This year, Borja Izuzquiza, Alan French, and Josh Walbert will cover the 2024 Florida Film Festival in Orlando, Florida. The festival primarily takes place at the Enzian Theater and the Regal Winter Park Theater. With the festival season running hot in Florida over the past few weeks, it’s exciting to see a great combination of festival favorites and debuts hitting Central Florida.
This year’s opening night film is Rachel Hendrix. Please be sure to pick up your tickets ahead of time. The Florida-set movie comes from Victor Nunez and follows a woman on the path to healing. Globe winner Lori Singer takes on the lead role, and it’s hard not to be excited for her return to the big screen. This marks her first film since 2017.
Of course, there are a handful of special events over the course of the 2024 Florida Film Festival. The yearly Secret Screening has rumors coming and going, but it’s sure to be another excellent night. Additionally, John Cleese will be available for a specially ticketed event to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Natasha Lyonne will join for her own ticketed Q&A, covering her early queer classic But I’m a Cheerleader. To close down the festival, get ready for a screening of Foxy Brown, celebrating it’s 50th anniversary.
With Regal Winter Park finished with its renovation, have no fear. The 2024 Florida Film Festival is back in full swing at the theater and is sure to have some of the comfiest seats in town. Additionally, The Enzian offers many great food options while watching your movies. Remember to check out their menu ahead of time to make the most of your festival experience.
Below, you can see our updated list of reviews. The most recent reviews will show up at the top, and you can find reviews further down for 2023 and beyond. Have a great time at the festival this year, and enjoy the ride!
The 2024 Florida Film Festival Reviews
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As conversation and discourse have changed over the last decade, so too have the ways we discuss important topics. Shifting ideological exchanges into debates that require winners and losers has undeniably affected basic civility. The Way We Speak, premiering at the Florida Film Festival, places its protagonist in this camp. At the same time, he…
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While Paul Schrader wrote many great movies about abandoned men looking for a purpose, he has edged into self-parody. His latest pseudo-trilogy pushes audiences to develop empathy for troubled men. However, even a war criminal and an eco-terrorist priest have nothing on the Joel Edgerton-led Master Gardener. Schrader’s latest film lays on heavy commentary about…
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In 1967, The Dirty Dozen rocked movie theaters as a pure action spectacle. The story of twelve men conducting a covert exercise likely to end in death scored across all audiences. It grossed over ten times its budget and ushered several iconic action stars into the mainstream. In many ways, Sisu is the perfect spiritual…
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After a breakup, we often need a moment of reinvention. However, getting transported to a mythical world is not usually in the cards. Unicorn Boy, a new animated feature from Matt Kiel, pushes its protagonist into chasing a new life. Using themselves as a model for its protagonist, Kiel pushes the visual envelope while maintaining…
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As a comedian, Ray Romano already conquered the world. Everybody Loves Raymond earned its place as one of the comedies of its era. His standup earned him acclaim and regular appearances on The Late Show. Now, he’s stepped into the director’s chair to open a new chapter. His directorial debut Somewhere in Queens plays on…
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With fun puns and punishing action, roller derby has maintained a place in the world of women’s sports. Unfortunately, the amateur and semi-professional teams rarely get the funds to run without sponsorship. In most cases, the leagues require players who pour passion into their performances. Minnesota Mean follows one of those teams. Featuring interviews while…
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Emotional trauma has become the backbone of visual storytelling in recent years. Explorations of characters struggling with the fallout of horror have popped in every medium, from short films to long-form television. On the one hand, this has resulted in increased attention to mental health. However, sometimes the tropes become a dangerous subject matter to…
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Traveling to the National Parks in 2020 became a highlight of my time in lockdown. Trips to Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Zion, and the Grand Canyon will stay with me forever. For the centennial celebration of the Parks Service in 2016, Director Brendan Hall traversed nearly 10,000 miles of the American landscape. With his childhood…
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Every family struggles when parents and children do not see eye to eye. Yet, for immigrant families, seeing eye to eye tends to lead to intercultural misunderstandings. As a result, many children of immigrant parents attempt to assimilate to “be normal,” unaware that their cultural upbringing will be far more important in the long term.…
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As the story of modern rock music continues to evolve, a strong spotlight has been placed on those in the shadows. Documentaries like 20 Feet From Stardom and Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis have highlighted these contributions. Immediate Family looks to do the same. Putting session musicians into the spotlight is not a…
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Explicitly sexual documentaries often find themselves pushed out of the mainstream. Yet a short like Really Good Friends opens the door for honest discussions. In Florida, sexuality among older populations remains taboo. Yet these relationships continue to occur. Really Good Friends does not need to be expanded into a feature to be powerful. In a…
What do you think of the 2024 Florida Film Festival? Check out more information here!
Remember to continue to check back here to see new reviews! Some titles are embargoed until they are released in theaters, so this page may see updates later in 2024. With a great lineup, there will be many sleeper hits to get back to as well. Even if the Florida Film Festival ends on April 21, expect us to bring it up time and time again. It’s already proven to be one of the most enjoyable film festivals in the state, and this year’s lineup is something special.