The Circuit

by Jason Guerrasio
SFF's second half included a string of events such as the World Cinema Celebration block party, "Cabana Culture," a beach party in nearby Siesta Key and "Luncheon Under the Banyans" where Liv Ullmann and SPC honcho Michael Barker (pictured) got candles.

Friday night brought the always well attended "Night of 1,000 Stars" at Michael's On East, an evening filled with the elite Sarasotians throwing on their best attire for dancing, a gander at the stars perched up in their VIP section.

But before the festivities of that evening, local investors and producers came to an intimate invite-only meet-and-greet at Michael's to discuss potential collaborations. Coordinated by SFF Board Member Keri Nakamoto, who was instrumental in getting area backing to William H. Macy for his film "The Deal," she hopes to continue the industry interest and put the event (which in the past has been done in private homes) on one of the festival's biggest nights.

In attendance were Steve Buscemi and Stanley Tucci (pictured above) who along with Wren Arthur have created Olive Productions, a film fund to help launch passion projects of the two writer-director-actors as well as other directors they believe in. Arthur first knew of the possibilities the Sarasota area had to offer after talking to Robert Altman who after attending the festival in 2006 wanted to change the location of the project they were working on from Southern California to Sarasota. (Unfortunately, Altman passed away before he could make the film here.)

"Steve and Stanley have wanted to put something together for a very long time," Arthur says, "and we have been able to raise money in Sarasota really because of the connections we made when Altman became obsessed to make a film here."

With intent to finance film budgeted around $2.5 million to $15 million, Olive currently has a development deal with HBO. Buscemi adds: "It's an interesting time for films as it's so hard to get films we want to make financed," he says. "So we're here hoping to talk to people who will trust us [with their money] and we can talk about working together."

Lantern Lane Entertainment's David L. Garber, who was also at the event to discuss a few projects he's looking to get off the ground, has attended the festival numerous times and believes this aspect of SFF continues to increase its exposure in the industry. "There's a relaxed environment here and you get people to come together who have a real desire to participate in production and funding," he says. "The films have gotten better, the people have gotten better, it's gone from being a regional festival to an industry hub."  


Photos by Mark Mainz/Elevation Photos.