The Official Gasparilla Film Festival Blog

2010 Call For Entries

2009-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings Filmmakers:

Another festival season is upon us! We are accepting submissions now through December 15, 2009 for the 4th annual Gasparilla International Film Festival, taking place from Thursday, March 18 through Sunday, March 21, 2010. The early bird deadline is September 15, 2009; the regular deadline is November 15, 2009; and the is December 1, 2009.

We are proud to partner with a new venue, CineBistro, in Tampa's hip and happening Hyde Park. This brand new theatre will bring film and fine dining together for an unforgettable fest! The parties will be bigger and the 4-day festival will be more filmmaker friendly than ever.

GIFF is truly an international festival, accepting film from all around the globe, along with our popular Cuban selections. Categories for 2010 include:

Horror
Comedy
Documentary
International
Young Filmmaker (under 25 years old)
North American Drama
Short Film
Florida Focus

Informative filmmaker panels and workshops and networking opportunities with industry leaders and film supporters, always a staple of our film festival are all held together by our renowned parties and fiestas. This is a fest you won't forget!

For those of you that missed our 2009 Fest here is a photo recap!

We hope that you will consider submitting and returning to see us again. For more information, please visit our website. (www.gasparillafilmfestival.com)

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT -

The Fun Continues!

2009-08-03T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Film Fans! GIFF is continuing to bring independent and foreign film to the bay area throughout 2009. As part of the festival's Global Lens Series, we will have a screening of the film THE PHOTOGRAPH on August 8, 2009 at Home Theatre Gallery (3300 South Dale Mabry Highway, near the intersection with El Prado Blvd.). THE PHOTOGRAPH is an Indonesian film with English subtitles about a young woman forced into prostitution, who pulls herself out of her miserable circumstances with the generous help of a mysterious man. It is a classic tale with an Eastern twist. Come enjoy the film and mix with your fellow film fans! Beer and wine will be served. It is only $10 ($5 for seniors and students) and free for GIFF members. Here is the link for more info: THE PHOTOGRAPH.

The parties never stop at GIFF! On September 11, 2009, GIFF will hold its Annual Benefit Party and Art Auction at THE RITZ in Ybor. Tampa Bay artists will showcase their art in an auction to benefit GIFF (and the artist). Other great items like a 5-day vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico will be auctioned and raffled off. There will be live music, free finger food, and a full, cash bar stocked with the best in beer, wine, and liquor. Admission is only $10! Buy your tickets now!

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE 2009 GIFF!!!

2009-03-17T20:40:00.001-07:00

On behalf of the entire GIFF staff, we want to thank you all for coming out to the 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival. We hope you had lots of fun and were inspired by the films that screened this year. Without your support for independent and local film, the festival would not have been successful.

Thank You!

THE AWARD WINNERS:
Young Filmmaker Grand Jury -Zona Rossa by Gina Papabeis
Audience Best Short Narrative-Gisela's Closet by Ben Rosa
Best Short Documentary-Improv Island by Tod Wiseman, Jr.
Best Florida Production -Ghost of Ybor - Charlie Wall by Pete and (sponsored by Hill Ward Henderson) Paul Guzzo
Special Mention Cinema Award-Clear Lake, WI by Morgan Simpson and Charlie Poe
Special Mention Cinema Award-Misconceptions by Ron Satlof
Special Mention Male-Mark Ruffalo in What Doesn't Kill You
Special Mention Female-Laura Harring in Drool
Audience Best Narrative-What Doesn't Kill You by Brian Goodman
Audience Best Documentary-Truth in 24 by Keith Cossrow
(sponsored by RAV)
Special Mention Grand Jury-Amal by Richie Mehta
Grand Jury-Kassim the Dream by Kief Davidson
(sponsored by Élan Event Studio)

Visit www.gasparillafilmfestival.com for more info about the festival and help GIFF continue to promote filmmaking in Tampa Bay and bring in the best in independent, international film by becoming a member or renewing for 2009-2010. And stay tuned for links to pics and video from the 2009 festival!

AND... a special Thank You to our Sponsors and their generous support!

Sponsors of the 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival include: Knopik Varner Moore, Lydian Bank & Trust, CineBistro, Tampa Bay Film Commission, Stella Artois, InterContinental Tampa, Cobb Theaters, Don Vicente de Ybor, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, NetLease Commercial Advisory, Events by Amore, Pickett Public Relations, Emotional Connections Consulting, Tampa Bay on Demand, Marshall Entertainment Insurance, Roundhouse Creative Studios, St. Petersburg Times, tbt*, Univision Tampa, Telemundo, Telefutura, International Academy of Design & Technology, New Life Mortgage, Arts Council of Hillsborough County and Channelside Cinemas 10 IMAX.

Closing Night Wrap Party TONIGHT!

2009-03-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that the Closing Night Party is Tonight!!! Mingle with VIPs and other festival-goers and discuss all of the awesome movies of the 3rd Annual Gasparilla International Film Festival. Oh yeah, and there's an open bar ;D

Volunteers for Tonight!

