The crime-ridden streets of 1960s New York City are coming to Sarasota. On Friday, April 11, the Sarasota Film Festival will premiere the first two episodes of Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, the hit crime drama on MGM +. In attendance at the sold-out screening will be creator and showrunner Chris Brancato, cast member Rome Flynn and executive producer Michael Panes. Brancato is set to receive the festival’s Innovation in Television award and Flynn, who is new to the show’s fourth season, will receive the Rising Star award.

Godfather of Harlem stars Forest Whitaker as the real-life gangster Bumpy Johnson, an American crime boss who operated in the streets of Harlem from the 1930s to the 1960s. In Godfather of Harlem, Broncato tells the fictionalized story of Johnson’s return to Harlem in the early 1960s after a stint in prison to find his neighborhood ruined by crime. Upon his return, Johnson must battle with the Italian mob for control of his neighborhood, striking up an alliance with Malcolm X along the way.

Season 4 of the series starts in the wake of Malcom X’s assassination, where warring factions fight for control of Harlem amidst the Civil Rights movement. The season also introduces famed gangster Frank Lucas—portayed by Denzel Washington in American Gangster—who is new to the city and is looking to make a name for himself.

“Season 4 is a bit of a reboot of the show, because for people that have watched the first three seasons, they know that Malcom X’s tenure has come to an end, so what happens next? Bumpy and Malcom’s friendship was a central part of the narrative,” says Brancato. “In the wake of Malcom’s assassination, the Black Panthers start to take root in Harlem and across the country and Bumpy will find that his daughter Elise is attracted to that cause. Bumpy is going to be willingly or unwillingly thrust into the formation of a militant radical party whose goal is to protect against police brutality and perhaps ultimately affect revolution.”

With much of Godfather of Harlem being rooted in reality, Brancato and his team work to strike a balance between creating a dramatic narrative that is faithful to the time period the show is based in. “We don’t have the responsibility of following actual film footage—we weren’t there for those conversations,” says Brancato. “We have to imagine what they would have been like.”  

Rome Flynn as Frank Lucas in Godfather of Harlem. Provided photo.

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For generations, people have been called to the great American West. The mystique and promise of the frontier, the romance of the cowboy lifestyle has long captivated the minds of audience members far and wide. That same call is felt in William Shockley’s Long Shadows, the narrative feature that made its Florida premiere this past week at the Sarasota Film Festival and is set for widespread distribution this summer. Long Shadows, which is Shockley’s feature directorial debut, is a sweeping tale of romance, tragedy and bloodshed taking place across the Arizona Territory in the 1880s.

“I love the truth of the time,” says Shockley, best known for his role as Hank Lawson on the western drama series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. “I love the brutalness, the harshness and just how hard-scrabble it was. There were no props back then, no FaceTime or texting or email. Even though it was a horribly hard life, there’s such a simple beauty to it all.”

Long Shadows is in many ways a film about what happens when tenderness is violated. The story follows Marcus Dollar, played by newcomer Blaine Maye, a misguided cowboy who after aging out of the orphanage in which was partially raised, sets out to avenge the savage killing of his parents six years prior. On his bloody path of revenge, Dollar falls in love with Dulce Flores (Sarah Cortez), a young Mexican woman trapped in a brothel by the ruthless Vivian Villeré (Jacqueline Bisset) and seeks mentorship from an old gunslinger, Dallas Garrett (Dermot Mulroney).

Long Shadows, however, is not just a shoot-em-up, but instead an exploration of Dollar’s mental state and deep psychological trauma. Within the backdrop of the lawless West, Dollar wrestles with his mind as he determines what kind of man he wants to be: a vengeful killer or a force for good in a desolate, dark world.

With much of the emotional weight of the film falling on the shoulders of Maye and Cortez, casting the right actors to play Dollar and Flores was imperative to the film’s success.

“There are a lot of guys who can play great cowboys, but Blaine just had the essence, he had the look, the charm and the chops to go along with it,” says Shockley. “Sarah is so subtle and nuanced, she can speak a thousand words with just a look.” 

Dermot Mulroney (left) with Blaine Maye in Long Shadows. Photo by Tiuu Loigu.

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The April Sunset Music Series kicked off in spectacular fashion this past Friday at Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, with an unforgettable performance by the dynamic duo Shantel Norman and Sheldon Roden. From start to finish, the evening was filled with high energy, incredible talent, and vibrant community spirit. The fun continues this Friday, April 11th from 7:00pm - 10:00pm with a free concert by Scream Machine, one of the region’s most exciting and energetic bands. Get ready for a night of rock, rhythm, and entertainment you won’t want to miss!

Friday, April 11, 7-10pm, Scream Machine, The Yard @ Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, 600 US-41, Palmetto, Free parking and admission. 

Soundbox Ventures announces the return of the Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program (SCFP) Conference, a dynamic platform for advancing classical music through dialogue between artists, scholars, and curators. This year’s theme—music and storytelling—shapes a week of events open to the public on May 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21 at various venues in downtown Sarasota. The conference highlights keynote presentations by Annie Dutoit-Argerich (performer and curator), Jane Gottlieb, Vice President for Library and Information Resources at The Juilliard School, and SCFP faculty directors Max Tan and Sean Friar. Sessions will explore a wide range of topics: how musical texts are created and interpreted; how canons are formed and sustained; and how classical music continues to evolve within broader cultural and societal contexts. The Sarasota Music Archive and Sarasota Music Conservatory join as presenting partners. For more details and to register, visit SoundBoxVentures.org. 

Live music, local energy, and Five Star Fun return with the next Oysters Rock Live concert at Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside. Join us for an unforgettable night with crowd favorite band 22N, known for their high-energy performances that keep the party going all night long.

Friday, April 11, 7pm-11pm, Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside, 6906 14th Street West, Bradenton. 

New College of Florida and the Socratic Stage series have made the decision to reschedule Thinking Without Permission: A Conversation with Russell Brand on Free Speech, Censorship, and Cultural Power to a later date. This decision follows changes in event logistics, including the unavailability of the previously planned venue, the Sarasota Opera House. As a result, the event had been moved to a smaller on-campus theater with no tickets available for general access. Details about the rescheduled event will be shared via official New College communication channels.

Check out the latest edition of RocketKids: Guide to Summer Camps—your ultimate resource for fun, learning, and adventure across the Suncoast. From arts to athletics, there’s something for every kid. Dive in and start planning the best summer yet! 

Nominate your peers for SRQ Magazine’s 2025 Elite Top Attorneys! Help us spotlight outstanding legal professionals across the region. Your nomination supports a trusted guide to the area’s top attorneys. One week left to submit—don’t miss the chance to recognize excellence in the legal field. Nominate now!