John Cusack will make a special appearance at this year’s Florida Film Festival, answering audience questions after a screening of his 1980s hit “Say Anything.”
The Enzian’s annual festival, which takes place this year for the 32nd time at the Maitland theater and nearby venues April 14-23, has revealed its lineup of 168 films — including 19 world premieres.
A record 2,802 entries were submitted for consideration, said Deanna Tiedtke, director of public relations and development for Enzian.
“Our selections committee and programming team worked tirelessly to whittle these entries down to the 168 films we will play throughout the 10-day festival,” she wrote in the festival’s announcement. “Of our entries, we are excited to emphasize our Florida Sidebar, which will include a narrative feature, documentary feature, and short program with Florida ties.”
In all, 40 films in the festival have a Florida connection, she said.
The opening-night feature, “You Were My First Boyfriend,” is one of those Florida-focused films.
Cecilia Aldarondo, one of 32 festival alumni, returns to Bishop Moore High School to “confront her demons and exorcise her past,” the festival description states.
As a Puerto Rican student in a predominantly white school, Aldarondo spent her days trying to fit in with the cool kids — and her nights dreaming of epic romance. The movie, codirected by Sarah Enid Hagey, uses both intimate personal-essay footage and “surreal re-enactments” to dissect teen angst through the lens of fantasy.
“I face my teen ghosts on behalf of every weirdo that ever lived,” states Aldarondo, who won a festival Grand Jury Award in 2020 for “Landfall.” “I go home so you don’t have to.”
The feature will be preceded by “The Greatest Poem,” a short directed by Elyse Kelly, asking what it truly means to be an American.
The opening-night party will occur at the Winter Park Events Center, 1050 W. Morse Blvd.; tickets are $100.
“Say Anything,” the acclaimed 1989 romantic comedy, finds Cusack’s underachieving recent high school graduate falling for his class’s valedictorian, played by Ione Skye.
Cusack’s career also includes starring roles in such hit films as “Sixteen Candles,” “Being John Malkovich,” “High Fidelity” and “Grosse Pointe Blank.”
Among his more interesting roles: Playing Beach Boy Brian Wilson in “Love & Mercy” and Gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe in the thriller “The Raven.”
Additional credits range from “Broadcast News” to “Hot Tub Time Machine,” “Con Air” to “Stand by Me.”
“Say Anything” will be screened at 8 p.m. April 21 at Enzian Theater, with Cusack’s question-and-answer session immediately following. Tickets to “An Evening With John Cusack” are $150.
As usual, the festival also will feature food and drink events, shorts programs in various categories (animated, international and the edgier “midnight shorts”) and live music events. A free screening of the 1992 teen comedy classic “Encino Man,” starring recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser, will take place in Winter Park’s Central Park, 251 S. Park Ave., at 8 p.m. April 13.
For more information, go to floridafilmfestival.com.
Florida Film Festival
When: April 14-23
Where: Enzian Theater, 1300 Orlando Ave. in Maitland, and Regal Cinemas at Winter Park Village, 510 Orlando Ave. in Winter Park
Cost: Individual tickets are $13, but various multipacks and all-access festival passes are available.
Info: floridafilmfestival.com
More Arts & Theater news:
- Orlando Fringe launches The Collective, for up-and-comers, at ArtSpace
- ‘Mama Beth’ Marshall bids Orlando farewell: ‘I’ve never been one to mince words’
- Renaissance Theatre’s eventful year ends with unwelcome A/C bill
- Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra jazzes up its 2023-24 season
- Subscribe to our Things to Do This Weekend newsletter
- Have an upcoming event? Submit it here to be included in our Calendar listings
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts.
