Celluloid Celebration
Fort Lauderdale film fest gets political

Matt Servitto in I Do & I Don’t, which will make its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Although the 23rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) opens this year on October 17 with Coyote, a film about two best friends who inadvertently become kinder, gentler, smugglers, politics is taking center stage.

In a contentious election year, where the presidential campaign feels like a reality show run amok, when lipstick on a pig passes for political discourse and lands on the front page of the New York Times, and ghosts of the hanging chad are threatening to make a curtain call, nothing is more theatrical than politics and the election.

Under the umbrella of “Politics, Diplomacy and The Human Condition”, FLIFF will present six vivid, intensely personal and timely political documentaries. The films will be presented back-to-back on Sunday, October 26 at Cinema Paradiso.

Following in the tradition of Michael Moore’s exposés, Sicko, and Fahrenheit 9/11 and the success of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, these political documentaries have a point of view and are borne out of one person’s passion and quest for understanding.

Gregory von Hausch with the poster for the 2008 FLIFF Photo: Sam Damiano

“So many crazy things have happened during recent elections, and this year FLIFF coincides with the big day itself,” says Gregory von Hausch, executive director of FLIFF. “Our documentary line-up has always been one of our strengths and this year it is the strongest. The films in the series will shine a spotlight, or better yet, a searchlight, on some of the evils that pervade our world.”

Murder, Spies, and Voting Lies: The Clint Curtis Story, a film by Patty Sharaf, recounts one of these evils. It is the story of Florida resident and computer programmer, Clint Curtis, who was hired in 2000 by Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL) to use his programming skills to create a ‘vote-flipping’ software for electronic voting machines to ensure Republican victories in local, state and national elections. Curtis blew the whistle on Feeney, and suffered the fate of most whistleblowers by losing his job and receiving death threats.

A scene from Murder, Spies, and Voting Lies: The Clint Curtis Story, one of the political documentaries in this year’s festival

The coming of age of young filmmakers and their attempt to understand the world before they were born are evident in first-time filmmaker, Koji Masutani, 27, a research associate at Brown University and his documentary film, Virtual JFK. The film explores the thesis, if President Kennedy had lived, how would he have handled the conflict in Vietnam? Can one person make a difference?

Masutani consults Brown University professor James G. Blight as his resource and historical expert. Together they pose the question, “Can a president make a decisive difference in matters of war and peace… or, are the forces that drive a nation into war a lot more impersonal, out of the control of any single human being, even a president?”

Furthering the election theme is another documentary film produced and directed by Stefan Forbes, Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story. The film analyzes the personality and methodology of Lee Atwater, Karl Rove’s mentor and the master of fear-based politics. Atwater was the architect responsible for the infamous Willie Horton ad used by the Republicans against Michael Dukakis’ 1988 campaign for president.

John Ratzenberger, who will attend both the screening of his film, The Village Barbershop, and the opening night gala on October 17

Says Forbes, “Atwater mentored Karl Rove and George W. Bush and played a crucial role in the elections of Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He wrote the Republican Party’s winning playbook which the McCain campaign is currently using.”

Rounding out the program are The Youngest Candidate, by Jason Pollock, a young filmmaker who apprenticed with Michael Moore, which follows four teenagers who run for local elections, Neshoba, directed by Micki Dickoff and Tony Pagano, which recounts the story of a Mississippi town still divided over the meaning of justice, 40 years after civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered and Susan Morgan Cooper’s An Unlikely Weapon, a film about Eddie Adams’ Pulitzer prize winning photograph of a Vietcong guerilla getting shot in the head, and the life-altering consequences Adams’ suffered.

The political fervor of the festival—and perhaps, of the country—reaches its zenith on November 4, Election Day. FLIFF is showing one film that day, the racially charged 1958 film The Defiant Ones starring Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis. That night Cinema Paradiso will be turned into election central, because as the folks at FLIFF say, no movie can beat the election drama. People can watch election coverage on two big screen TVs, while drinking and noshing on food and drink specials.

