Year: 2013

“Nostos” is a short film about a painter’s final attempts to have his work recognized, and his new level of passion and dedication that nobody could have imagined.  The short film will be screened in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts on Saturday, March 23 at 2PM.  Its director & producer, Jonathan Chekroune, will be on hand to discuss the film’s inspiration and what it took to get it made.  Chekroune, who lives in Miami, funded “Nostos” with a successful Kickstarter campaign.  The event is part of the 2013 Fort Myers Film Festival’s more than 20 hours of screenings over four days at multiple venues.

“Nostos” is one of several short films that will be screened at the Alliance on March 23.  It will be preceded by The Florida Suite by Melbourne filmmaker Jeff Thompson, who will also be on hand for the screening.  The subject of the film is a retired attorney who lives in a modern log cabin in the middle of his 12-acre organic citrus grove, where he spends his days caring for his three dogs, his fruit, and his mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.  The film also pays tribute to the role that Florida played in the development of composer Frederick Delius, and is completely set to, and named in honor of, his very first symphonic composition: The Florida Suite.

Space is limited so arrive early to guarantee a seat in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance.  There’s a $5 suggested donation at the door.  The Fort Myers Film Festival runs March 21-24 with screenings at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.

The Alliance for the Arts is partnering with the Fort Myers-based company Dino Lingo Language Learning Programs for Kids to offer afterschool Spanish language immersion classes beginning Thursday, March 21 from 4-4:45PM.  There is a TRY IT session on Saturday, March 16 from 10-10:45AM.  The TRY It is FREE for Alliance members or just $5 for nonmembers, and allows children ages 4 to 7 the opportunity to sample the class before signing up for the full six week session.  Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 12 students. Click here to download a registration form, or call us at 239-939-2787 to register today.

In this unique and cutting edge language program, children are not taught to speak Spanish; they are taught in Spanish. This Spanish immersion class provides the foundation for understanding and speaking Spanish as a second language.  Activities include language books, flash cards, games, DVDs and more.

The Acoustic Music Society of Southwest Florida presents three hours of live bluegrass music on the theater stage at the Alliance for the Arts on Sunday, March 17 from 2-5:00PM.  The show features Venice-based Swinging Bridge, Naples-based blues guitarist Frank Corso and Fort Myers-based Bugtussle Ramblers.

Tickets are $7 at the door, or $5 for Alliance members.  Seating is open and first come, first serve.  Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by an adult.  March is Music In Our Schools Month, and this year’s theme is “Music Lasts a Lifetime.”  Don’t miss this great opportunity to introduce children to the rich history and heritage of bluegrass!  Doors open at 1:30PM.

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy the film with your family and friends under the stars on the Alliance lawn!

Featuring the hit song Somewhere Out There, “An American Tail” is the heartwarming story of the Mousekewitz family’s journey to America and their young son, Fievel, who gets lost along the way.  Landing in a bottle, he washes ashore in New York harbor where, determined to find his family, he comes face to face with the perils and opportunities of the New World.

The movie begins just after sunset at 7:45PM.  A suggested $5 donation helps ensure free family programming remains at the Alliance.  Support for Family Movie Night generously provided by Briers CPA, DinoLingo.com, Riverside Realty, Staging Matters and Winged Foot Title.  The Alliance Family Movie Night Series concludes on Friday, April 19 at 8:00pm with The Muppets.

Judith A. Rubin, Ph.D. believes in the transformative power of the arts.  The psychotherapist and longtime Sanibel resident is a pioneer in the field of art therapy.  A past President and Honorary Life Member of American Art Therapy Association, Rubin is also the author of six art therapy books, director of 10 films, and the President of Expressive Media.  The Alliance for the Arts is offering an opportunity for the community to view her film BREAKTHROUGH and participate in a conversation on the value of art and therapy on Wednesday, March 27.  The screening, in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance, begins at 7:30PM and will be followed by a discussion led by Rubin.  A $5 suggested donation is requested at the door.

BREAKTHROUGH, with a run time of 51 minutes, captures the intimate experiences of eight artists who have undergone psychoanalytic treatment.  The film demonstrates the growth and freedom made possible by facing the pain that both psychoanalysis and creation can bring into awareness.  The artists presented in BREAKTHROUGH found themselves held back in their lives and work because of traumatic events and unresolved emotional issues from their pasts.  The film shows how the combination of analytic therapy and creative work liberated them.  Rather than dulling an artist’s creative edge, the film demonstrates how self-awareness can facilitate personal growth and creative freedom. 

In addition to having a local director, BREAKTHROUGH features long time local favorite and Emmy Award winning flutist Kat Epple, who composed the film score, and Emmy Award winning editor, Connie Bottinelli, who worked with Rubin on the film.  Both will be on hand for the screening and discussion.