Garden Theatre to Feature International Films During Inaugural Culture Fest

The Garden Theatre has announced its line-up of international films, which will be shown for free on Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd at the Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street) as part of Winter Garden's inaugural Culture Fest. Culture Fest is sponsored by the City of Winter Garden and Florida Film Academy, and is a celebration of our world through the arts.

The line-up includes films from Australia, the Bahamas, Mexico and the United States. Ringtone, from Australia, kicks off the film screenings with a discussion by the filmmakers prior to the film. In the film, Yolngu Aboriginal families offer glimpses into their lives and relationships through their choice of ringtones and show the connections, intrusions and demands brought by mobile phones to a remote community in northern Australia. Prior to the Winter Garden stop, the film was exhibited at the Margaret Mead Film Festival at New York's Museum of Natural History. The film will next travel to Washington DC's Smithsonian Institute and then to the 2014 VIRGINIA Film Festival at UVA.

Yolanda Cruz, a native Oaxacan and Director of the Mexican film 2501 Migrants: A Journey, will also be in attendance and offer a talk-back after the film. The film tells the story of an artist who returns home and finds it a virtual ghost town, as many Oaxacans have left for the United States in search of work. Inspired by this, he creates a monumental art installation - 2,501 life-sized sculptures in homage to each migrant who left his village.

On Sunday, the line-up includes a celebration of young filmmakers who are "Under 23", curated by filmmaker Marcella Ernest. "Under 23" is a project by the Future Voices of New Mexico, a collaborative filmmaking project that takes its inspiration from working with indigenous and under-represented voices from around the world. By bringing together teachers, filmmakers, and various cultural institutions, a project was launched that encourages HIGH SCHOOL students from around the country to tell stories through film and photography.

Saturday, November 1st
Films & Presentations at the Garden Theatre:
12pm - Meet the filmmakers of Ringtone
12:15pm - Ringtone (30 min, Australia)
1:15pm - 2501 Migrants: A Journey (Mexico)
2:15pm - Meet the Director of 2501 Migrants, Yolanda Cruz
3pm-4:30pm - Award-winning Australian Short Films
7pm-8:30pm - Award-winning Australian Short Films (2nd Showing)

Other Culture Fest Events:
10am-2pm - Learn to say "Welcome" in 15 languages
10am-6pm - Street performers, interactive street activities, vendors, music and food
5:30pm-6pm - Participate in a 100-person Drum Circle at City Hall
6pm-8pm - Lights at Night show on Plant Street

Sunday, November 2nd
Films & Presentations at the Garden Theatre
12:30pm - Womanish Ways, Freedom, Human Rights & Democracy (73 min, Bahamas)
2pm-3:30pm - Under 23: A Celebration of Young Filmmakers (USA)
3:30pm-3:45pm - Meet the filmmakers of Ringtone
3:45pm-4:15pm - Ringtone (30 min, Australia)

Other Culture Fest Events:
12pm-5pm - Street performers, interactive street activities, vendors, music and food

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