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Sarasota News Leader April 26, 2013 Page 83 light movies were Carlos Puga's Burma, Justin Schwarz's The Discoverers and Will Slocombe's Pasadena. All were produced in the United States. Slocombe went on to note that SFF Director Tom Hall "is incredibly well-respected," with a strong reputation among members of the national film programming community. "I think that he sort of has the ear of New York, in One of these special screenings had a particusome interesting ways," Slocombe noted. larly bright glow: It was the first time anyone not close to the production had seen it. A GROWING REPUTATION Pasadena, which concluded its premiere just before the Filmmaker Tribute Awards, is a comedic drama about a ludicrously dysfunctional and idiosyncratic family trying desperately to get along on its first Thanksgiving together in several years. The film stars Peter Bogdanovich, Alicia Witt and Hines, who made her way to the Sarasota Opera House right after the post-showing Q&A session. That session featured all of the aforementioned cast members as well as Slocombe. The director stayed at the theater for a few minutes after the discussion, agreeing to a short interview with The Sarasota News Leader. Slocombe pointed out in the interview that he is impressed with how quickly the SFF has developed, growing from an eight-day/eight-film program 15 years ago to a nine-day festival screening more than 220 films from 30 nations this year. According to the SFF's website, www.sarasotafilmfestival.com, turnout for this year's festival was particularly impressive, too, with a sold-out opening night at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and a number of sold-out screenings. In addition, the SFF website notes the festival received a record number of submissions from filmmakers all over the world this year, a clear indication word about the event has been spreading. Asked about debuting his film at the SFF, Slocombe responded excitedly, "I feel great about it!" he said. "I've felt so taken care of from This year's success, however, has not dazthe second I landed," he continued. "This has zled the SFF staff members into complacency. Rather than resting on their laurels, they been fantastic." have already begun planning for next year's When asked what he knew about the SFF pri- festival. or to his own involvement with it, the Los Angeles-based director said he has seen it as a A quick visit to the SFF website reveals, by "legitimate, up-and-coming festival" and that it way of a conspicuous banner, that the dates is highly esteemed by many of his colleagues for the 16th annual SFF have already been and peers. "I think it's a really fast-growing, confirmed. The projectors will roll once again really good festival," he added. "Everyone from April 4-13, 2014. If this year's success can told me that this would be a great fit and it be taken as a sign, SFF fans have plenty to look forward to in the future. % has been."