Vero Beach experienced a whiteout on the grounds of Tree House Vero Beach, as guests descended upon the outdoor venue clad in white from head-to-toe for the annual Vero Beach Film Festival Cinema de la Mer Super-Secret White Party.
Proceeds from the Back to the Movies-themed cinematic celebration, sponsored by Tree House Vero Beach owners Pam and Jake Hund, will help fund the return of the much-anticipated Vero Beach Film Festival, a redesigned version of the Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival, founded in 2016 by Jerusha Stewart.
“We made the decision to concentrate on the films themselves and the people that put everything behind those films,” said VBFF president David Yakir. The Vero Beach Film Festival will return to the big screen June 9 to 12 at various locations.
Forging ahead under Yakir’s leadership, the nonprofit is holding fast to the job of celebrating independent filmmaking and enriching the community, culturally and economically. As the new board was making the decision to move forward with the film festival, they did so with COVID in mind.
“It will be smaller,” said Yakir. “We’ll try to orchestrate it so there’s social distancing, and we’ll have alternating programs. It will be quieter, but we’re hoping it will still have the impact that it has always had.”
They plan to utilize a more concentrated number of venues in downtown Vero Beach and have a goal of making a year-round impact. “We have big dreams,” said Yakir.
Down the road, he said, they hope to find a permanent home – ideally at the historic Theatre Plaza on 14th Avenue. They intend to have a film studies program in partnership with Indian River State College and hope to eventually partner with and support local nonprofits.
Table hosts were assigned film-centric blanc themes, such as white rabbits and witches, Vanna White and Betty White, and the Lady in White. Guests took their table décor seriously, laying out designs that included rabbits and wizards, the fanciful and the fantastic.
The Best-Dressed Table Award was presented to sisters Diane Reheis and Tammy Adams who, with their guests, created a movie-themed design featuring a Three Stooges film reel, printed menus, chair covers and Oscar trophies.
“This room is filled with artists and people who love film,” said Xaque Gruber, emcee and VBFF board member. “It unites us all, and it’s a special thing.”
In true Hollywood fashion, the entertainment featured the jazzy Mickey Freeman Combo, Victoria Schultz playing movie theme songs on a harp, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator wooing the crowd, and Ballet Vero Beach’s Camilo A. Rodriguez, en tutu, performing the “Glorious Swan Song” with his usual sassy panache.
Next on the marquee is an Exclusive Oscar Night celebration on March 27 at a historic home in Vero Beach. For more information, visit vbfilmfest.org.
Photos provided
