Director Oren Moverman’s TIME OUT OF MIND, starring Richard Gere, Jena Malone, and Ben Vereen, will open the 17th Sarasota Film Festival on Friday, April 10th at 6:30PM at the Sarasota Opera House. Moverman will attend the festival and receive the Hearts and Minds of Independent Film Award.

Director Brett Haley’s I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS, starring Blythe Danner, Martin Starr and Sam Elliott, will screen as the Closing Night film on Saturday, April 18th at 7:00PM at the Sarasota Opera House. Haley will be in attendance along with Danner, who will receive the festival’s Impact Award.

“We’re excited to have these two films to open and close our 17th installment,” said Mark Famiglio, President of the Sarasota Film Festival. “Opening with a very dramatic performance by Richard Gere and closing with the elegant and clever Blythe Danner, the festival will have both touching and inspiring moments for all.”

“I’m thrilled to be able to showcase these two significant films for my first year at the festival,” said Michael Dunaway, Director of Programming. “They place the Sarasota Film Festival in a competitive spotlight and tastefully frame our diverse lineup.”

TIME OUT OF MIND, produced by Richard Gere, Lawrence Inglee, Caroline Kaplan, Edward Watson, Miranda Bailey andBill Pohlad, and directed by Oren Moverman, follows a seemingly normal homeless man (Gere) on the streets of New York as he struggles to find stability and restore his relationship with his estranged daughter (Malone). IFC Films will be releasingTIME OUT OF MIND in September.

Closing night film I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS, directed by Brett Haley, stars Ms. Danner as a widow who’s settled into her life and her age, until a series of events propel her into a renewed engagement with the people and the world around her. The film also stars Martin Starr, Sam Elliott, Malin Akerman, June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place.  The film was written by Brett Haley and Marc Basch and produced by Rebecca Green, Laura D. Smith and Brett Haley. Bleecker Street will be releasing I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS in May.