Movie magic in the keys

The island’s annual film celebration returns with a packed program of premieres, exclusive events and expert panels.

The 13th Annual Key West Film Festival (KWFF) features curated dramas, documentaries, LGBTQ+-focused films and submissions from emerging artists for visitors and locals.

Program director Michael Tuckman says organizing the largely volunteer-driven event is a monumental task that he loves. He hopes to encourage new people to join in, as well as committed returnees and film lovers.

“We had so many incredible moments last year,” Tuckman said. He mentions some highlights, including a question-and-answer session with Susie Wheldon after the screening of the documentary “The Lionheart,” about her husband Dan Wheldon, the former British racing driver and IndyCar winner.

And he couldn’t forget last summer’s blockbuster “Barbie” in all its pink glory and an interview with the film’s costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, who gave Key West festival-goers incredible insight into the design process.

Tuckman says his favorite part of the festival is seeing all the film audiences appreciate the different filmmakers and talents that come to the island, like Germain Arroyo, the star of “Clocked,” a story about the identity and acceptance of turns, hugging a young transboxer in Miami.

This year, Tuckman is excited to continue other longstanding annual events, such as the Critics Panel, which brings together top critics from The Hollywood Reporter, Time Magazine and Rolling Stone.

The 9th Annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design, previously awarded to Durran, goes this year to Danny Glicker, whose recent work includes “Saturday Night,” a comedy-drama that marks the debut of the long-running live sketch artist show represents. Saturday Night Live.”

The process of selecting a costume honoree dates back to 2015, when the festival partnered with Deborah Nadoolman

Landis, a former governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is expected to help them make the decision. She and Tuckman are now working together to select some of the films and designers that deserve recognition.

“She was so excited about how wonderful a person and designer Danny Glicker is and how he captured the energy of SNL in 1975,” Tuckman explains. “We can’t wait to talk more about his work on Saturday Night.”

The festival will also welcome back one of its “matron saints”: Kimberly Peirce, the filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning film “Boys Don’t Cry.” A few years ago, Peirce came to the festival to present an 80th anniversary screening of “Casablanca.” As Tuckman recalled, Peirce and critic David Fear were talking about films they love and came up with the idea of ​​celebrating “Chinatown.” That’s why this year, on the 50th anniversary of its release, the two will have a conversation about the classic.

“[It’s] “It’s just cool to know that an idea that was conceived over drinks – who knows how many – at the festival was realized at this year’s festival,” says Tuckman.

While securing the event’s screenings – particularly the better-known titles – is a year-long process, the festival team strives to produce films that resonate with Key West audiences. From Tuckman’s perspective, that’s what elevates the festival in a studio’s eyes – that audiences, with the help of the critics they recruit, gain an even greater appreciation for the film.

This season the KWFF is screening Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film “The Room Next Door” starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Tuckman believes the festival’s ability to pair the film with a conversation between two of the country’s biggest critics, Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter and Stephanie Zacharek of Time, is another unique event the festival makes possible.

The Key West Film Festival takes place in November. 13-17. For more information, see KeyWestFF. com. ¦