The Fort Myers Film Festival is an intelligent independent filmmaker’s preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. The Fort Myers Film Festival is known for world-class swagger and support of local filmmakers. The festival event offers ‘the most vibrant intellectual and edgy crowd to grace Lee County in decades.’ The event has featured hundreds of local filmmakers and is a must attend for cineasts who love indie film and film festivals living in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Fort Myers has a film festival, so come out for the excitement!

The official films selected for the 2020 Fort Myers Film Festival have been curated from all over the world and include movies in the categories Features, Documentaries, Shorts, Short Shorts, Strictly Local, Student and Environment. Virtual screenings of the festival will be made online from October 21-25 at our YouTube channel here. A variety of ZOOM Q&A’s and panels we be available during the festival’s duration.

The Fort Myers Film Festival’s 10th annual festival will be held in the sunny, beautiful SW Florida region at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center Wednesday, October 22-25, 2020 with other venues, restaurants and private parties to be announced.

October 21st

Red Carpet Opening Night, Click here to learn more.

October 22-25

Programming at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center has been announced. Browse the 69 films screening this year with time blocks here. Tickets will be made available later this month.  All films and short film blocks are $10 the rest of the festival. Participants and attendees safety will be prioritized with organizers implementing reduced capacity with spaced seating, extra sanitization measures, strongly encouraging the use of masks and social distancing.

October 25

Finish off the weeklong celebration with a special filmmaker Q&A and awards ceremony. The Q&A will be offered free in person and online. Links to screen virtually will be made available closer to event. Join all of the local and international filmmakers as we celebrate the winners of the Fort Myers Film Festival. Champagne and dessert will be shared, short award winning films will be played and toasts will be deservedly pronounced. The Fort Myers Film Festival in cooperation with The Raddatz Foundation and the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center will be awarding student filmmakers with special check presentations. Students awarded will be named closer to event.

5:00pm Filmakers Roundtable discussion | Free Event

6:00pm Awards Ceremony and Student Awards | Free Event

About us

The Fort Myers Film Festival is an intelligent independent filmmaker’s preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. The Fort Myers Film Festival is known for world-class swagger and support of local filmmakers. The festival event offers ‘the most vibrant intellectual and edgy crowd to grace Lee County in decades.’ The event has featured hundreds of local filmmakers and is a must attend for cineasts who love indie film and film festivals living in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Fort Myers has a film festival, so come out for the excitement!

For more information go to our website or join our Facebook page for updates and events.

The Fort Myers Film Festival was awarded the prestigious 2015 Chrysalis Award for Cultural Achievement by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Inc. at their annual Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon and Trade Show at the Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers. The Fort Myers Film Festival was founded by Eric Raddatz, the award-winning presentation editor of Florida Weekly, regular contributor for NBC-2 in Fort Myers, and host of Fort Myers Film Festival’s indie film show, “T.G.I.M.”

Support

The Fort Myers Film Festival supports Lee County Schools filmmakers, Raddatz Foundation and Golisano’s Children’s Hospital. Sponsored by and partnered with The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, UNIT A, Florida Weekly, Bennett’s Fresh Roast Coffee, J. Bert Davis M.D., F.A.C.S, Facial Surgeon, La Trattoria Cafe Napole, Sam Galloway Ford, Black Tie Tuxedos, VanDyk Mortgage, Winged Foot Title, Riverside Realty, The Luminary Hotel, Blu Sushi, Leoma Lovegrove, Capone’s Pizza, River District Alliance, Five Star Talent, Alliance for the Arts and Kearns Restaurant Group.

Accommodations

Visiting attendees of the Fort Myers Film Festival stay at the brand new and inspiring Luminary Hotel & Co. in downtown Fort Myers, just a short walk from the Art Center.

The beautiful and just completed and opened gem of downtown’s River District, Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection celebrates the individual stories of Fort Myers past, present and future. Their luxury riverfront hotel features a rooftop bar, two restaurants and a local coffee roastery. Attendee guests may avail themselves of a discounted rate October 20-25 through them and you need to book by October 2.

Book your group rate for Fort Myers Film Festival at a specially discounted rate here.

Press

To find stills, trailers and other press for the Fort Myers Film Festival head here. Keep up with all the latest intimate details of filmmakers by heading to ARTSWFL as Tom Hall covers the festival like no other.

VIP

VIP and private parties taking place around town are not part of the official programming and will be by invitation only.