Sunday, November 5-----Film festival revelers who partied late into the evening following the evening screening of the enthusiastically received romantic comedy GRAY MATTERS last evening, had to rouse themselves with double cappuccinos this morning in order to make the scene early this morning at the Chairman’s Brunch and Cruise. The cruiseship Caprice, docked next to the Festival’s official hotel, Gallery One Doubletree Suites, was waiting to receive visiting filmmakers, special guests and members of the Festival’s prestigious Board of Directors for a memorable cruise along Fort Lauderdale’s famous canals.

By this afternoon, festivalgoers have another round of strong films to sample. Supporting the continued vitality of African American cinema, the Festival will present 3 free film screenings at the African American Library. At 1pm, the Fesival presents the short film SOLUS AND THE TESTED, immediately followed by the rousing documentary THE HIP HOP PROJECT. The latter film, which chronicles a young rapper’s mission to involve high schoolers in creating a hip hop record as a means of self expression, has won numerous awards on the festival circuit and has just been picked up for international distribution by Think Film.

At 3:20pm, also at the African American Library, there is a rare screening of WATTSAX, the 1973 concert film about the 1972 Watts Summer Festival held at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The concert was headlined by Isaac Hayes and includes dynamic performances by some of the important soul and r+b artists of the period. The film screens as part of a tribute to producer/director Mel Stuart, who will be honored next weekend for his lifetime achievement in the motion picture industry.

One of the Festival’s few World Premieres will be screened today at 3:00pm at the Parker Playhouse. MRS. WORTHINGTON’S PARTY is the evocative drama by quadruple -threat writer/director/producer/lead actor David Wall. The prolific Wall stars as a Catholic priest who comes to Cape Cod before Christmas to shut down a dying parish. However, things take an unexpected turn and he becomes engaged with the eccentric and loveable characters in the small coastal village, particularly a beautiful and lonely librarian. David Wall, whose earlier film JOE AND JOE, was a hit at the Sundance and Fort Lauderdale Film Festivals, will attend the screening with his wife and co-star Kerry Wall and another cast member, Sean Patrick Brennan.

A unique film making its North American premiere this afternoon is the Filipino drama DONSOL. The film is directed by Adolpho Alix Jr, whose earlier film BEAUTIFUL LIFE was widely seen on the film festival circuit. In this beautifully shot film, a young guide who swims with whale sharks, finds himself drawn to a mysterious woman, and an intense and spiritual love affair develops between the two. DONSOL features amazing cinematography by Eli Balce, including several underwater scenes that capture the beauty and serenity of sea life. The director and cast member Angel Aquino will attend the screening at 5:00pm at the Parker Playhouse.

Sandy Mandelberger
Online Festival Dailies Editor