Fort Lauderdale Fest Unearths Screen Gems.

Like snowbirds, international filmmakers are flocking to Florida as the 14th annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival runs from October 20 to November 14. For 26 days, films will be screened from Hollywood, Fla., to Boca Raton, in what is billed as the world's longest film festival.

Participants include everyone from independent filmmakers and entertainment executives to movie stars and the ever-present press, in addition to the general public. Last year, approximately 65,000 people screened more than 120 films from 35 countries. Gregory von Hausch, the executive director of the fest, predicts a 5 percent growth in participation this year.

Star sightings this year will include actors Lukas Haas and Tim Roth and director Norman Jewison. Roth, who has appeared in such popular independent fare as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Four Rooms, will be presenting his directorial debut The War Zone on the festival's closing night. Haas and Jewison will be recognized with the "Star on the Horizon" and the "Robert Wise Director of Distinction" awards respectively.

Many film gems have either premiered at this sun-drenched film fest, or have been recognized as good fare before going on to greater glory. Life Is Beautiful, which was named Best Foreign Film and whose star, Roberto Benigni, took home the award for Best Actor at this year's Oscar ceremony, was first recognized in the film festival circuit. Benigni's movie secured the Silver Wave (best picture) at Fort Lauderdale and the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Past Silver Wave winners include Roger & Me (1990), The Red Squirrel (1993) and Shine (1995).

The primary focus for most film festivals is not to attract potential blockbusters, however. Although von Hausch acknowledged that all event organizers market their affairs as places for studios to champion their films and do some niche marketing, he countered, "Above and beyond that, we see our role more as an opportunitymaker for the filmmaker." During last year's festivities, 17 films had their world premieres and 43 films were presented by first-time directors. "We give people a lot of chances," continued von Hausch. "They introduce their film and get some really great feedback."

Festivals also afford participants the opportunity to take a peek into the future. Kodak is presenting an educational seminar called "Digital Video and New Technologies in the Film Industry." Hosted by Steve Montal, director of the Chapman Producers Program, the session will outline one of the most rapidly growing trends in the entertainment industry -- the impact of new technologies on motion picture and television production and distribution. Topics proposed include the economic and creative impact of utilizing digital video for film productions and the latest developments in HDTV, DVD and the Internet. Similarly, Video Age is organizing a panel titled "Film and TV Distribution in Latin America" (see sidebar on this page).

Fort Lauderdale is becoming increasingly attractive to filmmakers -- studio execs and independents alike -- and not for the annual festivities located there. "We're a great mecca for Hollywood to come and shoot films as a location," reported von Hausch, "but we're really leaning towards promoting [Fort Lauderdale] as an independent film location." Coinciding with the film festival this year, New Gravity Studios will open a 250,000 square foot studio, complete with sound stages, a water stage and film support services.

Von Hausch gives one final reason for the festival's popularity: easy accessibility to parties. He explained: "When you do other festivals, sometimes you have to beg, borrow, steal and hire a private investigator to find out where the parties are. Getting into them is another feat. [Here], everybody's invited to just about everything we do."