Filmed in Broward Film Festival: A Reel Celebration of Cinema

The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and Broward 100 are joining forces to promote the movies that were filmed and produced in Broward County with a special week-long festival called the Filmed in Broward Film Festival. The festival begins on July 9 and will run through July 16. All films will be screened at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale, and all films are free of charge to see.

Take a look at Broward County history as showcased in film from the 1920s through today via screenings of some of your favorite movies at Cinema Paradiso. The week begins with a screening of the 2008 film Bart Got a Room, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. Director Brian Hecker will be on hand to discuss the film and its success before it starts. Afterwards, the 1991 film Cape Fear will be screened at 9 p.m. Elizabeth Wentworth will be in attendance and will answer questions after the film.

On Friday, July 10, the festival will screen the films Rock of Ages, There’s Something About Mary, and Body Heat back to back beginning at 5 p.m. On Saturday, July 11, there will be an entire day of movies screened at Cinema Paradiso, starting with the 1920 D.W. Griffith film The Idol Dancer. Starring Richard Barthelmess and Clarine Seymour, the film was set in the South Seas, but exterior scenes were taped in Fort Lauderdale and Nassau in The Bahamas. That film will begin at 10 a.m. In the afternoon, a triple-feature will be screened: Flight of the Navigator, The Birdcage, and Hoot. The director of Hoot, Wil Shriner, will be available to answer questions after the film. Also after the film, there will be a hot dog and hamburger cookout at 5:30 p.m. which is free to attend. The classic Where the Boys Are will start at 6 p.m., followed by the films Striptease and The Naked Zoo.

Sunday’s films begin at 1 p.m. with the feature Wrestling Ernest Hemingway. That film will be followed by Harry & Son, Analyze This, and Marley & Me. A double-feature on Monday begins at 6 p.m. with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, followed by True Lies. Tuesday’s films also start at 6 p.m.; Married to the Mob and Out of Sight will be shown. Wednesday begins with “Flashback: Broward,” a video about Broward County’s history in the movie business, featuring fun facts about all the films that have shot on-location here over the past century and vintage newsreels relating to South Florida’s history, beginning at 5:15 p.m. The films Donnie Brasco and Presumed Innocent follow. Thursday is the final day of the festival and begins with Finding Joy at 5:30 p.m., followed by the classic Caddyshack at 7:15. The closing night party begins at 9 p.m.

Sponsors of the Filmed in Broward Film Festival include Comcast, Visit Florida, Riverside Hotel, Community Foundation of Broward, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Funding Arts in Broward, St. Johns Cultural Council, Visit The Bahamas, St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, Barefoot Wine, Whole Foods, Sun Dream Yacht Charters, Culture Builds Florida, WLRN Public Media, Hollywood Commerce Development Agency, WPBT-TV, AAA Fire Protection, Air France, Blue Angel Vodka, and Langone.

For more information on Broward 100, a community-wide celebration that began in October 2014, commemorating Broward County’s centennial, visit broward100.org.