By Jim Carchidi
April 6, 2026
Maitland’s Enzian Theater will present a week of screenings, special events, and two renowned celebrity guests for the 35th year of the Florida Film Festival, April 10-19.
The typical schedule features narrative and documentary features, short films, animation, and panel discussions. In previous years, actors including Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Walken, and Steve Buscemi attended screenings and participated in audience Q&As. This year’s featured guests will be Judge Reinhold and Paul Giamatti.
Note: Marisa Tomei, previously scheduled for this year, issued a statement that she will not be able to attand.
Movie in the park
The festival will unofficially begin on April 9 with a free screening of Stephen Spielberg’s “Hook” in Winter Park’s Central Park at 8 p.m.
Opening night
The official start is Friday, April 10, and features three screenings of Adam Carter Rehmeier’s film, “Carolina Caroline.” The first will be at Enzian, starting at 6:15 p.m. Two 7:30 p.m. screenings will be at participating festival venue, Regal Winter Park Village.
The Opening Night Party will be hosted by Winter Park Events Center and runs 8 p.m.-midnight with food & beverage sponsors Eden Bar, Pizza Bruno, Jeremiah's Italian Ice, Chuan Fu, Jam Hot Chicken, Zymarium Meadery, and Diageo.
Opening Night Party tickets are $75, but a $100 ticket will cover the party plus a “Carolina Caroline” screening at Regal. A party ticket plus a screening at Enzian is $125.
Celebrity schedule
On Sunday, April 12, Enzian will host an 8 p.m. screening of “Sideways” followed by an audience Q&A with the film's star, Paul Giamatti. A ticketed meet-and-greet will follow the Q&A. A similar evening with Judge Reinhold will be at Enzian on Friday, April 17, starting with a 7:30 p.m. screening of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
Additional highlights
Members of the Orlando Film Commission will discuss film incentives and their importance to the creative economy. The panel, Central Florida on Film: Unlocking the Orange County Tax Incentive, will be presented at Enzian on Thursday, April 16, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Independent filmmakers will participate in the 2026 Filmmaker Forum at Enzian on Friday, April 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Anecdotes and inspirations will be shared in a discussion moderated by festival programming coordinator, Tim Anderson.
A collection of Florida-centric short films and documentaries will be screened at two events on Saturday, April 18, at Regal Winter Park Village. Eight short films will be presented during "Sunshine & Swampland: New Florida Shorts," running from noon-2 p.m. Six documentary shorts will be featured in "Sunshine in Doc-land: New Florida Documentary Shorts," from 2:30-4:15 p.m.
Enzian’s Eden Bar will present Sunday brunches and local craft beer tastings during the festival, and will host the Awards Celebration on Saturday, April 18, at 8 p.m. And the 75th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train” will be celebrated at a special closing night screening, happening Sunday, April 19, at 9 p.m. at Enzian.
For more information and ticket purchases for all screenings and events, visit FloridaFilmFestival.com.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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