Centra Fl orida Ne s

Or ando festi a s announce date changes, cance ations Jeremy Williams

ORLAND O | The Florida Film Festival and the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival both announced changes to their schedules as more and more Central Florida events are postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Enzian Theater announced March 17 that its annual Florida Film Festival , scheduled for April 17-26, would be postponed to a later date this year.

“While this postponement is regretful and hard to swallow considering the thousands of hours that the staff and selection committees have devoted to creating an amazing festival, moving it from April is clearly the safest thing for our audiences and filmmakers, and the right thing to do. Every effort will be made to bring as much of the lineup back as possible for the reschedule later in the year. We’re confident that Central Florida film lovers and visiting filmmakers will be just as excited, and have an incredible time a few months from now,” said Matthew Curtis, Florida Film Festival programming director, in a statement.

Enzian is tentatively aiming to reschedule the festival for August; however, no exact dates have been announced. Two days later, Orlando Fringe — scheduled for May 12-25 — announced it would be cancelling its 29th festival outright and launch the next full festival in May 2021.

“This is an extremely hard decision. Please know how much conversation and thought has brought us to this point,” said Orlando Fringe Executive Director Alauna Frickics in a statement. “We have worked countless financial scenarios, and considered all stakeholders. We believe this is the most prudent course so the festival can come back strong next year.”

The statement goes on to encourage those who planned to attend the festival to make a donation to the United Arts of Central Florida’s Collaborative Campaign for the Arts, which helps support local arts and culture.

“You love this festival. You are driven by passion and a love for an event that brings people together in a way that binds us like family. We will hold onto that feeling during this unsettling time, and know we will be back better and stronger next year,” the statement reads.

The Florida Film Festival and Orlando Fringe are some of the largest entertainment festivals in Central Florida. Orlando Fringe is the oldest and largest Fringe Festival in the U.S. The 14-day festival hosts upwards of 75,000 patrons at theaters throughout Central Florida each year. This year’s Florida Film Festival had received 2,845 submissions from 101 countries. The festival intended to screen 195 films, representing 41 countries. Of the films selected, 174 had premiere status, including 29 world premieres. This year’s lineup also would have featured 97 films from women directors. The Florida Film Festival is attended by more than 23,000 people each year.

For more information on the Florida Film Festival’s programming and future dates, visit FloridaFilmFestival.com. For information on the Orlando Fringe and its future events, visit OrlandoFringe.org.

Bear Party Cancelled

Tidal Wave cancels June events, scammers try to capitalize

Jeremy Williams

ORLAND O | As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow in the U.S., Tidal Wave Party has officially become the first group to cancel its 2020 events for Orlando’s first weekend of June LGBTQ celebration.

“Tidal Wave is a labor of love for us and we did not come to this decision easily,” the group wrote in a statement posted to its website March 28.

Tidal Wave has hosted the bear community’s annual celebration during Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom weekend for the last 14 years and planned to hold this year’s event at the B Resort & Spa June 4-8. Tidal Wave 14 will now take place June 3-7, 2021.

“We did consider rescheduling it for later in the year,” the group wrote. “But with all the uncertainty about the progression of the virus and when things will return to ‘normal’ we just aren’t comfortable rescheduling the event for later this year. We want to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible to adjust their plans.” Tidal Wave has been working with the B Resort and Expo Pass, the group’s ticket vendor, and presented two options to individuals who purchased tickets and hotel packages for this year’s event.

The first option is to move your 2020 Tidal Wave ticket and B Resort reservations to the 2021 dates. The second option is to cancel the room and tickets for a full refund.

“We are pleased to announce that we were able to negotiate current contract room pricing with the B Resort,” Tidal Wave states. “If you maintain your 2020 Tidal Wave tickets & hotel room reservation as is, we will transfer both ticket and hotel room type for 2021, ensuring that current pricing structure is honored.”

Cancellations will incur a 4.95% processing fee unless your cancellation was done before April 1 and result in a forfeiture of the room reservation, meaning if later you decide to attend in 2021 you will need to rebook the room and tickets. Tidal Wave states that anyone who booked at the DoubleTree, the group’s overflow hotel, and do not cancel will get first choice

Extended Hybernation: A Tidal Wave bear pool party in 2018. Photo by Jake Ste vens

of available rooms at the B Resort for 2021.

Less than a day after Tidal Wave made the announcement, scammers began trying to take advantage of those who had tickets and room reservations, the group said. Tidal Wave made several posts on its Facebook page, one with a text message and one with an event’s page, both falsely stating the group was purchased and the 2020 events were still going on as planned. “All of the accurate and factual information can be found on our website,” Tidal Wave wrote. “Please report this event and share to ensure no one is harmed by this person.” The fake event page lists a website PigletWeek.ecwid.com with a Fort Lauderdale phone number (area code 954). The text message, which reads “We bought out their cancellation at the B. Tidal Wave Orlando is back on,” came from a Central Florida number (321 area code) and refers back to the 954 number.

The website address for the fake event takes you to the Beach Bear Weekend page. Beach Bear Weekend is an LGBTQ event which in the past has been promoted by Craig Jungwirth, a Florida man who was arrested in 2016 in connection to social media posts threatening a Pulse-style attack against the LGBTQ community in South Florida. The case was later dropped due to “weak” evidence against him.

For more information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit TidalWaveParty.com.

Conway Cleaners Your FREE Pickup and Delivery Service

TWiCe a Week PiCkuP aND DeLivery

Serving Orlando for more than 30 years „ Downtown Orlando „ Winter Park „ College Park „ Maitland „ Lake Nona „ Waterford Lakes Call Today to Sign Up! 407-275-0397 ConwayDryCleaner.com

Conway Cleaners & Shirt Laundry • 4450 Curry Ford Rd., Orlando, FL, 32812

8662-115339 PRINT - Dr. Brenton Priest Watermark Ad - Magazine Ad FY20 *RUSH Final.pdf 1 12/5/19 9:31 AM

SUMMERPORT

A TRUSTED EXPERT.

When you need a doctor, choose a trust expert. Dr. Brenton Priest specializes in family medicine and offers patients the convenience of same-day and next-day appointments, as well as online scheduling for:

• STD testing • HIV prevention

• PrEP provider • Hormone therapy

• Minor procedures • Preventive care

Summerport Medical Pavilion 5151 Winter Garden Vineland Rd., Suite 208, Windermere, FL 34786 To schedule an appointment, call (407) 635-3070 or visit OrlandoHealth.com/PhysicianAssociates

Brenton Priest, DO