Sarasota’s Cine-World Film Festival starts Friday

They’re “small” films, not Hollywood blockbusters. Most of them will probably never make it to your local cineplex.

But several of the independent films that make up this year’s Cine-World Film Festival feature major Hollywood stars who take the work for almost no money because they love the films and the roles.

“None of these filmmakers can afford to pay the big Hollywood salaries,” said Tim Calandra, a spokesman for the Sarasota Film Society, which puts on the Cine-World Film Festival every year.

The 10-day festival starts Friday with a film called “Jackie.” It’s a narrative film (not a documentary) about Jackie Kennedy during her years as First Lady, and in the aftermath of the killing of John. F. Kennedy. It stars Natalie Portman in the title role, with Peter Saarsgard, Max Cassella, Billy Crudup, John Hurt and John Carroll Lynch in supporting roles. Portman has been mentioned as a possible Oscar-winner for her performance.

“Jackie” won the prestigious Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. A jury that included director Brian De Palma wrote: “Our decision was unanimous. We found one film that combined an extraordinary script with precise direction and unforgettable acting. For its exploration of the myth of American Camelot and its preeminent performance by Natalie Portman, the 2016 prize goes to ‘Jackie.’ ”

One thing that makes Cine-World distinctive is that all its feature-length films come out of the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the largest and most prestigious film festivals in the world. Cine-World officials attend TIFF and select about 30 of the best films that the festival has to offer. TIFF usually features hundred of films, so Cine-World can be selective.

There are 31 full-length professional films in this year’s festival, which runs through Nov. 13. Most of the feature-length films are screened more than once, at Burns Court Cinema or Lakewood Ranch Cinema, both of which are owned by the Sarasota Film Society.

The festival also includes a program of student films from State College of Florida, Florida State University and the Ringling College of Art and Design, plus another program of student-directed short films.

Because they’re independently made, the narrative films tend to focus on characters and the human condition, rather than action and special effects. Since the filmmakers are working away from the big studios, they can focus more on the art of cinema.

“You’re not likely to see an independent film that’s all shoot-’em-up action,” Calandra said. “The filmmakers don’t have someone looking over their shoulder every step of the way and telling them to make changes.”

Hollywood seldom makes documentaries, so most of the documentary films that are made are done independently. Among the docs set for this year’s Cine-World are “Aida’s Secrets,” an investigative film that follows a man who was born in a concentration camp who searches for his family and meets his elderly mother for the first time, and “Alive and Kicking,” a look at the subculture that revolves around swing dancing.

The student films are free, and individual tickets for other films are $10.50 Sarasota Film Society members and $13.50 for nonmembers. Packages are also available with 10 tickets ($95 for members, $125 for nonmembers), 20 tickets ($180 and $240) and 40 tickets ($340 and $460).

A compete virtual festival program with complete schedules is available at filmsociety.org/cineworld-2016.

Details: Nov. 4-13, Burns Court Cinemas, 506 Burns Lane, Sarasota, and Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 10715 Rodeo Drive No. 8, Lakewood Ranch. $10.50 for Sarasota Film Society members, $13.50 for nonmembers. 941-955-3456, filmsociety.org.

This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Sarasota’s Cine-World Film Festival starts Friday."