• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

PHOTO GALLERY: Sarasota Film Festival Opening Night Party


  • By Nick Friedman
  • | 2:44 p.m. April 5, 2014
  • Arts + Culture
  • Share

The Sarasota Film Festival kicked off last night at the Van Wezel with the screening of the opening-night film, "Last Days in Vietnam," by Rory Kennedy. The film documents the stories of the last United States service men in Vietnam. Following the screening, guests headed downstairs for the opening-night party, featuring food, drinks, fireworks and a chance to meet some of the veterans featured in the film.

Ashley Smotherman, Mary-Jane Imme, Chelsea Smith and Cherylyn Van Kirk
Ashley Smotherman, Mary-Jane Imme, Chelsea Smith and Cherylyn Van Kirk
Charles Chu and Ryan O'Nan
Charles Chu and Ryan O'Nan
Christina Bostrom, Rich Georgia and Sarah Bowen
Christina Bostrom, Rich Georgia and Sarah Bowen
Ed Fagan, Mary Fagan and Shaun Greenspan
Ed Fagan, Mary Fagan and Shaun Greenspan
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks
group
group
Guests watch fireworks
Guests watch fireworks
Ina Pira, Greg Bortnichak, Allaire Cutshall and Emily Harris
Ina Pira, Greg Bortnichak, Allaire Cutshall and Emily Harris
Joe Levine and Michelle Petterson
Joe Levine and Michelle Petterson
Kara Carpenter and Heidi Derecher
Kara Carpenter and Heidi Derecher
Kate Bolotnaya and Gleb Osatinski
Kate Bolotnaya and Gleb Osatinski
Megan Miley and Jessica Parker
Megan Miley and Jessica Parker
Melody Odell and Teisha Bardia
Melody Odell and Teisha Bardia
Natasha Thronton and Stephen Reeves
Natasha Thronton and Stephen Reeves
Wey Lin and William Stribling
Wey Lin and William Stribling
Joe Levine and Michelle Petterson
Joe Levine and Michelle Petterson

 

Latest News

Sarasota Police on Monday recovered a sunken, capsized boat from Hudson Bayou that had been swamped for more than three years.
  • December 6, 2025
Long-abandoned boat removed by Sarasota Police
Sarasota City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs during a meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota charter official evaluations begin this month
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Arts + Culture

Lijana Wallenda perches on a chair balanced on a shoulder bar carried by her brother Nik Wallenda and Paul Matthew Lopez in the "Wonderland: Believe" circus, which runs through Jan. 4 in a big top near the UTC Mall.
  • December 3, 2025
At the Wonderland circus, it's a Wallenda-ful life
Sarasota Opera Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi and General Director Richard Russell.
  • December 2, 2025
Sarasota Opera artistic director will step down after 44 years
Sarasota Concert Association names new board president
  • December 2, 2025
Sarasota Concert Association names new board president
Stephanie Zandra plays the Archangel who looks down over Joseph (Eustace Williams) and Mary (Maicy Powell) in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "Black Nativity," which runs through Dec. 21.
  • December 1, 2025
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents holiday pageant in living color
Keep the wonder alive during the most wonderful time of the year
  • November 26, 2025
Keep the wonder alive during the most wonderful time of the year
Nathan Benderson Park bridge, Lakewood Ranch.
  • November 25, 2025
Hermitage fellow is fixing the world one song at a time

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now