Dunedin To Host International Film Festival This Weekend

DUNEDIN, FL -- Although Dunedin has no movie theater, it will be the focus of film making in Florida this weekend as the city hosts the Dunedin International Film Festival.

Five Dunedin businesses and Dunedin City Hall will be transformed into screening rooms showing more than 300 short films during the festival from Jan. 11-13. Additionally, the History Museum Box Office will be open each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival will open with a discussion of the film industry in Florida at Dunedin City Hall Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.

The discussion will be followed by a Welcome Film Makes Party at Caledonia Brewing Co. from 7 to 9 p.m. with music by the Scottish band, Skerryvore.

Then, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., film lovers are invited to the official opening night after-party at Soggy Bottom Brewery featuring Ukrainian musician Vlad the Inhaler, Booty Boo and Austen van der Bleek.

There will also be an opening night screening of "Virgin Blacktop" at Soggy Bottom Brewery followed by a Q&A with the director.

The festival continues Saturday with a film makers breakfast at the Sandpiper Cafe from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. followed by a visit to Caledesi Island at 9:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m., screenings will begin at Caledonia Brewery and Don's Lumber Warehouse.

Sea Sea Riders will host a Wine Under the Oaks reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at Dunedin's Love Tree, giving film makers a chance to sip wine and talk cinema.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a "Walking Dead" discussion panel with the AMC series' director of photography, Stephen F. Campbell, at Soggy Bottom Brewery.

A History of Fashion live runway show with Lina Teixeira will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the poolside courtyard at the Fenway Hotel for the wearable art short film category.

A Saturday after-party featuring Chicago electronic musician Roy Davis Jr. is planned at Blur Nightclub from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Click here to purchase a $10 ticket.

The final day of screenings will get underway at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Film makers are invited to a Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by the Sea Sea Riders from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

At 11 a.m., Blur Nightclub will host a Women in Film and Television Panel and, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., there will be a discussion on A Kodak Moment: Talking Celluloid with Kodak, Pavavision and Mr. Stephen Campbell.

A discussion on kids animation and kids creating shorts is planned for 1:30 p.m. at the Dunedin Public Library.

At 2 p.m.. there will be a screening of Sylvia Earl's "Mission Blue" at the Fenway Hotel.

And the festival will wrap up from 5:30 to 9 p.m. with a Red Carpet and Closing Night Gala at the Fenway. Tickets sold separately. Ten awards will be presented and performances will include Jon Ditty, Trout in Paris, Katie Ducharme, Dylan Curry, Ashlyn Frahn, James Clements, Wendy Barmore, Stephany Levi, Lorelle Queenie, Bingo the Musical featuring Kirsten Stiff-Walker and a surprise performer.

Image via DIIF

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