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The 4th Annual Sunscreen Film festival will take place April 22-26, 2009.
Downtown St. Petersburg will be festival central for movies, parties and more.
COMING SOON! Exciting news about our year round film programs at the University of Tampa, the Muvico 20 at Baywalk and other venues around the area.
COMING SOON! Celebrity announcements and an all new website!

The Sunscreen Film Festival presents a special screening of the film The Grind. Starring C. Thomas Howell and Tom Sizemore this film recently premiered at Cannes and has not yet been seen in the United States.

The screening will take place 7PM Monday July 21st, 2008 at the University of Tampa's Reeves Theater. Producer Robert Enriquez will do a Q&A after the film.

Reeves Theater is in the Vaughn Center located at The University of Tampa 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, Florida 33606-1490. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Garage (662 Central Ave. St. Petersburg) presents their first Movie Night in conjunction with the Sunscreen Film Festival.

Join us on Wednesday, July 16 starting at 8pm. Hang with your friends and enjoy The Breakfast Club and Weird Science. Don't forget to don your best 80s duds and you could win $100!

Kevin Barnes, director of the short film at Sunscreen 2008, Sticks and Stones Will Break My Heart, sent this note:

"We have a potential sales agent relationship in the works. We have already cast for our next two films, an untitled work and a dance film entitled, The Rose Seller.

Thank you for staying in touch. We loved the Sunscreen Film Festival, and we loved St. Pete. Given the opportunity, we will certainly return next year."

Lulu Fries'dat's Holler Back won Best Documentary at Sunscreen 2008.

Since then, the film has been in five festivals.

"We sold out in Philly," said Fries'dat, "and got some good press there, and there’s also a radio interview up on our website . We’ll be on Cape Cod in August, and I’ll keep you posted after that."

Johnny Bennett wrote the title song and starred in the Sunscreen 2008 video, Where We Belong.

He recently reported that his song "Favors" is being placed in upcoming feature film Outrage starring Micheal Madsen.

Johnny was just in St. Pete performing his solo act at a local beach festival and is working on a national tour with his band.

Suzanne Niedland, director of Miss Lil's Camp, has won a Silver Telly. Along with director Aaron Wells of Silver Beach Productions, Niedland won as producer for their production, What is Art?

The program was shot for the opening of art gallery NOVA 535 in St. Petersburg, FL, where the filmmakers explored the question “What is art?” through interviews with area artists featured at the facilityʼs grand opening along with venue owner Michael S. Novilla. Sunscreen 2008 attendees know NOVA 535 as the place where everyone partied after the awards ceremony.

Original music for What is Art? was provided by celebrated hip-hop DJ and recording artist DJ Zeph and Wide Hive Records.

The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions as well as work created for the Web. 

A prestigious judging panel of over 40 accomplished industry professionals, each a past winner of a Silver Telly, judged the competition.

Niedland's film Miss Lil's Camp appeared at Sunscreen 2008.

The principal of her alma mate, Lakewood High School, saw her and her film at the festival and invited her to address a crowd of about 400 people at a graduation event.

Sanjeev Sirpal, writer and director of the Sunscreen 2008 feature Screw Cupid, is getting it done around the country. He writes:

Screw Cupid won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Delray Beach Film Festival! It was already great that we sold out our screening (330 seat theater, I had to stand. It was awesome), but then to win the award totally made up for it being 200 degrees in South Florida.

Screw Cupid has also been chosen as one of ten films to compete in the first ever MyFestival at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Our heartiest thanks to everyone who atteneded the Sunscreen Film Festival. We have had many people come up to us or send an email expressing just how great their experience was. If you were particularly motivated or touched by what our organization is doing, we have two ways to help keep us going.

1. Write a letter
If you want to express just how great a time you had at our Festival, take a moment and put it in writing. Letters will be invaluable to our mission in the future, convincing sponsors and guests exactly why Sunscreen is THE place to be!

Send letters to:
Sunscreen Film Festival
200 Central Avenue, Suite 290
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

2. Be a Friend of the Festival
Visit our Friend of the Festival page and consider locking yourself in for upcoming events in 2008 and for Festival Passes for 2009. We also have an option to donate smaller amounts - everything helps, and we're a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as well.

Folks, the 2008 Sunscreen Festival is history! There are way too many people to thank in this space, but be assured there was a small army of people required to make the third annual Fest possible, and we appreciate every last one of them.

