by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
In addition to exposing Jacksonville movie audiences to films at the industry’s edge, organizers say they will use this year’s film festival to market the City as a potential movie location.
This year’s festival should attract an expanded roster of about 30 films, many of them with directors, producers and distributors in tow, said City spokesperson Lisa Rowe. In between watching their movies premier, answering audience questions and holding workshops, the filmmakers will be treated to a tour of Jacksonville’s most alluring locations.
The city’s main asset, said Rowe, is the diversity of its terrain.
“We have beautiful weather, first of all, and we offer historic areas, dense woods, the beach, the waterways, marshes, whatever kind of landscape a director or producer might be looking for, we think we can provide,” said Rowe.
Last year, Todd Roobin, director of the City’s film commission, took a group of filmmakers on a tour of the area, hoping to put Jacksonville in their minds the next time they scout locations. With more films headed for the festival this year, Roobin will have a greater opportunity to sell the city, said Rowe.
In addition to more movies, this year’s festival — scheduled from May 13 to 16 — will also feature a screenwriting competition. The four–day event will comprise screenings, panel discussions about the films, workshops on all aspects of the movie business and nightly parties.
The movies will cost $5, except for the $10 premier. Some of the parties and workshops will cost extra — the opening–night gala costs $50, however Rowe said this year’s festival will offer free workshops and panels at the Landing. A $125 all–access pass can be purchased, providing access to all festival events and parties.
Organizers were surprised to find they made money with last year’s festival. Despite some first–time mistakes, the non–profit group, which hosts the festival made about $10,000 last year. That money was re–invested into this year’s event.
Prices are largely unchanged from last year, but larger attendance this year could make the festival more profitable. Rowe said organizers were planning for 10,000 people this year after 6,000 attended in 2003. Profit is a secondary consideration for the festival said Rowe. More important is to add to the city’s cultural landscape, enriching area theater–goers and bringing people to a variety of downtown venues.
The films will be screened at six venues downtown: the Florida Theatre, the Cummer Museum, the Ritz Theatre, the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, the San Marco Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville. The Ritz will host one of the most intriguing events, said Rowe, a Thursday night screening of the silent movie “Celebrity,” with a three–piece jazz band providing a live musical score.
“We really want a crowd interested in seeing something unique,” said Rowe. “We want to bring them to these historic venues to celebrate downtown in a way they haven’t experienced before.”