The world premiere of “Empire State,” a moody crime drama starring Dwayne Johnson, Emma Roberts, Liam Hemsworth, Michazel Angarano, and Jerry Ferrara, opens this year’s Gasparilla International Film Festival, Tuesday night at Tampa Theatre.
The film, directed by Dito Montiel (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”) screens at 7:30. The opening-night reception is sold out, but tickets to the film are available at the door.
The seventh annual festival, on the heels of all other things Gasparilla (parade, art festival, music festival), will also offer loads of other films and special events at three Ybor City venues — Muvico Centro Ybor, the HCC Mainstage Theater, and the Italian Club — and CineBistro at Hyde Park Village, along with a rockabilly concert at the former Stump’s Supper Club in Channelside.
Several notable films will make their Florida premieres (and/or U.S. or world premieres), including:
* “Hotel Noir,” directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, a quirky black-and-white detective tale with Cameron Richardson, Carla Gugino, Danny Devito, Kevin Connolly, Robert Forster, and Rosario Dawson — Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
* “Beijing Flickers,” a drama directed by celebrated Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yuan — Wednesday, 4:05 p.m.
* “Ginger and Rosa,” Sally Potter‘s terrifically acted story of the friendship between two teenage girls (Elle Fanning, Alice Englert), and the traumas they must navigate, set in London circa Cold War years — Wednesday, 6 p.m.
* “Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story,” a documentary on late ’60s rock ‘n’ roll shows at a legendary Detroit concert hall; Iggy and the Stooges, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and the MC5 were among the venue’s favorites — Wednesday, 10:35 p.m.
* “Killer B3,” a Tampa-made documentary on the Hammond B3 organ, featuring interviews with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joey DeFrancesco and other B3 monsters — Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
* Antoine Fuqua‘s “Olympus Has Fallen,” a thriller starring Aaron Eckhart as the U.S. President and Gerard Butler as a disgraced former Presidential guard; also with Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo — Thursday, 8:50 p.m.
* Ariel Vromen‘s “The Iceman,” with Michael Shannon as the real-life contract killer who successfully masqueraded as a loving family man; the sterling cast also includes James Franco, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, and David Schwimmer — Friday at 8 p.m.
* “Matt’s Chance,” a dark tale of romance and revenge with an out-there cast: Edward Furlong, Gary Busey, Lee Majors and Margot Kidder — Saturday, 2 p.m.
The festival continues through Sunday. Click here for more information.