FORT MYERS FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED

FORT MYERS, FLA., March 5, 2018 – The Fort Myers Film Festival has announced official film selections, times and locations for programming during the 8th season to be held March 21-25 at locations around Fort Myers.
Events include:

• OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET GALA AT THE BARBARA B. MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL – Wednesday, March 21, 2018: The premiere showing of “Melody Makers,” a rock documentary that tells the story of the rise and fall of the world’s most influential music publication and uncovers an era of unprecedented creative freedom.This will be the Florida premiere for the film, which has won awards at a dozen other festivals. The red carpet party rolls out at 5:30 p.m. at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The film starts at 7 p.m. with afterparty on the stage to follow with stars and cast attending the Fort Myers Film Festival.Tickets are $10 for the show and $49 for the show and afterparty. Tickets are available at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Box Office or by visiting  https://www.bbmannpah.com/performance.php?id=1015
• LOCAL PROGRAMMING AT SIDNEY & BERNE DAVIS ART CENTER – Thursday, March 22-25, 2018: Enjoy official selections from the 2018 Fort Myers Film Festival. Tickets are $10, $6 for matinee and $20 to watch all day. For more information including films and times head to www.sbdac.com and www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com.
• MULLETS & MANGROVES II – History of Cayo Costa – Friday, March 23, 2018 at 7:45 p.m. The Friends of Cayo Costa and Barrier Island Park Society will present their new film at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Boulevard. Mullet & Mangroves II is the latest production of a two-part documentary and will view Cayo Costa Island through the eyes of pioneering fishing families and modern day children.  The film will be preceded by a short historical film about the contributions of Tom Smoot to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
• LOCAL PROGRAMMING at the Alliance for the Arts Saturday, March 24, and IMAG March 23-25: Enjoy local programming from some of the top filmmakers in town as Fort Myers Film Festival keeps it local. Enjoy screenings and panel discussion at the Alliance for the Arts at 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL and IMAG 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916. For more information including films and times head to www.artinlee.org and www.theimag.org.
• CHAMPAGNE & DESSERT AWARDS GALA DINNER at the Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd Sunday, March 25:  champagne and dessert awards gala, where the Fort Myers Film Festival will honor the winners with a showing of one award-winning film at 7 p.m. and music by Al Holland.  Tickets are $15 each. The official afterparty follows at the Twisted Vine in Fort Myers for song, dance, and more libations. For more information head to www.broadwaypalm.com
• BLOCKBUSTER INDIE FILMS AT AMC Classic Merchants Crossing 16 Saturday, March 24, 2018 located at 15201 N Cleveland Ave, North Fort Myers, FL 33903. For films and programming head to www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com

 
The Fort Myers Film Festival supports Lee County Schools filmmakers, Raddatz Foundation and Golisano’s Children’s Hospital and is partnered with Film Florida.
 
Sponsors are Florida Weekly, Bennett’s Fresh Roast Coffee, Twisted Vine Bistro, J. Bert Davis M.D., F.A.C.S, Facial Surgeon, La Trattoria de Napoli, Black Tie Tuxedos, Hampton Inn Suites, Twisted Vine Bistro, Best Western, Five Star Model Management, Norman Love, Manta Films, Riverside Realty, Blu Sushi, Douglas E. Spiegel. P.A., Capone’s Pizza, UBS Wealth Management, Kearns Restaurant Group, List Distillery, Mr. Tom’s Spirits, LYNQ, BLANC and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.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.”  Films and events are taking place in the finest venues in SWFL including the  Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, IMAG History & Science Center, Alliance for the Arts, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, AMC Theatres, Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Dinners and parties are being held at Twisted Vine, Blu Sushi, LYNQ, BLANQ, SoHo and more. www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com