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Free Movies, Lots of Laughs, and a Beautiful Setting: “Movie Night Downtown” Premieres March

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FREE MOVIES, LOTS OF LAUGHS, AND A BEAUTIFUL SETTING:
“MOVIE NIGHT DOWNTOWN” PREMIERES MARCH 14

Orlando, FL - (Feb. 18, 2010) – Free movies return to downtown Orlando on Sunday, March 14, at 7:45 p.m. A unique partnership of the Orlando Film Festival, the Florida Film Festival, and the Downtown Development Board (DDB) brings the return of flickering entertainment under the stars to the shores of Lake Eola.

“MOVIE NIGHT DOWNTOWN” will debut with a screening of GHOSTBUTERS at the Lake Eola Bandshell. “The collaboration between the Orlando Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival brings the resources of two great movie institutions to a wonderful effort which will delight and entertain and become another jewel of downtown living,” said Brett Jaffee, Chairman of the Orlando Film Festival.

The Orlando Film Festival screens over a hundred features, shorts, and documentary films at the Plaza Cinema Café theaters in the heart of the city. The 5th Orlando Film Festival will take place November 10 through November 14. All screenings are free.

Henry Maldonado, President of Enzian and the Florida Film Festival, adds, “Watching a movie under the stars is a wonderful experience. Our Popcorn Flicks are entering their 8th year in Winter Park, and this partnership with our friends at the Orlando Film Festival and the DDB brings all this fun to a truly beautiful setting. This is the logical evolution of a beautiful friendship.”

The Florida Film Festival is entering its 19th year, April 9 through April 18. The Festival attracts over 25,000 fans and is considered one of the top 15 film festivals in the nation. Enzian Theater, home of the festival, is currently celebrating its 25th birthday with a year-long series of special programs.

The Movie Night Downtown series has scheduled two dates, March 14 and April 11; both start at 7:45 p.m. The first showing will take place at the Lake Eola Bandshell with the classic comedy, GHOSTBUSTERS. The second screening will be a picnic and movie under the stars, slated to coincide with the Florida Film Festival. Attendees are invited to bring blankets and box dinners, and watch COCOON, which also celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

In addition to the movies, each event will begin with improvisational comedy from the SAK Comedy Lab, which will get the audience in the mood with a fifteen minute performance prior to the screenings.

The Orange County History Center is a proud supporter of this event and assists in promotion and sponsorship of Movie Night Downtown as part of the kickoff to its Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television exhibit which runs through May..