A steamy scene between Eli Wallach and Carroll Baker from Baby Doll

Of course, in a festival that spans 28 days, there’s more than politics. FLIFF will present films from around the world and from every genre. Many films have a local bent, either made by South Floridians or shot in South Florida. Nearly every film screened in October will be attended by the film’s director and in many cases, the actors as well. And there will be parties, lots of parties.

“In a year filled turmoil and sad news, perhaps we should take a cue from Paul Newman's first big film, Somebody Up There Likes Me; in spite of everything, this year’s festival turned out not just good, but truly great,” says von Hausch. “I am looking forward to the audiences’ reactions to our line-up.”

As films are an attempt to understand our lives and make sense of the world we live in, documentaries observe and capture that life more forcefully than fiction. So, to loosely paraphrase Betty Davis, grab a bag of popcorn and a box of Raisinets, sit back and fasten your seatbelts. You’re in for a bumpy ride.

Actress Jane Lynch, who will be honored with a career achievement award

FLIFF Highlights

Newman’s Own
October 15
Cinema Paradiso
This celebration of Paul Newman was planned before the star’s recent passing, and was designed to showcase the life and work of an actor and true humanitarian. Guests will be served wine and food from the Newman’s Own line and watch a screening of The Long Hot Summer, in which Newman starred with his wife, Joanne Woodward.

Starry, Starry, Night Gala, October 17, Miniaci Performing Arts Center
FLIFF kicks off the festival with their official opening night film and lavish gala. Stars of the opening night film, Coyote will attend the film and party. Actor John Ratzenberger, whose film The Village Barber plays October 16 at Cinema Paradiso, will also attend. After the film, guests will enjoy dining, drinking and dancing at Signature Grand in Davie.

Awards
Awards honoring career and lifetime achievement as well as recognizing up and coming stars will be given during special evenings throughout the festival. Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, frequent co-stars and married for 60 years, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award on Thursday, November 6. Wallach’s controversial classic Baby Doll, will be shown in conjunction with the award. Richard Chamberlain, known for his many TV roles including Dr. Kildare and for his performances in acclaimed TV dramas such as "The Thornbirds", will also receive a lifetime achievement award on Saturday, November 8, in conjunction with the screening of his film, Strength and Honour. Jane Lynch, known for her dry wit and performances in many films and TV shows, including “The L Word”, “Two and a Half Men” and Best in Show, will receive a career achievement award. And Alexie Gilmore, an actress who appears in several FLIFF films, will receive the Star on the Horizon Award. Lynch and Gilmore, who both star in I Do & I Don’t, will both receive their awards on Friday, November 7.

Paul Campbell and Andy Griffith in Play the Game, the Centerpiece film

Retro Films
As part of its commitment to cinematic achievements from 50 years ago, FLIFF will present films from 1958, including The Long, Hot Summer, Gigi, Auntie Mame, The Defiant Ones, No Time for Sergeants, The Big Country, Some Came Running and Separate Tables.

Centerpiece Film: Play the Game
Cinema Paradiso, November 5
This comedy starring Andy Griffith, Paul Campbell, Doris Roberts and Liz Sheridan centers on a young ladies' man who teaches his dating tricks to his lonely, widowed grandfather, and plays his best mind games to meet the woman of his dreams. Director Mark Feinberg, and cast members Liz Sheridan and Paul Campbell will attend the screening. After party at America's Backyard in Fort Lauderdale

Closing Night Film: Bart Got a Room
Cinema Paradiso, November 9
Filmed locally in Hollywood, this comedy stars Steven Kaplan, William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines and concerns a high school senior who’s got everything he needs for the perfect prom night—except the girl. Director Brian Hecker and actor Steven Kaplan will attend the screening. The FLIFF closing night wrap party will also be at Cinema Paradiso.

The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival runs October 15 through November 11. Films will be screened at the Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center at Nova Southeastern University in Davie and at the AMC Coral Ridge Theatre in Fort Lauderdale. For a complete schedule of films and events, to purchase tickets and for more information, call 954-760-9898 or visit www.fliff.com.

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