2016 Sarasota Film Festival: One of the best film lineups ever and some serious star power are on tap

When you talk to Sarasota Film Festival chairman and president Mark Famigilo about what's going to make this year's festival a great one, his answers are a little surprising.

"The quality of the films just gets better and better," Famiglio said. But he immediately moves on to talk about educational outreach programs, with festival filmmakers going to Manatee and Sarasota county schools to talk about screenwriting and directing. He talks about partnerships the festival continues to create with other local organizations, and about connections the festival has continued to make with other festivals around the world and with the international media.

Festival director of programming Michael Dunaway is now in his second year. Now that Dunaway knows the Bradenton-Sarasota area, he's better able to pull together a film lineup that reflects the area's interests.

"He spent a lot of time last year getting to know people in the community," Famiglio said. "He sees how many serious film lovers we have here."

The list of filmmakers and actors on tap for the 18th annual festival is as impressive as just about any of the previous years.

Documentary filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus will be at the festival with their new film "Unlocking the Cage." Dunaway considers them the foremost documentary team working today (especially after the passing of the Maysles brothers). Pennebaker is responsible for "Monterey Pop" and "Don't Look Back," two of the best music documentaries ever made, and Pennebakber and Hegedus together made "The War Room," which Dunaway considers the finest political documentary ever made.

A new SFF award will be named in their honor. They'll be the first recipients of the Pennebaker-Hegedus Award for Documentary Filmmaking, which the festival plans to award annually.

Among the well-known actors on tap or this year's festival include Olympia Dukakis, Matthew Modine, George Hamilton and Rosie Perez, all of whom will be part of the "In Conversation With " series held at Florida Studio Theatre. (They'll be at separate events, not together.)

But if you're interested in seeing stars, there is one name that stands out.

"Sophia Loren," Famiglio said. "How can you do better than that?"

Famiglio speaks emotionally about Loren, whose photograph hung in the turret of his father's World War II airplane. Her classic beauty helped raise the spirits of the young men who were in horrific and perilous situations. And beyond being legendary for her beauty, she is also one of the most acclaimed actresses in movie history.

Loren had already been scheduled to appear at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on March 31. She agreed to have her appearance be the kick-off for the festival, which gets underway in earnest the next day. She'll receive an award from the festival during her appearance at Van Wezel which is titled "An Evening With Sophia Loren."

"She lives in Switzerland," Famiglio said, "but her agent in New York was familiar with the festival."

One of the treats of the festival, Famiglio said is the chance to meet emerging filmmakers and actors who aren't big names yet but will be soon. They come to the festival to see their films, and they're milling around in theaters and at parties and just around town.

One of the biggest parties at the festival every year is Cinema Tropicale. This year it's slated for 9 p.m.-1 a.m. on April 8 at Michael's on East. And this year, Famiglio said it will be little different.

"We're calling it Cinema Politicale," he said. "We're having a politically themed party. How could you not do something, political this year? We'll have elephants and donkey, or elephants and jackasses."

Details: April 1-10.,various locations around Sarasota. Tickets: Various. Information: 941-366-6200, sarasotafilmfestival.com.

Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "2016 Sarasota Film Festival: One of the best film lineups ever and some serious star power are on tap ."