TICKET LINKS BELOW: 7:00 – 8:45 PM SPECIAL ALLIANCE LAUNCH PARTY EVENT FILM: Outlaws of the Everglades (feature) + after (short) Kick off the 16th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival at Alliance for the Arts with an unforgettable evening of bold storytelling, Florida history, and cinematic reflection. Our Alliance launch party night gripping documentary Outlaws of the Everglades by Rob Hoovis and Brian Holoway (1h 12m), is a fascinating deep dive into the covert world of marijuana smuggling operations that shaped Florida’s underground culture in the 1970s and ’80s. Set against the wild and untamed backdrop of the Everglades, this true story captures a turbulent era where risk, rebellion, and survival collided. This segment also includes the haunting short film after by Zane (9m), a quiet yet powerful meditation on solitude and perception. Set deep in the wilderness, the film invites audiences into a reflective space where the boundaries between inner thought and external reality begin to blur. Special $20.00 tickets to this segment include a complimentary beverage from concessions and a 20-minute TalkBack with the filmmaker. Additional guest panelists to be announced. 9:00 – 10:15 PM Night Shorts Block A Matter of Time by Ana Milena Rojas Alarcon and Brian Patrick Hoffman (9m), starring Priscila Buiar, a powerful and timely story of a DACA recipient mother forced to make an impossible decision as an ICE raid looms. Materializing Dog by Kathleen Krenitsky (2m) offers a musical allegory on acceptance and the unknown Never Too Late by Colleen Davie Janes (17m) presents a haunting near-future where breathable air is scarce and isolation becomes a matter of survival. Overtime by Trent Duncan (6m), where a routine shift spirals into unexpected consequences Pulled Taut by Ellie Roberts (2m), a sharp psychological experiment in fear and control. The One in Red by Nicholas Muzzillo (16m) follows a ronin’s path through mystery and revenge Running Out of My Mind by Abby Bryan (5m) blurs the line between reality and hallucination in a gripping psychological descent. PLAK by Stijn van Staveren (10m), a surreal mixed-media stop-motion piece exploring the struggle to break free from feeling stuck. Non-Member General Admission: $12.00 AFTA Member General Admission: $10.00 VOLUNTEER! Ushers & Concessions needed. To volunteer for this event, please select the link below.
