What to Watch:
​Feature Films

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A House is not a Disco
Documentary (Feature), LGBTQ

Florida Premiere. A House Is Not A Disco documents a year-in-the-life in the world’s most iconic “homo-normative” community: Fire Island Pines. Situated fifty miles from New York City, this storied queer beach town finds itself in the midst of a renaissance as a new generation of millennial homeowners reimagine The Pines for a new, more inclusive era. A large cast of unforgettable eccentrics, activists, drifters old-timers and first-timers reflect on the legacy of The Pines while preparing their beloved village for the biggest challenge it has faced since the AIDS crisis: rising seas caused by climate change. Directed by veteran queer actor Brian J. Smith (Sense8, Matrix Revolutions) in an enchanting documentary debut.

April 11 @ 5:30 pm
Regal Hollywood

April 12 @ 2:00 pm
Regal Hollywood​
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Director Question & Answer

Stay after the film on April 11th & April 12th for a Q&A with the director, Brian J. Smith. Out gay actor Brian J. Smith (“Sense 8, Matrix Resurrections”) makes an auspicious directorial debut with his affection documentary, “A House Is Not a Disco,” about the Fire Island Pines. His film traces a year, 2022, at the gay mecca emphasizing that being on Fire Island provides a feeling of being in a safe, welcoming space where LGBTQ folks can express themselves freely.

Official After Party

Join SarasotaOUT.com at the "A House is Not A Disco" After Party at voco Sarasota, April 11, 7PM - 9PM. MORE INFO

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Chuck Chuck Baby
Comedy, Female Director, Female lead, LGBTQ, Narrative Feature

Florida Premiere. Nestled amongst the falling feathers of a chicken factory in industrial North Wales—and featuring the perennially uplifting music of Neil Diamond, Janis Ian, and Minnie Riperton—Chuck Chuck Baby follows Helen (Louise Brealey), a thirty-something woman packaging poultry by night and caring for her dying ex-mother-in-law by day. Her mundane routine is jolted when Joanne (Annabel Scholey), her secret childhood crush, returns home. As they reconnect, their romance begins to flourish, but can they move on from the weight of their pasts? With plenty of heart, director Janis Pugh delivers a joyful, honest story about finding the courage to let go and allow love to prevail.

April 9 @ 8:00 pm
Regal Hollywood 

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Lady Like
​Documentary (Feature), LGBTQ

London-born, ballet-trained, San Francisco-based Rex Wheeler, known to the world as drag queen Lady Camden, is catapulted into the spotlight when he becomes a contestant on season 14 of RuPual’s Drag Race. As Rex/Lady struggles to manage the demands of newfound fame, he must come to terms with a traumatic childhood in Camden that drove him to seek joy, fantasy, and escape through the performing arts. Tracing the journey from local San Francisco queen to international celebrity, this inventive and heartfelt film explores how Lady Camden helped Rex deal with his past traumas and embrace the joys of life.

Highlighting the art of drag as a tool for hope, purpose and healing for so many in the queer community, Lady Like is a fitting celebration of an artist who, no matter how hard the fall, they’ll always pick themselves back up.

April 14 @ 4:00 pm
Regal Hollywood 

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Merchant Ivory
​​Documentary (Feature), LGBTQ

Oscar winner James Ivory began his storied career making documentaries in India. While screening one at India’s Consulate in New York City, he met his life and business partner, Ismail Merchant. Merchant Ivory is the first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Footage from more than fifty interviews – including fresh takes from Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, and of course the spry 95-year-old Ivory himself – give voice to the family of actors and technicians who helped define Merchant Ivory’s Academy Award-winning work of consummate quality and intelligence. With six Oscar winners among the notable artists participating, these close and often long-term collaborators intimately detail the transformational cinematic creativity and personal and professional drama of the wandering company that left an indelible impact on film culture.

April 13 @ 6:00 pm
Cinebistro

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Event Alert!

Stay after the film for a Q&A with the director, Stephen Soucy. Stephen is also co-lead producer of the West End and Broadway-bound, Romy and Michele The Musical.

