Movie buffs eagerly took their seats at the Vero Beach Film Festival, which returned after a three-year hiatus. Organizers introduced a revised iteration, one which offered the same great diversity of film genres, along with plenty of parties and enough great wines to appease even the pickiest of connoisseurs.

The four-day festival kicked off with the elegant Par La Mer: An Evening by the Sea at the Grand Harbor Beach Club. It was a glorious evening that featured wines, wines and more wines, to accompany a gourmet surf and turf meal prepared by Grand Harbor chefs that was as gorgeous to look at as it was delicious to eat. During and after dinner, supporters were treated to a dueling pianos performance that had attendees up on their feet to sing and dance along.

The film screenings were shown in a more concentrated six downtown locations this time around. The Heritage Center served as the festival hub and party central. Sponsors and VIPs looking for a quiet place to “chill” relaxed at the Hidden Cellar lounge in one room of the Vero Beach Woman’s Club, while another room was used as a new film venue.

And on Friday, filmmakers were feted at a special luncheon at the Edgewood Eatery, which also served as a nightly after-hours gathering place for anyone not ready to call it a night when films had stopped rolling.

Film-wise, the festival offered something for everyone’s taste, from documentaries and comedy shorts to narrative features and environmental shorts.

On Thursday evening, local filmmakers were applauded at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild during the Opening Night Screening of their Vero-centric films. Submissions to this category were required to have been filmed on the Treasure Coast or created by someone from the Treasure Coast.

Twelve films were screened that evening, a mix that included a music video, an animated short, an informational video about feeding pelicans, plus several fictional features and public service-style announcements. Also screened that evening were four VB One Films submitted to the festival’s One-Minute Film contest.

Two special film presentations highlighted the efforts of local nonprofit organizations.
Introducing “The Addict’s Wake,” about overdose deaths in a rural Indiana town, Jill Landes, a documentary filmmaker and VBFF board secretary, said, “It’s set in Indiana, but it could be any community anywhere, including Vero Beach.”

Afterward, Carrie Maynard-Lester, executive director of the Substance Awareness Center of Indian River County, said the film shares the beliefs of SAC, that recovery is possible, and that prevention works.

“Our hope with this film is that we can start more community conversations and more community support,” said Maynard-Lester.

Locally, she said, from 2020 to 2021, there was a 70 percent increase in overdose calls to EMS, and overdose deaths grew from 32 in 2020 to 57 in 2021.

“So, the problem is here and it’s impacting all of our systems. We all need to be in this solution together,” she said.

“Coming Up for Air” highlighted the difficulties of a mother’s efforts to take care of her college-age son, whose drive to achieve academic and athletic excellence has triggered a mental health crisis.

Film writer Roger Rapoport said that while mental health issues globally have worsened, and the demand for services has skyrocketed, more people are recognizing that it’s OK to talk about and seek care. A mental health counselor told him the average person who knocks on their door has been thinking about seeking help for 10 years.

“I like to think that because of you, just the fact that you’re here, that number will start to fall,” said Rapoport.

Debra Engle, CEO of Sunshine Mental Health Center, said they take a holistic approach with clients, treating the family along with the individual.

“It’s important for us to talk about it, breaking that stigma. It used to be 60 percent of people that needed care did not look for it. And now they are.”

Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Milo Thornton said the film portrayed many of the same issues faced by students locally.

“We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it’s free. So, if you know someone is looking for help or needs help, please do not hesitate to call us,” said Thornton.

After sitting in theaters all day, attendees stretched their legs at several special evening events at the Heritage Center.

An Opening Night Party followed the Vero Visions screenings, and on Saturday, a Zoo Crew 1980s-themed Dance Party followed the film “Worse to First: The True Story of Z100,” about a New York City radio station in, you guessed it, the ’80s. On Friday night attendees gathered for a Grand Tasting, where they discussed their favorite films while sampling a variety of noteworthy wines.

To close out the weekend, everyone gathered at the Majestic Theater on Sunday for the presentation of the Juried and Audience Awards before heading over to Hurricane Wings for an outdoor After Party.

“Thank you to the audience for showing up. Thank you to the filmmakers who are here; without you we have no festival. And thank you to the donors,” said David Yakir, VBFF president.

Emcee Scott Tavlin had the honor of announcing the awards, screening a selection of the winning films after the presentations.

Xaque Gruber took home the Vero Visions Award for his film “THE,” about the “most commonly used word in the English language,” struggling to determine ‘her’ place in the ever-changing world of words.

“‘THE’ was such a pleasure to ‘make,” said Gruber. “This festival is such a labor of love. I thank my parents for instilling in me a love for language, which is what ‘THE’ is about; it’s about our language.”

Photos by Josh Kodis, Mary Schenkel and provided