It has been called the “most exclusive film festival in the world” and it’s easy to understand why. Only 200 people will get to attend this incredible film festival when the 9th edition of The Floating Film Festival sets sails on February 7th, 2006 from Costa Rica on a 11-day cinematic voyage in unprecedented luxury on Crystal Cruises 6 star luxury fleet.

Created in 1991 by Dusty Cohl, co-founder of The Toronto International Film Festival, The Floating Film Festival has become the ultimate movie lovers’ fantasy featuring a diverse film program set against the tropical locations of the Caribbean. Over the years The Floating Film Festival has featured some of the most extraordinary films like Silence of the Lambs, Hoop Dreams, Howard’s End, Four Wedding and a Funeral and The Corporation with appearances by directors including Ted Demme, Mario and Melvin Van Peebles, Robert Towne, Martin Scorsese, and Haskell Wexler and many other special guests.

The 9th edition of The Floating Festival sets sail from Costa Rica on February 7th, 2006 on the 6 star uber luxury Crystal Symphony. This magnificent ship, part of the first class luxury collection from Crystal Cruises features a state of the art fitness and spa facility, Caesars Palace Casino and award winning gourmet cuisine. The voyage will cross the Panama Canal with stops in St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, Grand Turk with a final disembarkation in Miami on February 18th.

The film festival program will feature over 20 films selected and presented by a renown team including Director Barry Avrich, film critics Roger Ebert, Richard Corliss, Jim Emerson of Roger Ebert.com, CBC Arts Guru George Anthony, Film Historian Mary Corliss, veteran festival programmer Hanah Fisher and two new additions to the team include New York Times Arts contributor Ross Johnson and NPR’s Elvis Mitchell .

Roger Ebert will lead his tremendously popular Frame x Frame program featuring debate, analysis and wonderment in the dark. Ebert has selected Billy Wilder’s classic Sunset Boulevard .

The Floating Film Festival will also feature an all-star special tribute to a legendary director or actor. Past recipients of this honour have included Rod Steiger, Chuck Jones, Cliff Robertson, Haskell Wexler, Studs Terkel, Evelyn Keyes, Melvin Van Peebles and Robert Towne.

Booking information;

Rosemary Durham, 905.475.3667, ext. 230 or 1-800-268.0900.