ACADEMY AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR TO SPEAK AT USF SARASOTA-MANATEE 

SARASOTA, FL (April 1, 2009) –John Avildsen may not be a household name, but you almost certainly have heard of his movies.

As the Academy Award winning Director of Rocky (1976), The Karate Kid (1984), and 8 Seconds (1994), John Avildsen is responsible for some of the highest-grossing films of all time, but he's also a talented cinematographer and editor and a great storyteller.

On Monday, April 6, Avildsen will be making a special appearance at the University of South Florida Sarasota Manatee’s Selby Auditorium after a 7:00 p.m. screening of his hit film Lean on Me (1989).  Lean on Me stars Morgan Freeman in the inspirational true-life story of a dedicated principal of an inner-city high school whose unorthodox methods generate controversy and remarkable results.

John Avildsen's appearance and the screening of Lean on Me (1989) at USF Sarasota Manatee are sponsored by the Sarasota Film Institute, the Florida Film Consortium and USF Sarasota-Manatee.  The event is presented in conjunction with USF Sarasota-Manatee’s long term desire to start a film program.

Attendees will have the chance to see a classic film and ask questions of one of Hollywood's most successful directors.  The event is free, open to the public, and should be suitable for audiences 13 and older.  Reservations are required.  For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Ann Flynn (941) 359-4454 or aflynn@sar.usf.edu.