Friday, April 11------While I guess I am just one of the lucky ones. For my trip from New York to Fort Lauderdale to attend the Palm Beach International Film Festival, which opened last evening, I was fatefully booked on Airtran Airlines, instead of American Airlines, the mechanically challenged carrier that has been forced to cancel thousands of flights this week due to maintenance problems. Apparently, many U.S. and international guests were slated to fly in to Florida via American Airlines, which is the largest airline operating to and from here. Sorry guys, if you are still stuck in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Munich, Rejkavik and Marrakech.......

After 2 1/2 hours of flying time surrounded by screaming kiddies (shouldn't these midgets be in school?), I finally landed at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival pretty close to schedule. I knew that a pickup had been arranged by the Festival, but I always am unsure if anyone will really show up and what my options of getting to the Festival hotel would entail.

But not to worry....my driver was there, Johnny on the spot, carrying a big sign with the Festival's poster and my last MANDELBERGER almost not contained n the sign. Turns out my driver is a former homicide detective, recently retired, who is volunteering with the Festival by shuttling fillmmakers and guests between the airports and the Festival hotel, the Marriot on Delray Beach. When your driver is a former cop, you get to hear some pretty harrowing stories of drive-by shootings and other such pleasanteries, as one goes careening up I-95 at high speeds to make it to the hotel, do a fast change act, and attend the Festival's Opening Night attraction.

Presto chango....I donned the starched pink shirt and the striped sports jacket, changed the shoes and looked like your typical South Florida lounge lizard. My driver waited for me as I did my quick change act, and drove me to Mizner Park, where the cinema and after party were scheduled.

I arrived after the film had started and panicked for a moment when I opened the door to the cinema, since the room was pretty packed. I moved cautiously and quietly to the front of the theater, finding an ideal aisle seat five rows back. The film, THE GRAND, an improvisational poker comedy starring a stellar cast of yuksters led by Woody Harrelson, was in full regalia. The audience was yukking it up quite abit at the antics of the six poker players and the ensemble cast's verbal jousting.

Especially touching was Gabe Kaplan, the former television star of WELCOME BACK KOTTER from the 1970s. Kaplan was almost unrecognizable behind a clearly bloated persona, but that same nifty Brooklyn-style delivery and tongue-in-cheek comedy style made it clear that this was the same actor from all those television seasons ago.

At the end of the film, the capacity crowd thronged to the roof of the cinema complex, which became party central for hors d'oeuvres and mixed drinks. You'd think that a party in an outdoor parking lot would lack a certain charm, but it was wonderful to be under the stars in the balmy South Florida climate.

The crowd was a mix of visiting filmmmakers, local VIPs, Festival staffers and representatives of the botox generation (too firm breasts, faces sans wrinkles).  Several local restaurants were on hand to offer their special wares, while very blonde waitresses were passing out a local concoction dubbed "Palm Beach Vodka" , shots of vodka with pineapple/peach/grapefruit juice. Nice. I personally filled up on tasty sushi before hitting the bars (drinking on an empty stomach is not a good way to start this festival marathon).

At my first significant yawn (at about 11pm), I started the search for the shuttle van that would whisk me back to my room at the Marriot. Luckily, this was an easy task, due to the efficiency of Festival staffers and the abundance of driver volunteers. I had to get my beauty rest and be ready for today's mix of films, events and parties. Ah well, just another day in the life of a Festival whore (did I really say that?).

Sandy Mandelberger, Palm Beach FF Dailies Editor