Imagine this: you’re a passenger on a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai, and the plane suddenly goes down in the middle of the Pacific. Miraculously, you and a number of other passengers survive—however, your plight is not over— the remote coral reef you find yourself stranded on, is surrounded by shark-infested waters.

Such is the plot of Deep Water, Sarasota Film Festival’s Opening Night film. Deep Water, which will be released in theaters on May 1, is directed by action-film veteran Renny Harlin, and stars Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley as the two pilots of the doomed passenger plane. Harlin, best known for directing Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea and the latest The Strangers trilogy, was drawn to the project for a multitude of reasons, including the human component of the story.

“The idea of the movie was very much in line with the kind of movies that I loved growing up,” says Harlin. “Movies like Airport and The Poseidon Adventure, big disaster films with a large cast of characters that are put in an impossible situation and we see how they survive.”

Harlin is reluctant to put a traditional label on Deep Water, maintaining that the interlacing emotional arcs of the characters are just as powerful as the jump scares and spectacle of the setting. “I wouldn’t call it a horror film. I wouldn’t call it a shark film or a plane film,” says Harlin. “It’s a disaster-drama. What’s just as entertaining as the plane crash, if not more, are the human stories and dramas in the movie. That’s what I really concentrated on.”

Harlin has collaborated with Eckhart before, directing the veteran actor in the 2024 spy film, The Bricklayer. “He comes from this very serious character actor background, but he also has the leading man looks and has been very selective in his career,” says Harlin of his leading man. “When I worked with him on The Bricklayer, I already knew he was a great actor, but I soon realized what a dedicated, passionate person he was. I love working with him.”

Deep Water, April 10, 6:00pm, New College of Florida/Sanier Pavilion, 5313 Bayshore Rd., Sarasota. Renny Harlin and producer Gene Simmons in attendance. Screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers and shark experts. 

Aaron Eckhart and Molly Belle Wright in Deep Water. Provided photo.

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Team Success: A School of Excellence is currently enrolling K-12 students for the 2026-27 academic year, which begins in August. One of the longest-tenured charter schools in Florida, Team Success is a Cognia accredited charter school in Manatee County that is committed to helping students grow, achieve and succeed in a supportive learning environment. Team Success currently has a K-5 elementary school located in Bradenton along with a second 6-12 middle and high school campus located next to the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. At Team Success, families can expect dedicated teachers, supportive staff, a student-focused learning culture, and opportunities for academic growth and personal success. Since 2015, Team Success has earned all A or B grades from the Florida Department of Education. For more information or to register, please visit TeamSuccessSchools.com. 

The Southside community and greater Sarasota area will soon gather for an unforgettable evening of food, music, and philanthropy as Cooking for the Arts returns in 2026 with a vibrant “Havana Nights” theme, benefiting arts education at Southside Elementary School. Hosted at Michael's On East, this signature event offers a one-of-a-kind interactive culinary experience. Rather than simply being served dinner, guests work together at their tables to prepare courses for one another, guided by professional chefs leading the experience from the stage. The result is an engaging, high-energy evening that blends teamwork, creativity, and community connection. Co-chaired by Molly Biter and Montana Taplinger, Cooking for the Arts continues to evolve while staying rooted in its core mission: ensuring students have access to robust arts programming that enhances their educational journey.  

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Fall 2026 enrollment is now open at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). Classes run from Aug. 17 to Dec. 4 at SCF Bradenton, SCF Lakewood Ranch, SCF Venice and online. Current students can register at My.SCF.edu. New students can apply at SCF.edu/Admissions. For more information, visit SCF.edu or contact Admissions by phone at 941-752-5050, text 941-304-5443 or email at Admissions@SCF.edu. 

 On March 31, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County hosted its first Voices of Impact Forum – a celebratory event showcasing Educator Impact Fellows, a teacher leadership development program. Since December, 16 Fellows have worked in small groups to identify pressing challenges in education, examine them through both national and local lenses, and develop research-informed solutions. Their work culminated in presentations shared at last week’s event with principals, administrators, and district leaders. The event went beyond its primary goal of developing these teacher leaders. As Fellows collaborated with peers from across the district, they built strong connections and elevated issues that matter most in their classrooms. In doing so, they not only strengthened their own leadership capacity, but also contributed meaningful insights and actionable ideas to Sarasota County’s broader education community. Visit EdFoundationSRQ.org for more information. 

Get ready for toe-tapping tunes, heartfelt moments, and a whole lot of trouble — with a capital “T”! This beloved Broadway classic tells the story of fast-talking salesman Harold Hill, who arrives in River City, Iowa, with a plan to con the townspeople into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he has no intention of organizing. But things get complicated when he falls for the town’s sharp-witted librarian, Marian. Packed with unforgettable songs like “76 Trombones,” “Ya Got Trouble,” and “Till There Was You,” this charming and high-energy musical is fun for the whole family!

