Celebrating its tenth year, the St. Augustine Film Festival kicked off the four-day event with an opening party at the Lightner Museum on Jan. 17. More than 40 films were screened at four venues in St. Augustine.
Organizers of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, which debuted in 1986, brought a similar format to St. Augustine to celebrate the art form. Films include a broad range of topics and formats. Some are shorts, 5 minutes or less, and others are full-length feature films.
“The community is really supportive,” Bonnie Adams, senior program director, said. “Every year more and more people come. [Flagler] College has really gotten behind it.”
Flagler students volunteer and also submit films.
“America’s Untold Story,” shot in St. Augustine and narrated by Jimmy Smits, was shown in two, 2-hour parts at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium without charge.
The festival honored actor Joe Pantoliano with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive body of work. Pantoliano has more than 100 credits in his name. Popular roles include Cypher in “The Matrix,” Cosmo Renfroe in “The Fugitive” and Guido in “Risky Business” on the big screen and Ralph Cifaretto on the television series, “The Soporanos.”
After the opening party Jan. 17, guests strolled to Lewis Auditorium to see Pantoliano’s starring performance in “From the Vine.” He plays the role of a burned-out corporate executive who seeks his roots back in Italy in order to reset his moral compass. The journey transforms his life and his relationships and revives the small town in Italy his grandfather called home. The audience erupted in applause at the end of the film and Gregory von Hausch, president of the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, called Pantoliano to the stage.
“It’s tough to see myself up there growing old,” he said.
Then he asked the audience for questions. Someone asked about his favorite role. “The next one,” he said.
After receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, he said, “All I ever wanted to be was an actor.”
