Sarasota Film Festival announces biggest lineup ever led by appearance by Oscar-winning actresses Rachel Weisz, Cloris Leachman

SARASOTA -- Just a glance at the lineup tells you the 2015 Sarasota Film festival will be the biggest one ever.

"We're about two short of 280 films," festival President Mark Famiglio said. "In past years we've been at about 220. So it's dramatic."

The differences aren't just in the numbers.

"It's qualitatively different," Famiglio said. "There's a new kind of staff at the festival this year."

The festival, which runs April 10-19, was put together by Michael Dunaway, in his first year as director of programming, and an almost completely new programming staff.

The new staff, Famiglio said, has deeper and broader connections in the film world than the festival has ever had.

For example, he said, this year's festival has more West Coast films than in the past.

"His film eccentricities run the gamut," Famiglio said of Dunaway. "And that, coupled with a great intellect, allows him to curate world-class films."

The festival is also branching out into new media for

the first time with a selection of webisodes.

Most festival films are new, so few titles will be familiar.

Everyone will know the celebrity guests scheduled to appear at the festival. Actors include Cloris Leachman, Ben Vereen, Rachel Weisz, Blythe Danner and Jane Seymour, all involved in festival films either as performers or producers.

"We will have at least three Oscar-winning actresses at the festival," Famiglio said.

Weisz and Leachman have won Oscars. Danner has won Emmys and a Tony, but not an Oscar. Seymour has won an Emmy.

Famiglio couldn't name the other Oscar-winning actress, but he hinted at several major Hollywood stars who will attend. He said he should be able to announce their names in the next few days.

Among the films Famiglio said he is most excited about is the opening night film, "Time Out of Mind," a drama starring Richard Gere as a homeless man struggling to restore his relationship with his daughter. Director Oren Moverman will be on hand for the screening April 10.

"We thought about starting the festival with a comedy and we had a few good possibilities," Famiglio said, "But the issue of homelessness is one that resonated with the community and with people in every city. 'Time Out of Mind' is "a beautiful film."

Gere's performance is one of his best, he said.

"Everyone around here thinks he's going to win an Oscar," he said.

The Sarasota Film Festival will also include a collection of short films received enthusiastically at the Sundance Film Festival in January and February. The Sarasota Film Festival is the first to screen the collection as a package.

Famiglio said this year's festival also features a strong collection of films made in the Bradenton-Sarasota area by area filmmakers. Some years, he said, the festival struggles to find worthy local films. This year's crop was strong, he said.

The festival includes red-carpet events, parties and personal appearances, including conversations with Danner and Leachman. Dates, time and more events will be announced soon.

Tickets go on sale to film festival members at 11 a.m. Friday and to the general public at 11 a.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 941-366-6200 or go to sarasotafilmfestival.com.

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

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Sarasota Film Festival announces biggest lineup ever led by appearance by Oscar-winning actresses Rachel Weisz, Cloris Leachman."