The Sarasota Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 28th annual film festival, which will be held April 10-19.
The festival, consisting of 47 feature films and 39 short films, will open with a screening of “Deep Water” on April 10th at New College’s Cyner Courtyard in Sarasota, Florida. Director Renny Harlin and producer Gene Simmons will be invited to the event, which will be followed by an opening night party at New College Bayfront. The festival closes on April 18 with Julian Schnabel’s In The Hand of Dante, starring Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese. At the screening, Schnabel will be presented with the Director’s Achievement Award.
This year’s spotlight presentations include “Carolina Caroline,” starring Samara Weaving; “I Want Your Sex” by Greg Araki. “Late Fame” starring Willem Dafoe. “Maddy’s Secret” by John Early. ‘Mala’ by Thrissur Tejasvi. “On the End” by Ari Selinger. “Everywhere Man: The Life and Times of Peter Asher”; “Steal This Story!” and Rory Kennedy’s “The Trial of Alec Baldwin”.
Special events and screenings include: The “SFF Sports Program” will feature a Business of Sports panel with industry experts. “Ski Dawgs” is a quirky short comedy. “Victory” starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Pele.
“Each year, the Sarasota Film Festival celebrates the transformative power of storytelling and the strength of our creative community,” said Sarasota Film Festival President Mark Familio. “The 2026 Festival will bring together visionary artists, timely conversations, and meaningful community events that reflect Sarasota’s cultural energy. We are proud to continue to present a festival that celebrates bold filmmaking while creating unforgettable experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike.”
For more information about screenings, visit sarasotafilmfestival.com.
