39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

The 39^th year of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) is set to take place from Friday, November 8 to Sunday, November 17, 2024, showcasing an exciting lineup of over 100 films and documentaries. This year’s festival will feature (8) World Premieres and (17) U.S. Premieres, offering a diverse array of galas, special presentations, film features, documentaries and short films. Attendees can look forward to red carpet appearances by directors, producers, actors and special guests who will participate in Q&A discussions and mingle with festival-goers.

“We are thrilled to present a fantastic line-up during the 39^th year of the festival. This year will be better than ever,” says FLIFF President & CEO, Steve Savor.

The festival will also host a series of exciting parties and special events throughout the week including:

**Opening Night, (Friday, Nov. 8, 5:30pm Red Carpet, 7:00pm screening & after party)**  Opening Night Film, QUEEN OF THE RING with a Red Carpet & Party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with special guests including: Ray Romano, Bob Mackie, Emily Bett Rickards, Francesca Eastwood, Cara Buono, Jim Ross (WWE Hall of Famer), Kailey Latimer (professional wrestler), Kevin Pollak, Joe Cortese and John Savage. Tickets $100 FLIFF Members / $125 Non-Members.

Barbie’s Las Olas Beach House Party, (Saturday, Nov. 9, 7:00pm) Hosted by Steve Savor at the luxurious Villa de Palma along with award-winning costume designer Bob Mackie who is known for designing Cher, Miley Cyrus, Pink and turning Barbie into a fashion icon. A portion of the proceeds benefit Memorial Healthcare. Tickets $150.

Closing Night Party, (Saturday, Nov. 16, 6:30pm, Cocktails & Screening with after party at 9:00pm) Hosted at Pier Sixty-Six South / Superyacht Pavilion celebrating the documentary “Grander” with Director Anthony Hsieh & Co-Producers, David Lasky and Tanner Matthews. Tickets $100 FLIFF Members / $125 Non-Members.

Tickets: Visit FLIFF.com for the festival schedule of films, theatres and receptions attended by celebrities. For more information, contact Savor Cinema box office at 954-525-3456. FLIFF Fast Pass: With photo ID, entry into all films with no line. Cost: $300 or $250 for members. 

*All appearances are subject to change. For all appearance and schedule updates, please visit FLIFF.com.

VENUES:

• Cinema Paradiso, 2008 Hollywood Blvd. (Hollywood)
• Gateway Cinema, 1820 E Sunrise Blvd. (Ft. Lauderdale)
• Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11 Pl, (Lauderhill) 
• Savor Cinema, 503 SE 6th St. (Ft. Lauderdale) 
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1 Seminole Way (Hollywood)
• Superyacht Pavilion at Pier Sixty-Six South, 2150 SE 17th St. (Fort Lauderdale)

OPENING NIGHT 

FLIFF kicks off on Friday, Nov. 8 (Red Carpet 5:30pm, Screening 7:00pm with party following) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Sponsored by Truist Wealth with opening night film, “Queen of the Ring”, directed by Ash Avildsen, (“Paradise City”, “Human Capital”), who will be joined on the red carpet by cast member, Emily Bett Rickards (“Random Acts of Romance”, “Dakota’s Summer”, “Brooklyn”, “Axis”, “Funny Story”, “The Clinic”, “We Need to Talk”, Autumn and the Black Jaguar”, “Clamity Jane”) Francesca Eastwood, Cara Buono, Jim Ross (WWE Hall of Famer) and Kailey Latimer (professional wrestler). 

Additional special guests attending opening night include Bob Mackie,. Kevin Pollak (“The Usual Suspects”, “A Few Good Men”, “The Whole Ten Yards”) Ray Romano (CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond”) Joe Cortese (“Green Book”, “American History X”) and John Savage (“The Deer Hunter”, “The Onion Field” and “Hair”). *Following the film, guests will enjoy lite bites with live music by The Jersey Girls and open bar. Tickets $100 FLIFF Members / $125 Non-Members. Red Carpet & Executive Producer FLIFF members are complimentary.

FILM HIGHLIGHTS

Additional special guests attending opening night include Bob Mackie, Mena Suvari, (“American Beauty”, “American Pie Films”, “Slums of Beverly Hills”). Kevin Pollak (“The Usual Suspects”, “A Few Good Men”, “The Whole Ten Yards”) Ray Romano (CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond”) and John Savage (“The Deer Hunter”, “The Onion Field” and “Hair”). *Following the film, guests will enjoy lite bites with live music by The Jersey Girls and open bar. Tickets $100 FLIFF Members / $125 Non-Members. Red Carpet & Executive Producer FLIFF members are complimentary.

“Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion”

Saturday, Nov 9, 12noon (Reception) / 1:00pm Screening at Savor Cinema

Florida Premiere, Documentary  

Special Guest: Bob Mackie, recipient of the 2024 FLIFF Lifetime Achievement Award

The Florida Premiere of the Documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion (Directed and written by Matthew Miele), showcases the six-decade career of award-winning costume designer, Bob Mackie. Like his costumes, Bob Mackie is wholly unique and unfiltered, which makes for a compelling and candid subject. The film examines Bob's unique upbringing, those whom he has held dear within his inner circle, and the familial surprises in his life that have all contributed to the optimism and audacity present in his work. Features original interviews with Bob Mackie clients and collaborators, along with those he has inspired - designers, stylists, comedians and actors, as well as Bob's first-person account of some of his most iconic looks from The Carol Burnett Show's Starlett O'Hara dress to Cher's 1986 Academy Awards look with feathered headdress and Tina Turner's iconic concert costumes. Bob Mackie is a truly peerless and timeless costume designer, with interviews from Cher to Pink, to Tom Ford and Miley Cyrus, to RuPaul Charles and Carol Burnett a testament to that fact. 

