The Florida Project is a 2017 American drama film directed by Sean Baker. It was written by Baker and Chris Bergoch and stars Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, and Valeria Cotto. The film is set in Kissimmee, Florida, near Walt Disney World, and follows the story of a six-year-old girl named Moonee who lives with her young mother in a budget motel over the course of one summer.
The film received critical acclaim for its realistic depiction of childhood, socioeconomic disparity, and the lives of individuals living on the margins of American society. Willem Dafoe earned widespread praise for his performance as Bobby Hicks, the sympathetic manager of the motel, and received several award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The Florida Project was shot on location using digital cinematography and features non-professional actors in many roles, contributing to its documentary-like realism. It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and was distributed in the United States by A24.
Accurate information is not confirmed regarding any direct connection between the film’s title and actual historical or governmental projects in Florida. The phrase “Florida Project” in the title is generally interpreted as a metaphorical reference to the transient, fragile world inhabited by the characters, in contrast to the idealized fantasy symbolized by the nearby Disney World.