Sarasota High School Theatre (2155 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota 

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Cypress Cohen, a student at Babcock Ranch High School, was one of only 60 high school seniors nationwide selected as an elite recipient of the highly competitive 2026 Cooke College Scholarship. Presented by the Jack Cooke Foundation and announced April 1, the scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated extraordinary academic achievement and leadership. As a last-dollar award, it supplements all institutional aid by providing recipients with up to $55,000 per year to attend any accredited undergraduate institution. The scholarship is designed to ensure that exceptional students with financial need can pursue and complete their college education without the burden of excessive student debt. In addition to financial support, Cooke College Scholars receive comprehensive advising and enrichment opportunities, including personalized academic guidance, career and graduate school planning, internship and study abroad opportunities as well as access to a national network of scholars and alumni. Scholars may also apply for additional funding to support graduate studies. The 2026 Cooke College Scholars represent students from across 31 states and the District of Columbia, selected from a highly competitive national applicant pool. 

Continuing on its commitment to make golf more accessible and affordable for kids, Bank of America today announced the return of Golf with Us. Children, ages 6-18, are invited to enroll in Golf with Us to access tee times for $5 or less to thousands of courses across Bank of America’s 97 markets through a free one-year membership to Youth on Course. In its inaugural year, Bank of America’s Golf with Us drew nearly 100,000 youth participants from every state, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, with members logging more than 100,000 rounds of golf nationwide. Of those members, more than 22,000 were girls including many first-time golfers. This year, the Bank hopes to enroll 150,000 kids in Golf with Us. 

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The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office proudly announces its participation in the 2026 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, set to brighten the streets of Sarasota County on Friday, April 17, 2026. This annual event aims to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Florida, which provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate as respected athletes and productive members of society. Sheriff’s office members, alongside Special Olympics athletes, will embark on the run starting at Gulf Gate Pavilion at 8:00 a.m., proceeding north along U.S. 41 until it ends at Bay Plaza on Bay Road. Motorists are advised to expect potential traffic delays on U.S. 41 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. It is recommended that drivers avoid the area or plan for additional travel time. Those interested in supporting or volunteering with the Special Olympics can find more information at www.specialolympicsflorida.org. 

Suncoast Remake Learning Days is back for its fifth year with a 15-day celebration of creativity, exploration and family-friendly learning. Presented by the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and The Patterson Foundation, the 2026 celebration will take place from Saturday, April 18 to Saturday, May 2. Suncoast Remake Learning Days features 380 free, interactive events across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties designed to spark curiosity and celebrate the joy of adults and children learning side by side. 

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Foundations of Royalty is a captivating triple bill from The Sarasota Ballet celebrating the legacy of British ballet through three iconic works. Opening the program is Sir Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering, a radiant and elegant ballet created to honor The Royal Ballet’s 25th anniversary. Featuring seven couples, the piece showcases classical brilliance through refined variations culminating in a grand ensemble waltz. The program continues with Dame Ninette de Valois’ dramatic Checkmate, a powerful ballet that transforms a chess game into a gripping narrative of strategy, power, and fate. Through vivid characters, including the formidable Black Queen, it explores tension and human emotion on stage. Concluding the evening is Sir Peter Wright’s Summertide, an abstract and uplifting work set to Mendelssohn’s music. Celebrating light and musicality, this ballet offers a joyful finale. Accompanied by live music from the Sarasota Orchestra, the program highlights timeless artistry.  

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The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced two new Hermitage programs featuring Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and composer Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop, White Girl in Danger, Teeth), celebrated Broadway and television actor Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal, Peter and the Starcatcher, HBO’s Gossip Girl), and returning Hermitage Fellow and composer Julian Hornik, a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Grant who recently collaborated with Academy Award-wining Hermitage Fellow Mark Sonnenblick. Hornik’s residency is made possible through the McNally Fellowship at the Hermitage, supported by the Terrence McNally Foundation. For more information, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

Join us at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater for “Repetition, Enfoldment, Concealment:" A Conversation on Art and Practice with 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Winner Charisse Pearlina Weston and 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize juror Larry Ossei-Mensah. Winner of the 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize in Visual Art, Charisse Pearlina Weston is a conceptual artist and writer whose work contends with the dynamic interplay of violence and intimacy through repetition, enfoldment, and concealment. Weston will spend this hour in conversation with 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize juror Larry Ossei-Mensah, independent curator and founder of ARTNOIR. 

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Sarasota Orchestra’s annual Outdoor Pops Concert returns to Ed Smith Stadium on April 10-11, bringing one of the community’s favorite spring traditions back for another year.
This year’s theme, “Parrots & Palms: Tropical Rock for Five O’clock… Somewhere,” will feature a lineup of island favorites like Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, and more, all performed under the direction of award-winning conductor, Kevin Fitzgerald. The concert will offer a classic ballpark atmosphere with great music, island-inspired drinks and a sensational fireworks finale. The concert offers a timely opportunity to highlight a unique blend of two vastly different styles of music.

Sarasota Orchestra Annual Outdoor Pops Concert, Ed Smith Stadium | 2700 12th Street, Sarasota, Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 at 7:30pm, Tickets: $25 general admission.