The 25th Anniversary edition of the Sarasota Film Festival celebrated its Closing Day of screenings and festivities on Sunday, April 2, after an exciting festival featuring diverse and unique films, inspiring panels, educational outreach, and more.The 2023 festival concluded with a screening of Prime Video’s ON A WING AND A PRAYER, directed by Sean McNamara at the Sarasota Opera House. At the Closing Day celebrations, Emmy-nominated actress-producer Roma Downey was honored with the Sarasota Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Downey also produced ON A WING AND A PRAYER. Downey and McNamara were joined on stage by real-life subject Kari Sorenson for a post-screening conversation moderated by Variety’s Addie Morfoot. During the festival, SFF also honored Emmy Award-winning comedian and television host Jay Leno with the festival’s Career Achievement Award; and Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Grammy Award-winning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls with the Sarasota Maestro Award. During the Closing Day ceremony, the festival announced this year’s Jury and Audience Award winners.

“I am honored to close the milestone 25th anniversary edition of the Sarasota Film Festival by recognizing the incredible, dynamic films we screened at this year’s event. We wish the warmest of congratulations to our award winners, and the brilliantly talented filmmakers behind these projects. Thank you to this year’s Jury members for taking the time to highlight these films,” said Mark Famiglio, President and Chairman of the Board of the Sarasota Film Festival. “It is valuable to pause and reflect on why we do this festival on the 25th anniversary. We do it for the community — for the right of individuals, across all backgrounds, to express themselves cinematically, to educate others to their points of view, political leanings, thoughts, analytical arguments; the beautiful expression that only film can provide. Thank you to all our supporters and everyone who continues to make this event possible each year.” Congratulations to the 2023 winners of The Sarasota Film Festival Awards.

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