The 2025 Sarasota Film Festival kicks off on Friday, April 4. Ringling College of Art and Design Film students will have two screening events of student films at the Morganroth Auditorium: student thesis shorts on Saturday, April 5, at 3 pm and a series of short documentaries on local environmental organizations on Sunday, April 6, at noon. Both screenings are free. You can reserve your free tickets on the Sarasota Film Festival schedule.
The Saturday viewing will feature five short thesis films from 2024 Film grads: Curtain Call, Culture War, Walk of Generations, Swan Song, and Best Kept Shut. Read more about the films:
Curtain Call, 2024
18 min. Directed and written by Wilderley Mauricette ’24, produced by Zachary Rodriguez ’24, and starring Jared Wofford, Tony J Scott, and Donavan Cornelius.
Jared Wofford (StartUP, Swagger, David Makes Man) and Tony J. Scott (Manhunt. The Equalizer) star in this American crime drama following Rashon, a young, intelligent drug dealer secretly pursuing his passion for theater. As he juggles managing a team of dealers under his powerful mentor, Kane (Jared Wofford), and leading a play at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, his double life begins to unravel. With opening night approaching, Rashon’s dedication to theatre causes him to miss critical drug meetings, drawing Kane’s suspicion. Confronted and warned by Kane, Rashon is torn between his two worlds. Ultimately, he chooses the stage over a crucial drug deal, leading to chaos in his criminal operations and an unexpected, transformative confrontation with Kane.
This film will also screen on Sunday, April 6, at 11 am at New College of Florida’s Sainer Pavilion as part of a series of Florida Narrative Shorts.
Poster designed by Sandra Lee ’24, Graphic Design.
Culture War, 2024
27 min. Directed and written by Celi Mitidieri ’24, produced by Celi Mitidieri and Milena Montero ’24, and executive produced by Patrick Alexander, Vivian Owen, Carmela French, and Susan Palmer. Starring Libby Harrity, Gaby Batista, and Kyla Baldonado. Cinematography by Alejandra Cintron Rivera ’24, edited by Matthew Peterson ’24, and production design by Carly Jones ’24. Sound design by Nicholas Horne 1’24 and composition by Katya Richardson ’24.
A small Liberal Arts College in Sarasota, Florida, finds itself in a culture war against the government for the basic right of educational freedom. Now, the community must learn how to find resistance amid a reality they didn’t sign up for.
This film will also screen on Friday, April 11, at 2:30 pm at New College of Florida’s Sainer Pavilion, as part of a collection of Florida Documentary Shorts.
Walk of Generations, 2024
2 min. Directed and written by Delaney Mann ’24, produced by Milena Montero ’24, and starring Jamie Saunders, Tommy Bolanos, Morgan Elgarten, and Null Chirpich.
A young artist at a thrift store discovers a magical pair of Dr. Martens that connect her to the boots’ previous owners.
This film will also screen on Sunday, April 6, at 11 am at New College of Florida’s Sainer Pavilion as part of a series of Florida Narrative Shorts.
Swan Song, 2024
17 min. Directed and written by Matthew Peterson ’24, produced by Nicholas Horne ’24 and Matthew Peterson, cinematography by Beau Agrawal ’24, and edited by Delaney Mann ’24. Starring Noel Olken, Joanna Walchuk, Veronica Bernier, Tommy Bolanos, and Muna Nweke.
Andrew, a film student, must connect with his unresponsive father, Tom, who has Alzheimer’s. When every attempt to relate to him fails, Andrew turns to filmmaking, the only medium Tom responds to.
Best Kept Shut, 2024
12 min. Directed and written by Gabriel Lopez ’24, produced by Milena Montero ’24, and starring Mandy Mills, Jordan Woods-Robinson, and Jim Edwards.
A young woman discovers a hidden, locked door in the house where her father has gone missing.
A second screening of Ringling College films will take place on Sunday, April 6 at noon. The films were all made as part of an Index initiative featuring Florida groups and organizations. Each of the six student-made short documentary films highlights the important work of local environmental nonprofits. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.
FEATURED DOCUMENTARIES:
• Mote Marine Laboratory
• Longboat Key Turtle Patrol
• Save Our Seabirds
• Oyster River Ecology
• Suncoast Waterkeepers
• Suncoast Urban ReForesters (SURF)
Computer Animation
Two animated shorts by Ringling College Computer Animation grads will screen on Friday, April 5, at 5 pm in the Morganroth Auditorium as part of a screening of Animated Shorts.
Hotel L’infini, 2024
3 min. Directed and written by May (Hsi-Chen) Lee ’24 and Lindsay Browne ’24
Jacque, a diligent bellboy of the extravagant Hotel L’infini, is caught red-handed for possible murder by a brooding detective who chases him through the hotel.
The Mooning, 2024
3 min. Directed and written by Mason Klesch ’24 and Vivian Osness ’24, with voices by Jack Broadbent, Bethan Dixon, Carol Sparrow, and Brandon Jenkins.
An animated mocumentary that reveals the truth behind the 1969 moon landing.
Get tickets and read more about the films on the Sarasota Film Festival website. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest Ringling College news in your inbox.
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