Sarasota Film Festival Lineup Kicks Off With 'Deep Water'

Mar 19, 2026 2:00pm PT Sarasota Film Festival Announces Full Lineup, Opening With Renny Harlin’s ‘Deep Water’ By Arushi Jacob Plus Icon Arushi Jacob Latest ‘Stranger Things: The Complete Series’ to Release on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD in July 6 hours ago Ellie Heisler Joins Manatt, Phelps & Phillips as Firm Expands Creator Economy Activity With Hires in Entertainment Practice 8 hours ago Takeaways From Variety’s True Crime Summit at SXSW 2026 With Natalie Morales, MrBallen and More 1 day ago See All Courtesy of Venice Film Festival The Sarasota Film Festival has announced the lineup for the festival’s 28th annual edition, taking place April 10-19. Consisting of 47 features and 39 short films, the festival will kick off on April 10 with a screening of “Deep Water” at the Sainer Courtyard at New College in Sarasota, Fla. The event will host director Renny Harlin and producer Gene Simmons, followed by an opening night party at the Bayfront at New College. The festival will close on April 18 with Julian Schnabel’s “In The Hand of Dante,” which features Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese. In conjunction with the screening, Schnabel will be honored with the Achievement in Directing Award.This year’s Spotlight presentations include “Carolina Caroline,” which stars Samara Weaving; Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex”; “Late Fame” starring Willem Dafoe; John Early’s “Maddie’s Secret”; Trishul Thejasvi’s “Mala”; Ari Selinger’s “On the End”; “Everywhere Man: the Lives and Times of Peter Asher”; “Steal This Story, Please!” and Rory Kennedy’s “The Trial of Alec Baldwin.”   Related Stories 'G.I. Joe' Reboots in the Works at Paramount; Max Landis Pitching a Script Years After #MeToo Allegations Derailed Career Special events and screenings include: “The SFF Sports Program,”featuring the Business of Sports Panel with experts in the industry; “Ski Dawgs,” an offbeat short comedy; and “Victory,” starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and Pelé.“Each year, the Sarasota Film Festival celebrates the transformative power of storytelling and the strength of our creative community,” said Mark Famiglio, president of the Sarasota Film Festival. “Our 2026 festival brings together visionary artists, timely conversations, and meaningful community events that reflect the cultural energy of Sarasota. We’re proud to continue showcasing a festival that honors bold filmmaking while creating unforgettable experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike.” Popular on Variety For more information about screenings, visit sarasotafilmfestival.com. Jump to Comments ‘Manas’ Screenwriter Camila Agustini and Elton de Almeida to Co-Pen Brazilian Drama ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ (EXCLUSIVE) Doha Film Institute Unveils Projects Set for Qumra Event That Has Moved Online Due to Iran War Glaz Entertainment Turns 20, Eyes Return to Theaters With Sony Pictures Brazil Deal (EXCLUSIVE) As Original Shows Drive Business, IP Adaptations Are Increasingly Seeking Distinctive Perspectives JavaScript is required to load the comments. Loading comments...