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The Best Scenes FROM THE 19TH SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL  DIANE LANE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE SMART, beautiful and generous with her time. Her film, Paris Can Wait, was an enjoyable and sumptuous closing night film, while her conversation with journalist Joe Nieumaier at Florida Studio Theatre was simply the best give-and-take Q&A I have witnessed at any of the Sarasota Film Festivals — and I’ve covered all of them. As Rory Kennedy roared into town on the opening night of the festival, she caught a big wave of support for her riveting documentary about an iconic and innovative surfer, Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton, a perfect opening-night film. In between opening and closing nights, I hung out with my film posse, frequented parties and special talks, and saw close to 75 films that included many shorts, documentaries and narrative features. It’s all about the film for me, and each year the Sarasota Film Festival continues to attract filmmakers from around the world who have new, fresh and diverse voices. So, now that I’ve had time to consider the films I saw in the two months since the 19th Sarasota Film Festival ended, here are my top 19 film picks. Only two rules apply. I had to see the film, and I had to be inspired by it — so much so that over time it could — and would — stay with me. Some are shorts. Some are animated. Some are documentaries. Some narratives. My only regret is that I couldn’t see every single film presented. 64 SCENE | JULY 2017 19. Lemon (USA) — A comedy feature directed by Janicza Bravo. Something about the irreverence and honesty of a middle-aged acting teacher’s life unraveling after his girlfriend leaves him struck my funny bone and tickled my sweet-and-sour film taste buds. 18. Return to Sender (USA) — This animated short by Ringling student Catherine Bailey displays great storytelling and the latest technology in this romantic tale of a guy and girl getting together thanks in part to the US mail. 17. The Grand Illusion (USA) — A short documentary by director Preston Mack. Clever and entertaining, it’s about how a team pulls off the old hidden ball trick during a college baseball World Series game. A must for all baseball fans. 16. $4.59 (USA) — NYU short entry by director Lasse Ulvedal Tolboll about a wife, a husband and misunderstandings in a grocery store intrigued me in Tarantinolike way. “Misunderstandings in a Grocery Store” sounds like it could be Quentin’s next film. by Gus Mollasis


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