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FORT MYERS, FLA., March 11, 2019 – The Fort Myers Film Festival kicks off its 9th season April 10 with the Florida premiere of “A Man and His Trumpet: The Leroy Jones Story” at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers.
Jones grew up playing his trumpet on the streets of New Orleans and eventually became the solo trumpeter for Harry Connick, Jr., touring and recording with Connick for more than 20 years.  The famed trumpeter also will attend the showing and will perform a jazz concert alongside local jazz greats at the afterparty.
The red carpet party rolls out at 5:30 p.m. with drinks, mingling and musical entertainment with local and international filmmakers prior to the movie at 7 p.m.  Jones and filmmaker Cameron Washington also will be featured guests at the event.
Tickets are $25 for the movie only or $150 for the show and afterparty, which will include the jazz concert by Jones, drinks and hors d’oeuvres by G3 Catering.  The event benefits The Raddatz Foundation and Florida Arts, Inc.
Tickets are available at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center at www.sbdac.com
“A Man and His Trumpet: The Leroy Jones Story” is the first independent film to be shown during the four-day festival April 10-14, which will feature more than 50 films by local and international filmmakers shown at a variety of venues, including the Alliance for the Arts, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Florida SouthWestern College and the IMAG.  Parties and dinners also are planned at Blu Sushi, Twisted Vine Bistro, Firestone and other select locations.
“This is a rare opportunity for local residents to see films that you won’t see in large theaters, including some local films about our area.  See one or see them all – there’s plenty of entertainment for everyone, with independent films of great significance, some that will move you in ways you’d never imagine,” said Fort Myers Film Festival Founder Eric Raddatz.
Tickets are $10 per film.  An all-access VIP membeship to all events and parties is $295 per person and is available at www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com
Other events include:
● SIDNEY & BERNE DAVIS ART CENTER, 2301 First St. – More than 50 films will be shown at this location throughout the four-day festival.  For a complete listing of times and films, visit https://www.dropbox.com/s/q21c4nu49kuf71f/FMFF2019SCREENER.pdf?dl=0
 
SCREENING UNDER THE STARS at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m. Outdoor screenings in the backyard of the home will be shown:  “A Tale of Two Halgrims” by filmmaker Ilene Safron; “The Great Train Robbery” from 1903 produced in Edison’s lab; and “Coach” by filmmaker Jordan Axelrod.  Safron will make the introduction with remarks by Edison-Ford Winter Estates CEO Mike Flanders. Tickets are $10.
● FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE in the Rush Library Auditorium, Lee Campus, April 11 and 12. Exact Films TBA.
IMAG HISTORY & SCIENCE CENTER, 2000 Cranford Ave. – Friday, April 12, at 6 p.m.; “Fly Like a Girl,” a film about young girls and women relentlessly pursuing their passion for aviation by Katie McEntire Wiatt with a meet and greet, Q & A, afterward.  Tickets are $10.
● LEE COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS, 10091 McGregor Boulevard – Friday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m.; “Eliades Ochoa From Cuba to the World,” by Ruben Gomez, documenting the life of the Buena Vista Social Club founder; with treats, music and a Q&A afterward.  Tickets are $10.
●  CHAMPAGNE & DESSERT AWARDS GALA at the Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd Sunday, April 14 at 7 p.m.:  champagne and dessert awards gala, where the Fort Myers Film Festival will honor the winners with a showing of one award-winning film and the first-ever Fort Myers Film Festival Edison Award for distinct innovation and invention in film.  Tickets are $15 each.
For more information and the entire listing of films go to www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com or join www.facebook.com/fortmyersfilmfestival for updates and events.  VIP tickets for the entire four days can be obtained at http://fortmyersfilmfestival.ticketleap.com/
The Fort Myers Film Festival supports Lee County Schools filmmakers, Raddatz Foundation, Florida Arts, Inc., and Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Sponsors are Florida Weekly, Bennett’s Fresh Roast Coffee, Twisted Vine Bistro, Blu Sushi, J. Bert Davis M.D., F.A.C.S, Facial Surgeon, La Trattoria de Napoli, Sam Galloway Ford, Black Tie Tuxedos, Best Western Waterfront, Riverside Realty, Douglas E. Spiegel, P.A., Capone’s Pizza, Kearns Restaurant Group, and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C.

About the Fort Myers Film Festival

The Fort Myers Film Festival is an independent filmmaker’s preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works.   The Fort Myers Film Festival was awarded the prestigious 2015 Chrysalis Award for Cultural Achievement by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce at their annual Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon and Trade Show.  The Fort Myers Film Festival was founded by Eric Raddatz, the award-winning presentation editor of Florida Weekly, regular contributor for NBC-2 in Fort Myers, and host of Fort Myers Film Festival’s indie film show, “T.G.I.M.”

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