By Skip Sheffield
FORT LAUDERDALE — The 25th anniversary Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival is in full swing, with screenings at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale, and Bailey Hall on the Davie campus of Broward Community College.
The opening night film, “Nice Guy Johnny,” is being screened at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22 at Bailey Hall.
Scene from “Fort McCoy”
Director Edward Burns (“The Brothers McMullen”) and stars Matt Bush and Kerry Bishe will be on hand for the festivities. An opening night party follows at 9:30 p.m. at the Signature Grand.
In all, 175 films will be screened by festival’s end Nov. 11. Ten of them will be world premieres and 11 are U.S. premieres.
Celebs will be coming to town to promote their films. They include Judd Nelson, whose latest film, “Endure,” was filmed in Florida. Judd stars as Det. Emery Lane, investigating a possible homicide in the boonies. The film will be screened at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 at Cinema Paradiso.
“Black Swan,” starring Natalie Portman as a prima ballerina, will be screened at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 in advance of its general release.
Ellen Barkin, who is rarely seen these days, stars in “Chameleon,” screened at 5 p.m. Oct. 23 at Cinema Paradiso.
“127 Hours” is the true-life story of mountain climber Aaron Ralston, who got pinned by a boulder and had to cut off his arm with a penknife to survive. Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”) directs. Screen date is 8 p.m. Oct. 29.
Michael Murphy co-stars with Jay Barnchel in “The Trotsky,” which screens at 7 p.m. Oct. 23. Murphy will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and Barnchel will receive a Star on the Horizon Award that same evening.
While the festival continues four more days, the Closing Night Film, “Casino Jack,” is being screened at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Bailey Hall. Kevin Spacey stars as notorious lobbyist Jack Abramoff and George Hickenlooper directs.
Claire Bloom will be on hand to greet her fans at 10 p.m. Nov. 6 for a screening of her
1963 chiller, “The Haunting.”
I had a chance to see only three of the films, including a fragment of “Bones” and the period drama “Fort McCoy,” set in Wisconsin in 1944, but I highly recommend the 45-minute documentary “Bound By Haiti,” which is a gripping account of this year’s earthquake and its aftermath, told by activists Aaron Jackson of Miami and John Dieubon of Haiti.
Tickets are $6 FLIFF members, $8 seniors and $10 general admission, except special events. Call 954-525-FILM or visit www.fliff.com for more information.