Sarasota Film Festival 2024: Five Films to See

By Sean Boelman

The Sarasota Film Festival is an incredible showcase for film for those on the west coast of the Sunshine State. From world premieres of local productions to screenings of some of the hottest films on the festival circuit, the Sarasota Film Festival is the place to be for cinephiles in the area.

We at disappointment media are excited to be covering this year’s Sarasota Film Festival, and if you’ll be joining us in the Circus City, here are a few movies you won’t want to miss:

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The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Babak Tafti and Joanna Arnow in THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Joanna Arnow’s The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed is one of the most uncomfortable awkward comedies of the year. However, it’s also incredibly funny and poignant in its approach to topics like sexuality and age. When you see a deadpan comedy, you generally expect it to be somewhat cold and distant, but this is unexpectedly warm, offering a refreshing approach to this concept.

Green Border

The latest film from Polish auteur Agnieszka Holland, Green Border, made a splash upon its festival debut last Fall. The film tells the story of a group of refugees who are caught in the crosshairs of a geopolitical crisis as they attempt to find safety and a new home in the European Union. It’s an incredibly grueling watch, but fittingly so considering the urgency of the refugee crisis Holland is commenting on.

The Line

The Line star Austin Abrams, who was raised in Sarasota, will be receiving the Rising Star award at the festival. His latest film is a dark thriller exploring the toxicity of university culture. Abrams is just one of many incredible performers in a cast full of some of the most exciting new talents working in film today, including Alex Wolff, Halle Bailey, Lewis Pullman, and the late Angus Cloud. It’s an incredibly nauseating film, but a frank depiction of this culture is what is needed to call attention to how harmful it can be. 

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

Those looking for a documentary at this year’s festival likely won’t be able to find one better than Johan Grimonprez’s Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, which debuted at Sundance earlier this year. The documentary, exploring the intersection of music and politics during the Cold War, is very dense but absolutely gripping in how it tells this stranger-than-fiction story. Although many viewers will likely be drawn to this because of its inclusion of several high-profile musicians, they’ll walk away more intrigued by the film’s espionage-like aspects.

Thelma

Hot off its Sundance debut and acquisition, Thelma is making a stop at the Sarasota Film Festival before its summer release, and it’s one of the most delightful films you’ll see in the lineup. The film stars the Oscar-nominated character actress June Squibb (Nebraska) as an elderly woman who is scammed by someone impersonating her grandson over the phone, setting her off on a quest for revenge. It’s a lighthearted, fun action-comedy with a great performance by Squibb, and you won’t want to miss this one before it comes out.

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The 2024 Sarasota Film Festival runs April 5-14 in Sarasota, FL.