Jacksonville, Fla. (April 14, 2008) The Jacksonville Film Festival season will begin in style with a website launch and media kick-off celebration for the public this Friday, April 18, at The Jacksonville Landing.
“Gator Country” radio DJ Amadeus will preside over the evening’s festivities, which will begin promptly at 5:30pm and last until 7:30pm. After the unveiling of the festival’s new website, trailers and short films will be shown from nearly 30 of the films that have been confirmed. In the main courtyard, attendees will be treated to live performances by the bands “Str8 Up” and “Out Of Hand.” Signature “Film Festival Cocktails” will be available, courtesy of Bacardi and Grey Goose.
“We’re excited to give people a taste of what’s in store next month,” festival director Jesse Rodriguez said. “This celebration will help to announce the festival’s presence with authority.”
In addition to the website launch and media kick-off celebration, Rodriguez plans to use this event to communicate with people that the 2008 festival has been extended to an entire week.
“We have an incredibly unique and exciting slate of films lined up, with something to entice everyone,” Rodriguez said. “Extending the festival to a week and showing them more than once means that everyone can see as many films as they want.”
Among the 30 film trailers and short films that will be shown on Friday, previews for the festival’s “Showcase” films will debut as well. Here’s a quick rundown of those films:
* “Crazy” – An independent film based on the life and exciting times of legendary Nashville guitarist Hank Garland, who played on recordings by artists like Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley. Musician and actor Waylon Payne (“Walk the Line”), portrays Garland in the film. Actress Ali Larter, (“Heroes”) portrays his wife, Evelyn Garland.
* “Meteoro” – In 1960’s Brazil, a construction crew is hard at work building a highway deep in the heart of the desert. A military coup d’état in the capital leaves the workers abandoned literally in the middle of nowhere. They come to believe fate has abandoned them in a deeply spiritual place and thus the utopian community of Meteoro is born.
* “The Year of Getting to Know Us” – A successful New York journalist, (Jimmy Falon) is a man who invests everything into his work and nothing into his life. When his estranged father suffers a stroke, he’s forced to return to his tiny hometown in Florida where the events of his dysfunctional past swirl around him. The film stars Sharon Stone, Jimmy Falon, Lucy Liu, Tom Arnold, Ileana Douglas and was filmed on-location in Jacksonville.
* “Inside the Circle” – Capturing the raw power of a grassroots hip-hop movement, the multi-award-winning documentary “Inside the Circle,” is a tale of two strikingly talented b-boys (break-dancers), Josh and Omar, best friends who become rivals when they join competing dance crews.
The Jacksonville Film Festival Board of Directors would like to acknowledge the gracious support of the event’s sponsors, The Jacksonville Landing, Jacksonville.com, Twisted Martini, Barcardi and The Times Union.
About the Jacksonville Film Festival
The festival will take place May 15 – 21, 2008, giving attendees seven days to enjoy the best in American and International independent films. More than 70 other films will be shown at venues throughout downtown Jacksonville and Fuel at Five Points in Riverside.
For more information call the festival hotline at 904.355.2247. To purchase advanced tickets for the Showcase films visit the Florida Theatre Box Office or call the box office at 904.366.2787. Tickets may also be purchased after April 18th for all films by visiting the website at www.JacksonvilleFilmFestival.com. Take a sneak peak at the website unveiling this Friday at filmfestival.jacksonville.com.