The 2025 Florida Film Festival will open on April 11th with a comic and an astonishing release on the history of pranks and thieves at Walt Disney World at the East Coast premiere of “The Stolen Kingdom.”
Maitland’s Enzian Theatre, which presents its annual festival, revealed its schedule on Wednesday evening.
The film is preceded by the short film “Rushmore,” followed by the first night party at the Tietke Amphitheater at the Winter Park Event Centre and at the Belvedere.
Enzian and Matthew Curtis, programming director at the Florida Film Festival, said: From the brilliant and hilarious exposure of Disney World’s urban explorers to the 50th anniversary repair of the ’70s ‘Devil’s Panic’ action flick’ besides Peter Fonda and Warren Oats, this year’s lineup offers an exceptional mix of provocative features, must-see documentaries and outstanding short films.
Joshua Bailey, director of “The Stolen Kingdom,” will be attending the premiere screening of his film. His film focuses on the underground of the black market, which sells Disney memorabilia that ultimately led to the theft of animatronics, which was valued at $500,000. In “The Stolen Kingdom,” key figures from the park’s “urban exploration community” share their stories. The film’s story shows how early Disney-era pranks have influenced more recent crimes, leading to unsolved mysteries, and who stole the buzzies.
Fans of the Defunct Epcot Attraction Cranium command remember the disappearance of Animatronic Buzzy in 2018. His clothes were reportedly stolen by Disney, and ultimately former employee Patrick Spikes was accused of stolen property and massive theft.
Spike refused to admit the contest, was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay compensation. The lively outfit was traced to NBA player Robin Lopez. The numbers themselves have not been discovered.
“I don’t think I’m as bad as people think I’m,” Spikes told the Sentinel after his case was resolved. “I learned the lesson.”
Bailey, director of “The Stolen Kingdom,” was born in Tampa and attended the University of Valencia for a while, but chose to follow his passion. “The Stolen Kingdom” is his debut feature film.
It will be screened at 6pm on April 11th at Enjang Theatre at 1300 S. Orlando Avenue in Maitland and its second screening will be held at 7pm at Legal Winter Park Village, 510 N. Orlando Avenue.
The opening night party will be held by 8pm at Winter Park Events Center, 1050 W. Morse Blvd. Food and Drink is available from 4 Rivers Smokehouse, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co., Jeremiah’s, Pizza Bruno, Superica, Forward/Slash, Opici Wines & Spirits and more.
For tickets or more information, please visit floridafilmfestival.com.
Enzian has been holding the Florida Film Festival since 1992, and programming director Curtis is proud of the various records that have been set for this year’s 10-day fest.
In the 2025 installments, most countries were submitted, most films were submitted comprehensively, the most films were chosen, and the most female and non-binary directors were represented. The festival will feature films from 40 countries.
“It goes to represent 100 female filmmakers, with 29 world premiers, five North America, 52 East Coast and 29 Southeast, not to mention 27 films screenings here for the second time,” Curtis said.
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