The Fort Myers Film Festival just wrapped up with a grand awards ceremony and the Best of the Fest are coming to Babcock Ranch!

Many often ask, “Where can we see the official film selections from this year?” and the answer is usually, “You cannot,” as they are not yet in distribution. However this year, the best of fest will be made available at a special screening June 14 and 15 here at Babcock Ranch.

Screenings will start Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the Field House located at 433001 Cypress Parkway, Babcock Ranch, FL 33982 with Blown Away: Spirit of Recovery featuring Syd Kitson and Babcock Ranch. The other films will screen on Saturday, June 15, starting at 1 p.m. and going through the evening.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 14, and at noon on Saturday, June 15. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

This is a FREE event, but advance registration is required. You can register for Friday, Saturday or both days. Don’t miss out on this fun, one-of-a-kind experience.

ABOUT THE MOVIES

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

7:00 P.M.

Blown Away: Spirit of Recovery

By John Biffar

Best Documentary

SWFL’s longstanding Emmy Award-winning filmmaker John Biffar’s latest feature documentary, “Spirit of Recovery,” will have its world premiere at the Fort Myers Film Festival. The film follows SWFL artists, businessmen, leaders, musicians, as well as well-known stars, in a story of courage and caring that memorializes the indomitable spirit as SWFL recovered together.

Starring Greg Biochini, Maria Pia Malerba, Tiite Baquero, Erik Lindbergh, Lester Holt, Syd Kitson, Mayor Kevin Anderson, Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Eric Raddatz, Kerry Sanders, and Al Kinkle with organizations Harry Chapin Food Bank, Kimmie’s Recovery Zone, Big Arts, Florida Rights of Nature Network, and more.

60m; Documentary; Local; US

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

1:00 P.M.

Hellbent on Boogie

By Vito Trupiano, K.C. SChulberg

Best Feature; Best Actress (Alyx Ruibal)

Alan returns to his small Floridian hometown to find his sister Quinn all grown up. But when he discovers that their overbearing mother is sheltering Quinn because of her autism, he hatches a plan for them to run away together so that Quinn can pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

Starring Shiloh Fernandez, Emily Tremaine Fernandez, Ryan Ramirez and John Farley.

1h30m; Feature; Local; Florida Film; US

2:45 P.M.

Women of the Watershed

By Scott Michael Barnett

Best Environmental Film

A young woman journeys to the source of the Everglades headwaters to better understand the historic challenges of water management and pollution that now threaten this fragile ecosystem. Along the way, she will meet a new generation of advocates who are redefining the balance of women in conservation.

Starring Chloe Barnett

60m; Documentary; US

4:00 P.M. SHORTS

The Crossing: Through Blue

By Logan Graham, Zachary Solomon

Best Florida Local

Experience The Crossing: Through Blue & immerse yourself in a long-distance endurance paddle challenge from Bimini, Bahamas to Lake Worth Beach, Florida. We’ll be revisiting the events that unfolded at this year’s Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, an 80-mile paddleboard race with a purpose, through the lens of Blake Carmichael; Team BLU3.

Starring Piper Suit, Travis Suit, Tatiana Tims, Aiyana Sugerman, Casey McCullough, Alex Schulze, Blake Carmichael, Robert Carmichael, Doug Brandon, David Golubev

36m; Documentary; US

Bird Drone

By Radheya Jang Jegatheva

Best Short

A heartfelt story of unrequited love explored through a lonely seagull struggling to accept that his newfound object of affection is a human-operated drone with limited battery life.

9m; Animation, Short, Drama, Romance; Australia

Laundry Man

By Laura A. Garcia

Best Short Short

A woman’s worst fears are awakened when her pile of laundry comes alive.

Starring Galya Vidal, Mike Stone

5m; Short, Horror, Comedy; US

The Summer at Driftwood

By Sydney Carlson

Best Student

When a reserved girl with a traumatic home life is paired up at summer camp with an outgoing girl who sees the best of life, they decide to use their summer bucket list as an escape from the harsh trials of reality. However, summer doesn’t last forever, and the girls must face the unknowns of their futures.

Starring Caroline Rose, Alison Diaz, Jaya Wilson

9m; Short, Student, Drama, Coming of Age; US

Slow Dating

By Adam Szudrich

When an elderly lady tries speed dating it leads to a night with a charming stranger and a heartbreaking revelation.

Starring Julie Collis, Peter O’Brien

7m; Short; Australia

5:30 P.M.

Eternal You

By Hans Block, Moritz Riesewick

Best Innovation

Startups use AI to create avatars that allow them to talk with their loved ones after death. Exploration of deep human desire for immortality, questioning consequences of commodifying this age-old dream.

1hr17m; Documentary; US; Korea

7:00 P.M.

The Martini Shot

By Stephen Wallis

Best Actor (Matthew Modine); Best Director (Stephen Wallis)

This existential drama follows an ailing movie director as he begins to shoot what he believes to be his final work of art. What starts out as a normal movie, ends up being an exploration of mortality and one’s profound effect on the world.

Starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese, Derek Jacobi, Stuart Townsend, Fiona Glascott

1hr40m; Comedy, Drama, Existential, Romantic, Feature; Canada