FEATURED LINK:



HANDMADE GALLERIES
14556 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA
818.382.3444
www.handmade.la







TO FLY L.A.
16303 Waterman Drive
Van Nuys, CA 91406
877.863.5952
www.toflyla.com







THE TUTORING CENTER
www.tutoringcenter.com







DR. DAVIDORF
www.davidorf.com

The sand. The waves. The film. Entering its 13th year, the Palm Beach International Film Festival (http://www.pbifilmfest.org/) was a brisk and cordial affair. Passing over the calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Marriott

Delray Beach (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pbidr-delray-beach-marriott/), headquarters for the confab, comes into view. Site of many a wedding day as well as some crashing; it is perfectly situated between the old world money of Palm Beach and the continually evolving mecca that is Boca Raton. Unlike last year, the 2008 festival more encompassed Boca, which is an integral part of Palm Beach County. Located less than 20 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale, it is a small slice of heaven.

Opening night was created in the influx of Mizner Park (www.miznerpark.com/), which is much like Rodeo Drive East, filled with high-end shops and mouthwatering bistros. The happy hour spot on this particular day was Gigi's (www.gigis.com/), an upscale open-air lounge boasting smooth mojitos and exceptionally fun female bartenders who had a smile for every one of the patrons that entered their midst. The opening night film was equally as subversive in its approach to fun and frolic with a tongue in cheek mentality to satisfy the joker in all of us. "The Grand" (http://www.thegrandthemovie.com)starring Woody Harrelson as a woeful and impulsive gambler/casino owner who enters his own poker tournament to win back his namesake "Rabbit's Foot Casino", functions as a mockumentary in the style of "Waiting For Guffman" but with more edge. With co-stars like Cheryl Hines (of "Curb Your Enthusiasm") who was also in town to receive an award, and a great cameo by Gabe Kaplan (better known as "Mr. Kotter" from the famous 70s show of the same name), the laughs don't disappoint.

The after party on the roof of the glitzy Mizner complex was a potpourri of food from sushi to delectable chocolate deserts. But the crown of the evening was the Palm Beach Proper Vodka which was offered up by angels in white who were delighted to show a little of the devil in their work. A private estate party the next evening, hidden away within an exclusive yacht club, allowed both business and pleasure to mix in an exciting and intimate venue bathed in aquas and red reflecting off the Spanish inspired architecture.

As the surf crashed against the shores in the sun-drenched afternoon, there was diversity in the films that were seen in this abbreviated festival experience that made it unique. "Crazy" (www.crazy-themovie.com/) was a musical biopic in the vein of "Walk The Line" about studio musician and guitar legend Hank Garland, his wild ways, his beautiful wife (played with purity and decadence by the beautiful Ali Larter from "Heroes") and the madness he suffers through his actions. "The Magic Flute Diaries," by comparison, is an opera-based visual feast using one of Mozart's masterpieces as its basis with the paradox of a backstage drama made to connect the audience with present day.

The most fulfilling and interesting element of the festival this year was meeting Mickey Rooney (www.mickeyrooney.com/) who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Awards Gala held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (www.bocaresort.com/). His Q&A after a screening of his Oscar winning film "The Black Stallion" was fantastic. Mickey wants to talk about what Mickey likes but deep down he is a pure human being. The great advice he said was passed onto him (by Spencer Tracy no less) was: "Act who are and be who you are." Sitting down with him and his wife of 30 years, Jan, he gave his impressions on how comedy has been changed by the new digital tools, the importance of education and how easily performing came to him. Seeing some of his work the following evening on the screen, dancing in lead of hundreds of people and lighting up the screen with Judy Garland and other screen icons from the heyday back in the 30s, you realize what a big star Rooney was.

The other stars present for the glamorous awards ceremony included Cheryl Hines ("The Grand") who grew up in Miami and went to the University Of Central Florida. She recently completed her first film directing effort based on a screenplay written by the late actress Adrienne Shelly whom she starred with in the critically acclaimed film "Waitress" last year. Cheryl's parents were there (from Tallahassee) and she was giddy in coming back home. Louis Gossett Jr, an Academy Award winner for "An Officer & A Gentleman" whom I had met in the Dominican Republic at a film festival two years ago, was dressed to impress and related his experiences making it in the business after first going to New York University on a basketball scholarship. However, it was his great grandmother, who lived to be 115, that he says gave him the biggest boost because she taught him never to give up.

As the moon reflected on the dark waters, the late night came with verve and excitement. The bright lights of South Florida stretched out in front of us as music played and cigars were smoked. The Palm Beach International Film Festival had again bestowed its bounty upon its followers with love, knowledge, integrity and a bit of film.