The 2020 Florida Film Festival (FFF) will be moving forward at the Enzian Theater in Maitland Aug. 7-20, but just as with every event in these pandemic days, it is going to look different from previous festivals.
For the first time in the 29-year history of the FFF, there will be a virtual component to the festival. Of the more than 175 films featured this year, 151 of them will be made available to stream online across the state of Florida Aug. 8-20.
“We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to present these artists’ extraordinary work on both the big screen at Enzian and, for the first time, virtually as well wherever possible,” Matthew Curtis, FFF Programming Director, said in a press release. “More films than ever will be making their Florida debut at the festival, and we could not be more thrilled about introducing these talented filmmakers and presenting such an entertaining and diverse group of films to our audience.”
The virtual pass — which will cost $40 — will give viewers access to five narrative features, five documentary features, more than 30 narrative shorts, more than a dozen films each in documentary shorts, animated shorts, international shorts, international animated shorts, Sunspots series shorts and midnight shorts, as well as nine films in the new Florida shorts series, special screenings of four more feature-length films, three spotlight films and one international showcase.
“We are excited that the virtual platform will allow a large amount of these official selections to be exclusively available to festival-goers across the state of Florida,” Curtis said.
For those who are planning to attend festival films playing theatrically at Enzian along with the virtual experience, theater management states they are taking all the necessary precautions needed to keep moviegoers safe and protected.
“If you choose to attend the festival, we want you to feel reassured by our practices in place, and of course, inspired by the movies you’ll see,” Enzian’s management said in a release addressing its theater’s COVID-19 guidelines. “What does the COVID-19 version of our in-person festival experience entail? Expect a more relaxed FFF – with no Opening Night Party and no Awards Bash this year, we’re focusing our attention entirely on the celebration of independent film and filmmakers. We’re also putting safety first.”
In its guidelines, Enzian states that face coverings will be required for every attendee and must be worn when entering and exiting the theater, as well as when interacting with staff. Masks are allowed to be removed at your seat when eating and drinking. Staff will also be taking the temperature of everyone who enters the theater. Staff members will also have their temperatures checked daily before beginning their shifts.
The theater itself has been reconfigured to allow a six-foot space between tables and in queue lines to allow for social distancing and to accommodate the required 50% capacity regulation. The theater will also be cleaned multiple times per day and staff will fog the theater daily with CDC-approved cleaning chemicals. QR codes are being utilized to allow for contactless ordering of food and drinks.
The FFF, which was originally scheduled for April 17-26 but postponed due to the pandemic, is one of only a handful of Oscar-qualifying festivals in the U.S. in all three of the Academy’s shorts categories: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Documentary Short Subject.
Below we highlight 10 LGBTQ-themed films showing at this year’s FFF you don’t want to miss. Of the 10 films below, all but the international feature “Moffie” are available as part of the virtual pass.
“Are You Hungry?”
Directed by Teemu Niukkanen
Finland, 2019, 12 minutes
An overprotective mother’s assumptions about her son’s sex life leads to a cascading series of calamities which put him seemingly in danger. This international short film is making its Florida premiere at this year’s FFF.
Aug. 14 at 2:30 p.m.
“Egghead & Twinkie”
Directed by Sarah Holland
U.S., 2019, 9 minutes
Egghead is in love with his best friend Twinkie. Twinkie is a closeted lesbian. And tonight, she is coming out to her parents in the most casual way possible. Winner of the 2019 Brouhaha Grand Jury Award, this short film is making its southeast premiere at this year’s festival.
Aug. 15 at 11:30 a.m.
“Flesh”
Directed by Camila Kater
Brazil, 2019, 12 minutes
Rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, and well done. Through intimate stories, women share their experiences in relation to the body, from childhood to old age, in this international animated short making its southeast premiere.
Aug. 20 at 3:30 p.m.
“I Know Her”
Directed by Fawzia Mirza
U.S., 2019, 3 minutes
Lying in bed together as new romantic partners, two women discuss their mutual social circles and how close they really are. This short film makes it Florida premiere at this year’s festival.
Aug. 9 at 3:30 p.m.
“Is That All There Is?”
Directed by Chris Molina
U.S., 2019, 6 minutes
In this bold and amusing documentary short, a young gay man breaks up with his boyfriend and seeks the happiest place on Earth to relive his childhood and quell his sadness. It does not go especially well. “Is That All There Is?” makes its Florida premiere at the FFF.
Aug. 15, 11:30 a.m.
“Island Queen”
Directed by Zackary Grady and Jenn Harris
U.S., 2020, 10 minutes
On the day a teenage hockey player plans to sneak away for figure skating tryouts, he gets trapped on a ferry boat in this hilarious short film featuring “SNL” alum Rachel Dratch and “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson. “Island Queen” is making its world premiere at this year’s FFF.
Aug. 8 at 2:45 p.m.
“Moffie”
Directed by Oliver Hermanus
South Africa/U.K., 2019, 99 minutes
Nicholas, a 16-year-old boy, is drafted for two years of mandatory military service in order to learn and uphold the apartheid regime in 1981 South Africa. The threat of communism at the Angolan border and “the black danger” is viewed as a looming threat to South Africa’s way of life. However, going to war is not the only danger Nicholas faces. He knows he’s different and must keep his true identity hidden for fear of being humiliated, beaten or worse. Nominated for awards at the 2019 Venice and London Film Festivals, along with three British Independent Film Awards, “Moffie” is an incredibly powerful drama and sobering look at vicious intolerance and toxic masculinity. This international feature film is making its east coast premiere and is only available to see at Enzian.
Aug. 19 at 3:30 p.m.
“Practice”
Directed by Moira Fett
U.S., 2019, 10 minutes
A dystopian story of two young girls caught in a moment of sexual exploration by the cameras mounted on their prep school uniforms. This short film makes its east coast premiere at the FFF and will mark only its second public showing in the U.S.
Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
“The Last Queen On Earth”
Directed by Michael Shumway
U.S., 2020, 16 minutes
A farmer wakes up one morning to an unexpected apocalypse. As the last man alive, he decides to throw caution to the wind and start living his very best life. This short film makes its world premiere at this year’s FFF.
Aug. 17, 9:30 p.m.
“Umbilical”
Directed by Danski Tang
U.S., 2019, 7 minutes
In this animated documentary, the filmmaker explores how her mother’s abusive relationship with her father shaped her own experiences and sexual identity while growing up and going to boarding school in China. “Umbilical” makes its Florida debut at this year’s festival.
Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
The 29th annual Florida Film Festival will play at the Enzian Theater in Maitland Aug. 7-20. The Virtual Pass will stream Aug. 8-20.
You can read more about the FFF’s Oscar accreditation and see a full list of films scheduled for this year’s festival including dates, times and film descriptions at FloridaFilmFestival.com.
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