The Bradenton Herald that the events would "benefit children’s charities in Manatee County."

Hall said more details — from venue locations to films for the entire festival — will be released soon. On March 20, film titles, moderators and celebrity guests will be announced, he said.

The Sarasota Film Festival is the largest film festival in the Southeast United States, Hall said, and ranks in the Top 10 for film festivals in the country, in terms of attendance.

The festival went from 1,000 guests in 1999 to 15,000 in 2001, and is still growing. 

Hall said the festival serves two audiences: locals and the film industry.

"The most important to us is the community, and we also have formed a community outside of Sarasota," he said. "Our awards is a very important component of how we present ourselves outside to the film industry."

To make it easier to actually see the films, the festival has a new vendor, Agile Ticketing Solutions, for online ticketing and box office operations to handle ticket demand after complaints that the previous system was too complicated to secure a ticket to a show, he said.

Matinee tickets will cost $8 this year and other shows will be $12 and films will be shown at the Regal theater. Parking is free at the theater's garage with validation.

"Films are generally locked down the first week of March," Hall said. "We're making decisions down to the last minute of that process."

Here are some other highlights from the town hall:

• The festival is on track to show 180-plus films.

• The Conversations series is on track for the festival to have the most it ever had. The program features selected moderators, usually from national media, interviewing film festival participants.

• A Hollywood Nights event where student filmmakers will have a red carpet event to show off their work at the Hollywood 20.

• Partnership with Through Women's Eyes and Women Make Movies for a two-day film program for films by and about women. 

• Tribute gala will be hosted at the Sarasota Opera House instead of Longboat Key.

• Rush tickets program will return.

• The festival needs assistance for providing housing for filmmakers and staff coming into the festival.

• The festival needs volunteers for a street team to hand out flyers and to put up posters.