The Circuit

by Jason Guerrasio
Hitting the midway point of the 2008 Sarasota Film Festival, the 10th edition continued its reputation of bringing specialty and fest circuit faves to the arts-friendly Gulf Coats while catering its filmmakers and celeb guests with picture perfect weather and lavish parties. 

Having attended the 5th and 6th years, I've seen the fest blossom into a regional fest must attend. With programmer Tom Hall coming on board since my last visit and a change of date from the beginning of February to April, the festival has found its nich in the always-crowded festival schedule.

Kicking off the '08 edition last weekend with a screening of "The Deal," the William H. Macy-starrer that found its financial origins through SFF, the night ended with a bash at the beautiful Ringling Museum of Art, an event that could be mistaken for something out of the Victorian era if it weren't for the Latin band and performance artists. For Macy, the evening went off like "gangbusters."

"We got a mixed reaction at Sundance," says Macy, who co-wrote the film with director Steven Schachter. "I didn't know what we had, but then we screened it at Sarasota and we saw what its potential can be and now I'm thinking we may be able to release it wider than what we had originally planned."

Attention then switched to the work of Ingmar Bergman muse Liv Ullmann who was honored at the fest with the fest's lifetime achievement awardi. She was also part of the "Conversation With..." series as she was interviewed by Sony Pictures Classics head Michael Barker on Tuesday night. Looking stunning in a black pant suit, we learned that she's preparing to direct "A Streetcar Named Desire" for the stage in Sydney, Australia with Cate Blanchett starring as Blanche DuBois (Ullmann says the production will come to the states in '09).

SFF's second half is sure to be busier than the first with its "Night of 1,000 Stars" party, 10th Anniversary party and the closing night film, Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle," which promises the film's star (and Townsend's significant other) Charlize Theron in attendance.

Stay tuned.