Travel around the world from the comfort of a movie theater seat during the 20th annual Cine-World Film Festival. The fest, which showcases a weeklong assortment of intriguing international and domestic films, kicks off Saturday at Burns Court Cinemas. Several films also will be screened at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas.
Selections include a sampling of the best screen projects from Spain, Israel, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, India, Argentina and more.
The longevity of the film festival shows that the hunger for foreign films is great among residents in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Yet a good chunk of the festival attendees come from as far as Tampa and St. Petersburg, said Michael Kayatta, marketing director for the Sarasota Film Society, which hosts the event. It also draws people from outside Florida.
That’s evident from the crowds. Last year, the festival attracted an estimated 10,000 people, Kayatta said.
Cine-World will stick to the successful, condensed format it began last year with 30 films in one week as opposed to 50 films in two weeks.
“It’s quality over quantity,” Kayatta said. “We’ve shaved our festival down so that every single film choice is an interesting choice.”
Cine-World’s opening night film is “Everybody’s Fine,” a remake of “Stanno Tutti Bene.” It stars Robert De Niro as a widower who travels across the country to reconnect with his children.
Other film highlights include “The Young Victoria,” a British film about Queen Victoria (starring Emily Blunt from “The Devil Wears Prada”) and her romance with Prince Albert; Lee Daniels’ highly anticipated “Precious,” about a pregnant, overweight, illiterate black teen in Harlem who suddenly finds hope through a special teacher starring Mo’Nique and Mariah Carey; and the closing night film, “An Education,” a British film about a 16-year-old trying to get into Oxford with the help of a high-class older man.
Also, local resident Ken Son’s documentary “Special O’ Laughics,” which premiered at the 2008 Sarasota Film Festival, will be screened, followed by a Q&A session with the director.
Film screenings are at Burns Court, 506 Burns Court, Sarasota, unless otherwise noted. Those films will be screened at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 10715 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch.
DOMESTIC:
“44 INCH CHEST”
D. Malcolm Venville, UK, 94m
Colin Diamond discovers that his wife of twenty years is having an affair with a good-looking younger man. When his motley group of friends decide to kidnap the young man, Colin must wrestle with his conscience.
8:15 p.m. Saturday and 3:15 Tuesday
Lakewood Ranch times: 7:45 p.m. Monday
“AN EDUCATION”
D. Lone Sherfig, UK, 93m
Set in the early 60s, the film tells the tale of Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a sharp 16-year-old with sights set on entry to Oxford at the encouragement of her father Jack (Alfred Molina). She meets a handsome older man named David (Peter Sarsgaard), whose position on the social ladder and passion for high-class enjoyment enraptures both her and her parents and is the catalyst for a budding romance.
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