“Romano Twins” 

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2:00pm (Reception) / 3:00pm screening at Savor Cinema

World Premiere, Documentary

Special Guests: Greg & Matt Romano, Anna & Ray Romano 

Documentary about Matt and Greg Romano -- identical twin sons of actor, Ray Romano who starred in CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, is about the unique challenges of not only being a twin, but having a famous father, and along the way face their own fears and challenges of self-identity. Directors: Matt Romano & Greg Romano; Producers: Matt Romano, Greg Romano, Alex Johnson; Executive Producers: Mark Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Jay Duplass; Cinematographer: Alex Johnson, Matt Romano, Greg Romano; Co-Executive Producer: Shuli Harel; Editors: Matt Romano, Greg Romano; Composer: Lionel Cohen; Associate Producer: Jett Fink; Featuring: Matt Romano, Greg Romano, Ray Romano, Anna Romano, Allie Romano and Joe Romano. 

“Here’s Yianni!”

Saturday, Nov. 9, 4:30pm (Reception) / 5:00pm screening at Savor Cinema

World Premiere, Dramedy 

Special Guests: Christina Eliopoulos, Joe Cortese, Kevin Pollak, Sofia Vassilieva

This wonderful combination of comedy, drama and reality. Director & Screenwriter: Christina Eliopoulos; Producers: Valerie McCaffrey, Jason Jallet, Colleen Camp, Joe Cortese; The cast includes Joe Cortese (“Green Book”, “American History X”); Julia Ormond (“Sabrina”, “My Week of Marilyn”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “Milla’s Sense of Snow”, “First Knight”) ; Kevin Pollak (“The Usual Suspects”, “A Few Good Men”, “The Whole Ten Yards”); Rosanna Arquette (“Desperately Seeking Susan”, Pulp Fiction, After Hours); Eric Roberts (“Pope of Greenwich Village”, “Star 80”, “Runaway Train”) and Sofia Vassilieva. 

“Beyond the Rush” 

Saturday, Nov. 9, 7:00pm at Savor Cinema

World Premiere, Thriller

John Savage to receive a 2024 FLIFF Lifetime Achievement Award

Mena Suvari to receive a 2024 FLIFF Career Achievement Award

Special Guests: Robert John Sayegh, Mena Suvari, John Savage, Bill Barrett, Jayce Bartok 

Beyond the Rush is about a rising investigative journalist now demoted to covering the gossip column – is a high-functioning addict who finds himself at a crossroads dealing with cascading mental health issues, childhood traumas, a failing career, and the pressures of starting a family. When he receives a secret tip that a judge, from his damaged past, is suspected of deviant sexual acts within the juvenile court system, church, and community, he goes undercover and rogue, returning to his old neighborhood. Directed and written by Robert John Sayegh; Executive Producer: Jayce Bartok; Producers: Robert John Sayegh, Candy Potts, Cathy Moriarty. 

FLIFF CENTERPIECE: 

“No Address” 

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:30pm (Dinner with live music) / 7:15pm Screening with Q & A at Savor Cinema and Cocktails and desserts following the screening

World Premiere, Drama. Tickets $70 for FLIFF Members / $85 non-members 

*100% of the Proceeds benefit the Salvation Army of Broward.

Special Guests: Julia Verdin, Ty Pennington and Xander Berkeley

No Address is inspired by true event, this compelling drama captures the journey of a group of individuals experiencing homelessness. The film is a cinematic exploration of hope, humanity and resilience as the characters navigate the stormy challenges of life with no physical address, showcasing the reality that homelessness can happen to anyway. Director: Julia Verdin; Screenplay: Julia Verdin and James J. Papa; Screenwriter: David Hyde; Executive Producers: Robert G. Marbut Jr., Ashanti, John Lewis, Tina Douglas, Jet Lewis, Stephan Dweck; Producers: Jennifer Stolo, Lucas Jade Zumann, Sally Forcier, Julia Verdin, Robert Craig, and Angela Lujan; Cinematographer: Peter Holland, ACS; Editors: Alejandro Guimoye and Shaun Lupton; Cast: Lucas Jade Zumann, Beverly D’Angelo, Isabella Ferreira, William Baldwin, Ty Pennington, Kristanna Loken, Xander Berkeley, Patricia Velasquez, Ashanti. 

CLOSING NIGHT: 

“Grander”

Saturday, Nov. 16, 6:30pm, Cocktails & Screening with after party at 9:00pm at the Pier Sixty-Six South / Superyacht Pavilion 

Documentary, Florida Premiere

Special Guests: Anthony HsIeh, David Lasky and Tanner Matthews

Documentary about Anthony Hsieh, the American Dream who has a passion for sport fishing. Hsieh, immigrated with his family from China at the age of eight and founded multiple financial institutions to incredible success. After his father and best friend passed, he decided it was time to hang up the suit and pursue his lifelong passion of sport fishing. With eleven boats in all oceans, and full-time teams, he chases the one thing that money can't buy - a thousand-pound Marlin, known as a Grander. This film documents the first year of the "World Tour" trying to find one of the biggest fish on planet Earth. Along the way, we show how it all began, fighting storms in Australia, tagging large females in Brazil for research and ultimately participating in the World Cup in Africa. It's a high-octane adrenaline rush, a push to raise awareness for our oceans, and one man's lifelong dream, not to be missed.