75+ Incredible Films at Key West Film Fest Nov. 13-17

Are you ready for a fantastic cinematic experience? Film buffs can dive into more than 75 incredible screenings at the 13th Annual Key West Film Festival, running from Wednesday to Sunday, Nov. 13-17! Many films feature Florida ties and themes—how exciting is that? Join us for a special treat: a complimentary 50th-anniversary screening of Roman Polanski’s classic “Chinatown,” presented by the Florida Keys & Key West Film Commission. Plus, don’t miss the chance to hear from Kimberly Peirce, known for her amazing costume design in “Boys Don’t Cry,” as she chats with Rolling Stone film critic David Fear. See you there!

Photo byVisit Films

Exciting news for film lovers—opening Wednesday night is “The Fire Inside,” an inspiring movie about the amazing two-time Olympic women’s boxing gold medalist, Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, and her fight for female athletes. Intrigued yet? There's more! This year’s Golden Key Award for Emerging Talent is going to the talented Delaney Buffett, a fantastic Florida writer and director.

She's the daughter of the late, great singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and is being recognized for her standout role and direction in “Adult Best Friends,” a Spotlight film. How cool is that? You might have caught her earlier work, “The Spring,” which snagged Best Documentary at the 2017 Toronto International Short Film Festival. Don’t miss out on these inspiring stories!

Dive into a fabulous selection of films and shorts curated from 1,500 submissions! From “The Salt Cured Life,” where Key West chef and rum entrepreneur Paul Menta shows how saltwater can bring balance to life, to amazing Florida Focus films. Don't miss “Mario Sanchez: Over the Beautiful Florida Keys,” capturing the legacy of the late wood-carving artist by Roberto Otera Morfa, and “Naked Ambition: Bunny Yeager” by the talented Miami-based Emmy-nominated Kareen Tabsch. These stories are waiting for you to discover!

Are you ready for an exciting cinema weekend? "The Room Next Door," featuring the amazing Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, is set to screen this Saturday! Directed by the talented Pedro Almodovar, this is his first English-language film, and it's sure to be a treat for movie lovers. The story revolves around a best-selling author who rekindles a friendship with a war journalist—how intriguing is that?

You can enjoy this cinematic experience at several venues: Williams Hall on 729 Fleming St., The Perry Hotel & Marina at 7001 Shrimp Road on Stock Island, and Regal Key West at 3338 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Don't miss out! Grab your tickets and immerse yourself in this captivating story.

Have you heard about the Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design? It's honoring the amazing Danny Glicker, an Academy Award-nominated designer! And guess what? He'll be joining a chat about his incredible work, led by Stephanie Zacharek from Time magazine. "Danny Glicker might just be the most incredible contemporary costume designer out there. He's brought legends like Harvey Milk, Brian Wilson, and Jack Kerouac to life on the big screen," says Michael Tuckman, our festival's program director. Isn't that fascinating? Don't miss out on this fantastic conversation!

Documentary highlights include “Men of War” by Miami-based filmmaker Billy Corbin about an international conspiracy. This year’s LGBTQ films - programmed with the assistance of Eugene Hernandez, executive director of the Sundance Film Festival - include “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story,” chronicling the life of singer-actress Liza Minnelli.

Sunday’s closing night is to feature an outdoor Florida premiere of “Rebel Country,” starring country music’s Jelly Roll, Sam Williams, Breland and Blanco Brown.

Information on all-access passes - priced from $399 for a VIP Premium Pass with priority seating, unlimited film screenings and invitations to special events - can be found at keywestff.com. Event information, film schedule and ticketing: keywestff.com