FLIFF ends in grand style

[Rachel Galvin]

FLIFF Ends in Grand Style
BY CINEMA DAVE

PHOTO CREDIT: CINEMA DAVE MONTALBANO/HAL AXLER, BONNIE LEIGH ADAMS, GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, NELSON PILOSOF & GREGORY VON HAUSCH--
GIANCARLO WINS BEST FILM!

Last June, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) organizers acknowledged their worst fear, the festival had to work with nearly one third of their budget from the previous years. Yet, under the leadership of Gregory Von Hausch, Hal Axler and Jan Mitchell & Associates, the 23rd Annual FLIFF celebrated some excellent independent films and received much needed international exposure from classy actors like Richard Chamberlain, Eli Wallach and his wife of sixty years, Anne Jackson. The 23rd Annual FLIFF survived and prospered thanks to the devoted volunteers and some community support from local businesses like Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach. The festival ended with some belly laughs. Filmed mostly in Hallandale, Director Brian Hecker‘s "Bart Got a Room" is a heartfelt teen comedy about getting a date for the prom. Marc Fienberg’s "Play the Game," starring Andy Griffith and Paul Campbell, won the Audience Favorite American Indie Feature. Besides receiving the FLIFF Career Achievement Award, Jane Lynch earned the Best Actress award for "I Do & I Don’t." Lynch saw her character as: “A Drunk, frustrated child. I chose her fantasy that “I am HOT. During the tight wardrobe fitting, the character just kicked in.” At six feet tall, Lynch is a devoted character actress who patched up Harrison Ford in "The Fugitive" and was ornery grandmother Lucy Bobby in "Talladega Nights The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Besides having a recurring role in the television series "Criminal Minds," Lynch will be seen on the big screen in "Tru Loved," which opens tomorrow, Nov 21.

FLIFF served as a reunion for the "I Do & I Don’t" actors Bryan Callen, Alexie Gilmore and Matt Servito, who had not seen each other in nearly two years. Servito commented that "I Do & I Don’t" was:

“A labor of love from the brilliance of (writer/director) Steve Blair. It was a proud Julliard moment for me to spank Jane Lynch while wearing a bad toupee!”

Production of "I Do & I Don’t" was delayed when Servito had emergency open heart surgery. Servito stated, “The greatest day of my life was to get back to work. We finished in a week and then my wife had twins!”

Richard Chamberlain was voted the press core’s favorite interview. In town from his home in Hawaii to accept the FLIFF Lifetime Achievement Award, Chamberlain has starred in big budgeted epics like "The Towering Inferno" to small independent fare like "Strength and Honour." When asked about the biggest change in the motion picture industry, Chamberlain said, “Not that much different. Independent films are quicker with not much waiting. Big films are more commercial just to make money. They are less fun.”

Chamberlain’s career has thrived as a television heart throb; from his start in "Dr. Kildare" to "Shogun" and "The Thorn Birds."

Chamberlain admitted that he and Rachel Ward had "great chemistry" and he witnessed first hand the legend of Barbara Stanwyck;

“She would arrive on the set at 4:30 AM to have coffee with the crew. By the first read threw she knew everything about her character. She made the scene brand new every time.” It is these lessons that get passed down from one generation of actors to another.

The 23rd FLIFF provided such exposure to local filmmakers to apprentice with filmmaking legends. As Courtney Ford (who costarred in "Fling" with husband Brandon Routh) stated [for would-be actors], “Learn more about yourself. Watch movies and surround yourself with positive people since Hollywood can be negative. Do not be jealous of a friend’s success, open yourself to other’s success.”

Last, but not least, the best of the fest will be returning for an encore appearance at Cinema Paradiso. Written and directed by Giancarlo Esposito, "Gospel Hill" is a timely motion picture that deals with a small town life being confronted by a corporate giant. Giancarlo Esposito will return to this exclusive screening. For tickets, contact Cinema Paradiso at 954-525-FILM