And now, for the rest of the world who missed the party, here are the award winners of Sunscreen 2008:

Best Music Video - "Through Any Window"
Best Animated Film - "Glitch"
Best Short Film - "Rabia"
Best Documentary - "Holler Back - [not] Voting in an American Town"
Best Director - Michael Knowles, "One Night"
The Stan and Cindy Heitman Best Florida Film Award - "Pawn'd"
Audience Award - "The Art of Pain"
Best Feature Film - "Broke Sky"

Marty Poole of York Entertainment announced that his company would make a guaranteed distribution offer to one of the features in competition and they chose "Broke Sky" as the recipient.

Congrats to all the winners!

Today marks the launch of the Third Annual Sunscreen Film Festival!! We kick off the night at Muvico Theatres at Baywalk in St. Petersburg with "Broke Sky"

Muvico Theaters: 151 2nd Ave N, St Petersburg, FL 33701

Tomorrow through Saturday, all screenings will be taking place at the beautiful Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Club, in the Palm Court Ballroom (entrance off 7th Ave.) The main address for the Vinoy: 501 5th Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701

If you purchased passes online, we will have your name at will call at Muvico (Wednesday night only) and the Vinoy.

Click image above for schedule, or visit sunscreen2008.bside.com

FESTIVAL PASSES

There are several pass options available for the 2008 Sunscreen Film Festival.

Our premier option is a Sunscreen All-Access Pass that allows priority entrance to all film screenings and parties presented in conjunction with the Festival.

$90 - Sunscreen All-Access Pass

The next option is a Sunscreen Films Pass that allows priority entrance to all Festival film screenings.

$70 - Sunscreen Films Pass

If you can only attend Sunscreen for a single day, we offer a Sunscreen Day Pass that allows priority entrance to all film screenings on a single day (Thursday, Friday or Saturday).

$25 - Sunscreen Day Pass

Choose Day

Thursday Friday Saturday

The Executive Producers of the Sunscreen Film Festival are pleased to announce that this March, actor and Florida resident John Travolta will join local filmmakers and film festival supporters for a reception celebrating the launch of the Film Festival's third season.

"People who know me know that I am a great believer in the creative process, and I am excited to be a part of something that is honoring the next generation of film makers," Travolta said. " I love living in Florida and want to see more films made here – this is what Sunscreen is working toward and I support what they are doing."

The Sunscreen Film Festival shows selections of films made by Florida filmmakers. This year it received 47 submissions for the Florida category among 240 entries. The Festival will be held in St. Petersburg March 19 – 22 at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel and at the Baywalk Muvico, a short walk from the Vinoy.

Tony Armer, Executive Director of the Festival, said that the support of Mr. Travolta and others is taking the Festival to a new level. "Each year Sunscreen grows and attracts more attention," he added. "We are extremely grateful and honored by this support from Mr. Travolta, an accomplished artist and an industry leader. He is making a tremendous contribution."

For more information please contact Harry Chittenden hc@robinsonbrandbuilders.com 727-894-3051 x117

Tony Armer, executive director of the Sunscreen Film Festival, has announced that audience members will be able to vote on their favorite films.

“It works like American Idol,” he said. “We'll provide audience members with a special number. They can then text message their vote for their favorite film in various categories.”

Armer said that it's the audience that ultimately decides on the merits of any film and is pleased to be able to offer this service as a young, up-and-coming film festival. Part of the fun of film festivals, he said, is being among the first to see what's got sizzle in new movies. This service makes it possible to get a sense of what's hot.

Armer said that he application remembers votes so that folks can vote only once for a film.

The technology will be provided by Agile Communications Group from Tampa.

The 3rd Annual Sunscreen Film festival is proud to announce that the following films have been accepted to the 2008 festival.