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No One Asked You
Documentary (Feature), Female Director, LGBTQ, Social Issues

Florida Premiere. No One Asked You follows reproductive rights organization Abortion Access Front over five years at the frontlines of the escalating war over Roe Vs. Wade. Led by The Daily Show co-creator, comedian, and disruptor-extraordinaire Lizz Winstead, the intrepid team of activists and comics battles misogyny with comedy on their “Habitat for Humanity Meets USO Tour” to connect communities, eradicate abortion stigma and protect choice for all. Winstead and her merry band of activists take us to the very front lines, risking their own safety by coming face-to-face with clinic protestors by day and performing and raising awareness by night. An urgent and humorous account of the serious work that this audacious group is doing to battle misogyny and fight for reproductive rights in a divided country.

April 8 @ 6:00 pm
Regal Hollywood

April 9 @ 3:00 pm
Regal Hollywood
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Pet Shop Days
Drama, LGBTQ, Narrative Feature

Florida Premiere. In an act of desperation, impulsive black sheep Alejandro (Dario Yazbek Bernal) flees his home in Mexico. On the run from his unforgiving father, he ends up in New York City. There, he meets Jack, a pet store worker whose own, similarly wealthy family life is fracturing after his father (Willem Dafoe) betrays his mother (Emmanuelle Seigner). Together, the two young men enter a whirlwind romance, sending them into a dead-end world of passion, drugs, and depravity.With Pet Shop Days, first-time feature director Olmo Schnabel, son of artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel, has crafted a gritty throwback to American independent cinema. (No wonder Martin Scorsese signed on as an executive producer.) Imbued with raw emotion and propulsive pacing and led by an explosive performance by Bernal (Gael’s half-brother) as the wild and wounded Alejandro, Pet Shop Days is a riveting portrait of lost young men in search of connection.

April 6 @ 8:00 pm
Regal Hollywood 
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Susan Feniger: Forked
Documentary (Feature), Female Director, Female lead, LGBTQ

Florida Premiere. When celebrity chef Susan Feniger decides to open her own restaurant without her longtime business partner Mary Sue Milliken, the task is daunting. With no support from their co-owned restaurant kitchens and staff, Feniger must use her home to test brand new recipes, figure out design and construction, gather the team, and basically start over like a “newbie.” Her dream is to open a new Los Angeles restaurant serving global street food: Susan Feniger’s STREET. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and Feniger’s spouse Liz Lachman, a constant companion on her journey, follows Feniger across the globe tasting street food and bonding with the street stand owners, and all the way back home where she tackles the logistics of the opening. In this wildly entertaining film, Lachman covers Feniger’s passions and struggles in a business where often it’s not about IF one fails…but HOW.

April 14 @ 2:00 pm
Regal Hollywood
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​What to Watch:
​Short Films

Alok

Filmmaker Alex Hedison delivers a compelling portrait of her friend, Alok Vaid-Menon, the internationally acclaimed, non-binary, author, poet, comedian, and public speaker. This thought-provoking short documentary explores the limitless expression of self, challenges societal norms, and inspires viewers to embrace personal freedom beyond the binaries that divide us. Featuring Dylan Mulvaney, Chani Nicholas, and other cultural change makers. Executive Produced by Jodie Foster.

April 13 @ 3:00 pm
Regal Hollywood 
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The Lift

 Following the loss of his husband, a grief-stricken retiree (Sam Anderson) finds renewed connection with a mysterious young woman who’s attempting to terminate a pregnancy.
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April 8 @ 1:00 pm
Regal Hollywood
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Pill Nation

Dante is an old gay activist who refuses to retire. Facing the inevitable end of his existence, he decides to fulfill his old plans of opening the first LGBTQIA+ retirement house in Brazil, ignoring the advice of his great friend, Francisca, who argues that they no longer need to care.

April 14 @ 11:00 am
Regal Hollywood
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Trevor Hurt Someone

Straight male best friends Sean and Trevor deliberate the events of the preceding night, when Trevor sexually assaulted Sean, at the bar where it happened.

