Arts Foundation Film Fest Returns

The line-up for the 2020 Marco Island Foundation for the Arts Winter Film Fest takes viewers on a cinematic journey that spans the arts.  

“MIFA’s Mission in the Movies” is the theme for this festival’s 15th annual installment. The organization’s mission is to promote the performing, visual and literary arts on Marco Island. This year’s line-up represents MIFA’s aim is with four films that center on the theme’s music, literature, dance, and art. 

The festival began with the January 8th presentation of “Good Ol’ Freda,” which tells the story of a Liverpudlian teen, Freda Kelly, who became the Beatles secretary when they were just a local band hoping the make it big. Coming up are:  

• On January 22nd, “A Quiet Passion,” a 2016 biographical film about the life of 19th Century American poet Emily Dickinson whose genius wasn’t recognized until after death. The film stars Cynthia Nixon of “Sex in the City” fame. 
• On February 5th, “A Ballerina’s Tale,“ a documentary on the life of ballerina Misty Copeland, who overcame major life-challenges to become the first African American woman to be named principal dancer of the legendary American Ballet Theater.  

• On February 19th, “At Eternity’s Gate,” a film that takes the viewer inside the world and mind of Vincent van Gogh through his letters. The film stars Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe and Oscar Isaac 

As always, Marco Movies is serving as the Winter Film Fest screening room. 

“We try to select movies that are kind of deep and are about different artists,” said Lindy Kowalczyk, who is a member of MIFA’s board of directors and a festival organizer. “They’re always well received and they’re not your everyday movie. We conduct research and try to get interesting films that enable people to learn something they didn’t know. We try to involve the community and then after each movie, we go to Stonewalls to discuss the movie, which is fun.”  

MIFA began the Winter Film Fest in 2006. It serves as a fundraiser for the organization’s scholarship fund, which assists local high school seniors and college students pursuing post-secondary degrees in the visual arts, music, dance, theater or the literary arts.  

Tickets can be purchased at MIFA’S website. They are $22.50 per person for all four movies or $7.50 per-movie. 

For more information about the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts and its annual Winter Film Fest, visit marcoislandfoundation.org or call 239-389-0280. Marco Movies is located at 599 S. Collier Boulevard, in the Marco Walk Plaza.