Local movies screen at Sarasota Film Festival

Films and filmmakers will be coming to Sarasota from all over the country -- from all over the world, in fact -- for the Sarasota Film Festival.

But this year, as every year, the festival includes a healthy selection of films with a connection to the Bradenton-Sarasota area. They're selected for the festival because they're worthy, not because they're local, but every one that gets a screening will help cement the area's burgeoning reputation as a great place to make movies.

Here's a look at some of the noteworthy movies with an area connection that are part of the 2015 Sarasota Film Festival. The short films are all screened in programs with other shorts.

"Sixty and Strong: The Petticoats," (90 min. Noon Saturday, April 18)

This was a late addition to the festival and didn't make it into the printed program. It's a documentary about a group of women painters who came together in the male-dominated art world of Sarasota in the 1950s. They called themselves the Petticoat Painters as a joke, but the name stuck. Sixty years later, the group is still painting and still exhibiting.

"The Last Great Circus Flyer," (105 min. 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17; 3:15 p.m. Saturday, April 18)

Miguel Vazquez was the first trapeze artist to accomplish a quadruple somersault. It had been considered virtually impossible until the 17-year-old Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey performer pulled it off in 1982. Twelve years lat

er, while he was at his physical peak, he abruptly left his career. This documentary looks at his career and his retirement. Vazquez and director Philip Weyland will be at the screenings.

"Breed," (4 min. 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 and 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 15)

A short animated film by Ringling College of Art and Design student Stanton Cameron.

"So It Goes," (1 min. 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 and 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 15)

Another animated short from a Ringling College student, this one by Alex Pope.

"SRQ Shorts," (7 p.m. Thursday, April 16 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18)

A collection of short films by filmmakers who call the Bradenton-Sarasota area home, including "Greetings From Florida!," filmed in Bradenton by director Thomas Nudi. He grew up in Bradenton and has recently moved back here to make at least two films.

"My Mom on Movies," (6:30 p.m. April 15)

The new "Best of the Web" series at SFF features a collection of webisodes. Most are brand new, but filmmaker Joshua Seftel has been entertaining audiences for a while with his series of Skype conversations with his mother Pat, who lives in Sarasota. Mother and son will both be on hand for the screening.

"Deaf Notice," (13 min. 10:15 a.m. Saturday, April 18)

Writer/director Kimmy Ellinwood and her husband are debuting their very first film, a light-hearted family film about the joys and hassles of raising their 9-year-old son Kagen, who is nearly deaf, but studies music and attends the Sarasota Academy of the Arts.

"Moods of Miakka," (14 min. 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 12)

A short documentary that is being expanded into an hour-long film. Award-winning Bradenton filmmaker Leslie Gaines focuses on Sarasota wildlife photographer Jeff Palmer and his love for the Myakka River.

"Paradise, FL," (113 min. 7:45 p.m. Monday, April 13)

SFF programming director Michael Dunaway included this one on his list of 10 must-see films for the festival. It's a story about struggling oyster farmers, and it was shot around the Bradenton-Sarasota area. Tony Stopperan of Ringling College of Art and Design is the producer, and it features several actors from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.

Box office

The festival's box office is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 6-10 and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. April 11-19 at Regal Hollywood 20, 1993 Main St., Sarasota. Single film tickets are $14 general admission, $10 students with ID. Spotlight or Centerpiece film tickets are $20. Matinee tickets: $10. Packages are available. Tickets are available at sarasotafilmfestival.com or by calling 941-366-6200.

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

This story was originally published April 12, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Local movies screen at Sarasota Film Festival ."