“THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA: RETURN TO CUBA”  Mon, April 23 at The Key West Theater

KEY WEST, FLORIDA KEYS…  Key West rolls out the red carpet for the World Premier of Matt Dean Films feature documentary, “The Old Man and the Sea: Return to Cuba” on Monday, April 23 at The Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St.  Showings at 4pm and 9pm include a reception and cash bar prior to screening, hosted by First Sea Lord Admiral Finbar Gittelman and director Matt Dean.  Q& A follows film afterward. Tickets are $20 and available at MattDeanFilmStore.com.

Featuring Finbar and the beloved Conch Republic Flagship WOLF, the documentary explores Finbar’s seafaring life and his return to Havana for the first time in fifty years. Filmed in Key West, the Florida Straits and various locations in Cuba, the movie is filled with exceptional vistas and features an original soundtrack with Cuban music and sea shanties.

Life on the sea is beautiful and deadly, and we see both sides through the eyes of a man who’s sailed the seven seas his entire life.  Tales of youthful love, the 1980 Mariel Boatlift and surviving a battle with a CAT 5 hurricane (he and his crew spent 4 days adrift in the open ocean aboard a life raft) will fill you with a sense of wonder and new love for life on the sea.

Sponsored by Key West Legal Rum Distillery, CRIC 2018 and Matt Dean Films, premiere festivities include live music by WOLF’s shantyman Rich In Spirit, a ‘behind the scenes’ look of the recording of the film’s soundtrack and Blossom’s ‘World Famous’ Pirate Punch drink specials. Proceeds benefit the WOLF Waves of Change Preservation Fund and support ongoing maintenance and repairs needed to ready the ship for 2019 and 2020 Humanitarian and Ambassador voyages.

Attendees are also invited to join Admiral Finbar, Prime Minister Cates and other dignitaries at 7pm on Mallory Square for the 36th annual Conch Republic Day Independence Ceremony.  FREE to the public, the event includes the CR Color Guard and a 21-Gun and 21-Conch Shell Horn Sunset Salute.

Those wishing to relive the glorious age of sail, can join ADM Finbar aboard the Flagship WOLF for a Day Sail or Sunset Cruise during Key West’s 2018 CRIC.  Sails depart from the Key West Seaport (Dock E) April 20 thru 29. Tickets and information, [email protected].

For a full schedule of CRIC 2018 activities, visit ConchRepublicDaysKeyWest.com.

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