The Naples International Film Festival puts independent filmmakers in the spotlight for four days beginning November 6. 40 films are on the docket this year, with 19 narrative features, both foreign and domestic, nine documentaries, and 12 short films, all screening at Silverspot Cinema and Artis—Naples (opening night only). Among the films, 20 are making their Florida premiere, four as East Coast premieres, and one special presentation: the world premiere of the documentary Warrior One, a Florida film produced by Neapolitan Jill Wheeler and filmed by NIFF 2009 and 2011 alum Jon Fitzgerald.
Film Spotlight
Take a sneak peek at six films coming to the sixth annual NIFF, including trailers.
Film Talk
We caught up with NIFF’s executive and artistic director, Shannon Franklin, about theme, films and the future of the festival.
With such a diverse collection of films, there is certainly something screening for everyone, and a chance to watch something out of their comfort zone: “I hope people have a great time, try something new, and really enjoy the experience,” said Franklin. “Some people have never seen a documentary, watched a foreign language film, or had the opportunity to see a short. I always encourage people to check out these different types of films that are in our program.”
- Silverspot Cinema tickets cost $13 per film; NIFF All-Star Party Pack (12 film screenings), $130.
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Cupcakes, a musical comedy from Israel, follows a group of friends as they try to make it big on “UniverSong” – with plenty of laughs along the way. |
Opening Night Film:
- Song One – Florida Premiere – Writer/Director Kate Barker-Froyland in Attendance – Drama – Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
- Screening at Artis—Naples: General Admission Ticket, $29; VIP Film and Party Ticket, $169.
Closing Night Film
- Take Me to the River – Florida Premiere – Music Industry Legend Al Bell in Attendance – Music Documentary – Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.
- Screening at Silverspot Cinema: Film Ticket, $13; Closing Night Film & Wrap Party Ticket, $75.
Narrative Feature
- On the Waterfront – Special Presentation – Drama – Nov. 7 at 3:45 p.m.
- Alex of Venice – FL Premiere – Drama – Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
- Amira & Sam – FL Premiere – Director Sean Mullin in Attendance – Romance – Nov. 8 at 7:45 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 11:45 a.m.
- Arlo & Julie – FL Premiere – Director Steve Mims – Romantic Comedy – Nov. 7 at 11:45 a.m.; Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m.
- Before I Disappear – Black Comedy – Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 8:15 p.m.
- Cupcakes (Bananot) – Foreign (Israel) – Comedy Musical – Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 11:45 a.m.
- Desert Cathedral – FL Premiere – Director Travis Gutiérrez Senger and actor Chaske Spencer in Attendance – Drama – Nov. 7 at 8:30 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.
- East Side Sushi – East Coast Premiere – Director Anthony Lucero in Attendance – Drama – Nov. 7 at 6:15 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
- Ernest & Celestine – Animated Feature – Foreign (France/Belgium) – Nov. 8 at 2:15 p.m.
- Grace. – FL Premiere – Producer/Actor Cindy Joy Goggins, Producer Sylvia Caminer and Editor David Dean in Attendance – Drama – Nov. 8 at 4:15 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 1:45 p.m.
- Human Capital (Il Capitale Umano) – Foreign (Italy) – Crime Thriller – Nov. 7 at 11:30 a.m.; Nov. 9 at 4:15 p.m.
- The Last Time You Had Fun – FL Premiere – Dramedy – Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 4 p.m.
- Like Sunday, Like Rain – FL Premiere – Drama – Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 12 p.m.
- Lovesick – East Coast Premiere – Director Luke Matheny and Producer Travus Pope in Attendance – Comedy – Nov. 7 at 8:15 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 1:15 p.m.
- Man from Reno – FL Premiere – Foreign (Japan) – Mystery – Nov. 7 at 8:45 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 4 p.m.
- Trouble Dolls – East Coast Premiere – Directors and stars Jennifer Prediger & Jess Weixler in Attendance – Comedy – Nov. 8 at 5:45 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 12:05 p.m.
- We’ll Never Have Paris – FL Premiere – Romantic Comedy – Nov. 8 at 8:20 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 2:05 p.m.
- Wildlike – FL Premiere – Producer Joseph Stephans in Attendance – Drama – Nov. 7 at 7:45 p.m.; 12 p.m.
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A film still from the CineCasue Spotlight Film Slingshot, a documentary focusing on Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, as he tires to solve the world’s water crisis. |
Documentary Feature
- An Honest Liar – FL Film – Nov. 8 at 3:45 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 6:15 p.m.
- Art and Craft – Nov. 7 at 12:15 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m.
- Austin to Boston – FL Premiere – Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m.
- The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest – FL Film – Director Gabriel London in Attendance – Nov. 8 at 1:50 p.m.; Nov. 9 11:30 a.m.
- Point and Shoot – FL Premiere – Nov. 7 at 1:45 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
- Slingshot – CineCause Spotlight Film – Foreign (Ghana/Paraguay/USA) – Director Paul Lazarus in Attendance – Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 11:30 a.m.
- The Starfish Throwers – CineCause Spotlight Film – Foreign (USA/India) – Nov. 7 at 2:15 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
- Warrior One – World Premiere | FL Film | Special Presentation – Director Jon Fitzgerald and Producer Jill Wheeler in Attendance – Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 5:15 p.m.
Shorts Package 1: Surprises
76 minutes – Nov. 7, 12 p.m.; Nov. 9, 6:35 p.m.
- The Brunchers – 18 minutes – Foreign (United Kingdom) – FL Premiere
- God’s Got His Head in the Clouds – 14 minutes – Foreign (Italy)
- Verbatim – 7 minutes
- The Secret World of Foley – 14 minutes – Foreign (United Kingdom) – FL Premiere
- The Gunfighter – 9 minutes – FL Premiere
- Mr. Invisible – 14 minutes – Foreign (United Kingdom) – East Coast Premiere
Shorts Package 2: Connections
86 minutes – Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m.; Nov. 8, 11:15 a.m.
- Pony Place – 10 minutes – Foreign (Netherlands)
- So You’ve Grown Attached – 15 minutes – FL Premiere
- Orbit Ever After – 21 minutes – Foreign (Ireland/United Kingdom) – FL Premiere
- Love in the Time of March Madness – 8 minutes – FL Premiere
- On the Bridge – 12 minutes – Foreign (United Kingdom)
- The Phone Call – 20 minutes – Foreign (United Kingdom)
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