300 Pounds... 3000 Flares... Across The Hall... Ajar... The Apple Tree... The Art of Pain... Backgrounded... Beyond the Call... Broke Sky... The Chappellabe Afterschool Sex-Ed Program presents Chris & Reed in: NIGHTMARES!... Copy... Cracker Crazy: Invisible Histories of the Sunshine State... Cubanos, Life and Death of a Revolution... Cycle... Cyn... D.O.P.E.... Die Flugbegleiterin... Diva... Ed & Vern's Rock Store... Expendable... FEMA City... Final Journey... Finding Wild Florida... Forced Alliance... From Fire: An Odyssey of Glass... Glitch... Good Morning Herr Horst... The Good Samaritan... A Grain Of Salt... The Grift... The Hanging Tree... Holler Back - [not] Voting in an American Town... I Communicate!... I Dream In Stereo... Inside the Handy Writer's Colony... Java-Appetite... Letting Go... The Life and Death of Wriggly Chew... Life In Transition... March Out... The Magic... Miss Lil's Camp... Mr. Bubbs... A Moment's Reverie... Near the End... No Parking... Ochrasy... The Old Son... One Night... Partially True Tales of High Adventure!... Pawn'D... Pencil Fighting: The Life and Times of Team Balderdash... Pennhurst... The PhoneKeeper... Pin Down Girl: The Story Of Ethel Brown... Rabia... A REALLY Intimate Portrait... Of a complete unknown... Running Seasons... Sakugoe... Screw Cupid... The Seed... Siempre Pude Ver... Simulacra... Sticks & Stones Will Break My Heart... Tea Reverie... Through Any Window... Totally Connected... Valentino's Day... Vartan LLP... The Vault... Via Bearzi... Where We Belong... Why We Wax...

January 15, 2008
Elated executives of the Sunscreen Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Fla. announced today that submissions to the March 19-22 festival are now closed.

"Now our judges have the tough job of determining which films we'll show at the Festival," said Tony Armer, executive director of Sunscreen. "It's a lot of work, but we are going to have a great year. We have about 20 percent more submissions this year than last. In addition, preliminary looks indicate that the quality is superb."

Fast facts:

• 240 entries from over a dozen countries including, Japan, Germany, UK, Australia, Italy, France, Switzerland, China, Iraq, Canada, Palestine and the US
• 58 feature films
• 182 short films
• 14 animated films (in shorts and features)
• 34 documentaries (in shorts and features)
• 12 music videos
• 47 Florida films

In addition, Armer said that the Festival in an area exclusive is screening Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation 1982-1988. This is a complete remake of the original Spielberg Raiders by three young men from Mississippi who began the project when they were 10, 11 and 12. It has been blessed by Spielberg and has played to sold-out festivals around the world. The film's director, Eric Zala, will also attend.

The Festival is also making arrangements for the attendance of several industry celebrities. Armer said that these would be announced as soon as plans become firm.

The Sunscreen Film Festival will be held at the Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg, Fla. March 19-22.

For further media information, please contact
Harry Chittenden
hc@robinsonbrandbuilders.com
727-420-0566

The St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society is excited to partner with Push Ultra Lounge and Florida Casino Parties for our first event of 2008, to benefit the Sunscreen Film Festival.

(click for larger version)

Save the date! Thursday, February 7 - Casino Royale 2008!

Happy new year, friends of Sunscreen!

We would like to take this opportunity to tell you a bit about some of our very exciting 2008 events, including some of our special guests. Just click on the Coundown to '08" graphic above for all the details!

Also, be on the lookout for our first special event of year, a Casino Night fundraiser to be held January 30! It promises to be a lot of fun, and we'll have all the details in a few days. Keep your eyes on SunscreenFilmFestival.com!

The Sunscreen Film Festival is announcing a new way to support the Festival and the independent film community in St. Petersburg. Visit our Friend of the Festival page and see what benefit packages we offer at various donation levels.

Visit our Get Involved page for more ways to support Sunscreen including Volunteering and Advertising in our Festival Program.

The Sunscreen Film Festival is pleased to announce two additions to our our list of sponsors.

ProductionHUB.com is the leading online industry directory for film, television and digital media.

MityMo Design is a creative services company in St. Petersburg, Florida, providing quality websites and print materials.

Visit our Sponsors page for more information and additional sponsors.

We are excited to announce our guests scheduled to appear for the Sunscreen Film Festival Screenwriters' Panel to be held Friday, March 21, 2008.

Scheduled to appear are:

Steven E. de Souza, co-writer of 48 Hrs. and Die Hard
Karl Iglesias, author of 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters
Timothy J. Sexton, Oscar-nominated co-writer of Children of Men

Visit our Guests page for expanded biographies and more information.

The Third Annual Sunscreen Film Festival is closing in on the end of our submission period. In addition to our regular categories (including Florida Film) the 2008 Festival features three new categories - Fan Films, Action/Sports Films and Music Videos.

To learn more about these categories or submit your film, visit our listing at Withoutabox by December 31, 2007.