April 14 @ 11:00 am
Regal Hollywood
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Where to Go:
​The SFF Parties

​The Sarasota Film Festival is not only a celebration of independent cinema but also a vibrant gathering of spirited soirees that beautifully complement the cinematic experience. These parties, glittering with creativity and inclusivity, serve as a perfect backdrop for the LGBTQ community to shine, express themselves freely, and connect with like-minded individuals and allies. Attending these events is not just about enjoying the festivities; it's about being seen, heard, and celebrated for who you are in an environment that champions diversity and inclusion at every turn.
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Gay Group Happy Hour + Sarasota Film Festival Kick Off Party

Thursday, April 4th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
CinèBistro​, 3501 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

 
Come network, and mingle with the LGBTQ Community at this special happy Hour featuring the Sarasota Film Festival. The festival director will be there to showcase the independent films that prominently feature LGBTQ characters or themes. Complementary appetizers, a DJ, 50/50 raffle, prizes and more!

​Tickets $10 - Available at the Door.

FACEBOOK EVENT

Opening Night Party

Friday, April 5th, 8:00 - 11:00 PM
Sarasota Modern
​1290 Boulevard Of The Arts, Sarasota

Hosted by the Sarasota Film Festival, the Opening Night Party is being hosted at the stunning Sarasota Modern, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. This event promises an unforgettable evening under the stars. Gather by the pool in an ambiance of elegance, with a DJ setting the mood and a selection of drinks to toast the commencement of the festival. It's the perfect kickoff to a celebration of film, offering a night of sophistication and fun in one of Sarasota's most chic venues.

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Poolside Soiree

Saturday, April 6th, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Art Ovation Hotel, Perspective Rooftop Pool
1255 N. Palm Ave, Sarasota

​The Sarasota Film Festival, in partnership with Shambala, proudly presents the 6th Annual TriForce Pictures Film Festival Poolside Soiree. It's an epic celebration that marries film and festivity in a spectacular pool party setting. This year's soiree boasts an impressive lineup of superstar DJs, including @dj_rad_solo, @djshambala, @loussoulradio, @i.am.kiko, and @djalenp, ensuring the beats will be as dazzling as the splashes. Prepare for an afternoon into evening of non-stop dancing, mingling, and enjoyment under the sun. It's more than a pool party—it's a dance party that promises to be the highlight of your festival experience.

Tickets $5 - Available at the Door.

Celebrating Female Artists Reception

Saturday, April 6th - 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Art Avenue, 3501 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

"A House is Not A Disco" After Party

Thursday, April 11th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
VOCO, 1223 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota

​FREE EVENT In a fusion of celebration and cinema, the Sarasota Film Festival, in collaboration with SarasotaOUT.com, proudly presents the "A House is Not A Disco After Party." Following the Florida Premiere of "A House Is Not A Disco," a compelling documentary that offers a year-long glimpse into the life of Fire Island Pines, an iconic “homo-normative” community. This FREE party is being hosted at the newly renovated and renamed voco Sarasota, formerly Indigo Hotel. Our after-party features a night of delicious bites from Offshore Tapas and Wine Bar, an energizing DJ set to keep you dancing and a drag performance by Former Miss Continental Christina Armini. Celebrate the legacy and future of The Pines, immersing yourself in a night of film, food, and festivity.
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Friday Night Fantastical Street Party

Friday, April 12th, 7:00 - 11:00 PM
332 Cocoanut Ave, Sarasota

The Sarasota Film Festival's legendary annual Block Party is back, promising an evening more fantastical than ever before! Featuring the electrifying DJ Nati at the helm and the unmatched production value of SRQ Beats, this year's street fest is set to transform the streets of Sarasota. The Block Party invites you to immerse yourself in the rhythm of the night amidst a vibrant crowd, with an array of food trucks serving up delicious eats to fuel your moves. This isn't just a party; it's an experience.

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Closing Night Party

Saturday, April 13th, 7:00 - 11:00 PM
Sage, 1216 1st St, Sarasota

"That's a Wrap!" As the curtains draw to a close on the cinematic celebration, the Sarasota Film Festival cordially invites you to the Closing Night Party at the gorgeous Sage Restaurant in downtown Sarasota. This grand finale promises an evening of sophistication and the perfect setting to reflect on the festival's unforgettable moments, forge lasting connections, and toast to the stories that moved us. Join us as we bid adieu to this year's festival in style, marking the end of an extraordinary journey of film and friendship!
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