Florida Film Festival: pick the shorts programs and stay for the talk-backs

When it runs and where

The Florida Film Festival is usually held in April and runs for about ten days. It's centered on Enzian, a nonprofit cinema in Maitland, just north of Winter Park. Enzian is a single-screen theater where you sit at tables and order food and drinks during the film. Some screenings use other nearby venues to fit the crowds.

The program mixes independent features, documentaries, international films and several shorts programs. The shorts competition draws filmmakers from around the world, and many of them attend.

Tickets and passes

You can buy single tickets for most screenings, or a pass if you plan to go often. Passes range from basic film packages to all-access options that include parties. If you plan to see four or fewer films, single tickets are usually the better deal.

Popular screenings sell out, especially on weekends and opening night. Buy online as soon as the schedule comes out, usually a few weeks before the festival. Some sold-out shows hold a standby line; arriving early gives you a fair shot.

How to plan a festival day

1. Read the schedule and mark the shorts programs first. Each one bundles several films around a theme, so one ticket covers a lot of ground.
2. Add one feature or documentary that sounds like nothing you'd find at a mall multiplex.
3. Book screenings with at least an hour between them, so a Q&A running long doesn't make you miss the next film.
4. Eat between shows at the outdoor bar on the grounds, or drive five minutes to Park Avenue.
5. Stay for the talk-backs. Hearing a director explain a choice often changes how you see the film.

What to expect inside

Enzian works differently from a regular cinema. You sit at small tables or in rows with a ledge, and servers take food and drink orders before the film starts. Order early so you're not distracted once the lights go down. Payment is usually handled near the end, so keep your card handy. The menu runs from snacks and flatbreads to full meals, with beer, wine and cocktails.

Seating is usually first come, first served within each ticket type. Lines form outside before the doors open, especially for popular screenings. Arriving 30 to 45 minutes early is normal during the festival.

Many screenings include a short introduction and a talk-back afterward with the director, the cast or the producers. These can be the best part of the night. They're relaxed, the questions are often sharp, and you get a sense of how small films get made. The festival also usually hosts parties and special events. Those need a pass or a separate ticket, and they're worth it only if you plan to go all in.

Food and things nearby

Enzian's outdoor bar sits under big oak trees and is a pleasant place to wait in spring weather. It gets crowded between screenings, so order early. For a sit-down meal, Winter Park's main shopping street is a short drive south; our Park Avenue food guide has options at every price.

If you have a free morning, the Maitland Art Center and the lakes in Maitland are close. Winter Park's scenic boat tour is another easy add before an afternoon screening.

Mistakes to avoid

• Arriving right at showtime. Seating is first come, and ordering food takes a few minutes.
• Booking three films back to back. Long talk-backs and full parking lots make tight connections risky.
• Ignoring the shorts. They're often the festival's strongest programs, and a great way to see what's new.
• Driving in at rush hour. Traffic on Interstate 4 and Orlando Avenue slows to a crawl in late afternoon. Leave extra time.
• Skipping weekday matinees. Daytime screenings on weekdays are often the easiest to get into, and the crowd is relaxed.

April is one of Orlando's nicest months for being outdoors, so pair the festival with a day at a spring or garden. Our Orlando in April guide covers the rest.