2009-03-06T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hey GIFF volunteers, if any of you are able to help out tonight, we are a little bit short staffed on ticket takers. Remember, you get service hours and FREE MOVIE PASSES! Not to mention that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. :)

Watch THE STREAK and Honor Brandon High's Coach Russ Cozart TONIGHT!

2009-03-06T06:47:00.000-08:00

From the official press release:
GIFF HONORS BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL'S WRESTLING COACH
WITH "OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD"

The 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival is proud to honor Coach Russ Cozart, Brandon High School's wrestling coach and star of the Documentary, The Streak, with the festival's "Outstanding Achievement Award".

The Streak began in 1973, and the Eagles piled up 459 consecutive victories and went 468 matches without a defeat. Both of those numbers are national records for a high school team in any sport. In the suburbs of Tampa, drool_movie Florida these are normal kids from normal families. The picture painted isn't sugar-coated. The group is flawed, and that's what helps make them perfect - perfect enough to go unbeaten for 34 years. In the film, we meet the typical coach's son who was born to be a star. We laugh at the vocal leader drenched in hubris. We relate to the silent hero who feels the pressure, the late bloomer who finds himself, and the gentle giant who learns to roar. Yet none of them would mean anything to us without the streak itself. And the streak wouldn't exist without Coach Russ Cozart who is far from the norm.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Can you believe it? This outstanding achievement of winning every single match since 1973? It's amazing. It makes me proud to be from Tampa! And not only do we get to watch the documentary, but then Coach Cozart himself will be honored with GIFF's "Outstanding Achievement Award". I declare tonight, Tampa Spirit Night!

***The film will screen tonight at 6:45pm at Channelside. Tix are $10.

Also, the AFI short film BUCKETS will screen immediately before THE STREAK, so really, you get to watch two great films! Lucky you. :)

The Reel Deal: MONDAY & TUESDAY, MARCH 2+3

2009-03-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Hope you're enjoying the fest so far! Just wanted to let you know that POSSIBLE LIVES will be screening both tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm at Channelside. Also on Tuesday night, there will be a cinematography workshop titled SHOOTING RED, which will discuss the new Red One Camera, which was used to shoot Che Pts. 1+2, and My Bloody Valentine 3-D. That panel discussion will be held at the University of Tampa's Music Room at 6:30 pm, and is FREE.

Here is a map of how to get to the Music Room. (The title gives the name of another panel discussion, From Audition to Role, which will be held at the same location and time on Wednesday. Do not get confused with the two panels, they will both be happening at the Music Room, just on different days.)

http://gasparilla.bside.com/2009/venues/screening/2471036104/print;jsessionid=64E0682FA7A2148E8C2B4BAEA7504E2A

~Happy Festing~

Secrets to Love screening Today @ 7:00pm

2009-03-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

We've all heard the statistic that 49% of marriages end in divorce. It almost makes you feel hopeless, like there's no such thing as a happily ever after. Documentarian Tracie Donahue explores what the key to a lasting relationship is, as she interviews relationship experts and married couples, in SECRETS TO LOVE.

See the film at 7:00pm tonight, at Channelside. Tickets are $10.

Misconceptions and Armand Assante TODAY!!

2009-03-01T10:32:00.001-08:00

Hey all, just a reminder that MISCONCEPTIONS, the film that was show in post-production stage at the Kodak workshop at last year's GIFF, will be screening tonight @ 9pm @ Channelside in all it's finished glory. Also, the Armand Assante reception is scheduled for 5:00pm at the Dolce Vita Lounge, with the film THE STEAM EXPERIMENT, screening at Channelside at 7:00pm, so come out and see a true movie star!

~Happy Festing~

MISCONCEPTIONS Trailer

THE STEAM EXPERIMENT Trailer

Additional Ticket Info

2009-02-28T14:39:00.001-08:00

Just to clear up any confusion, there are ticket packages that are available if you would like to save money and buy your tickets in bulk, but you may also purchase individual tickets for $10. Some shorts programs are $5, and there are even a few FREE screenings! At this point, some tickets are only available at the door, but there are still others that can be purchased online, including tickets for all of our big VIP events!

**Industry professionals who have been given a VIP pass have access to the Closing Night Party, as well as all the other great events, and do not need to purchase additional tickets for themselves.

So be sure to take advantage of all the deals we have going right now and take in some fantastic independent cinema!

REMINDER: Buy your Tickets for the Closing Night Party before they Sell Out!!!

2009-02-28T13:54:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I just wanted to throw a reminder up to buy your tickets early for GIFF's Closing Night Wrap Party at the Tampa Firefighter's Museum. Considering the Opening Night Party SOLD OUT, it would probably be in your best interest to grab your tickets ahead of time if you know you want to attend this awesome event. Come join us in this celebration of cinema and mingle with directors, actors, writers, and other VIPs. There will be food, drinks, and music from DJ Fresh! Tickets are $40, and include an OPEN BAR! (Sorry, no one under 21 will be admitted to this event.)

Date: Sat. March 7th

Time: 8:00pm-11:00pm

Location: Tampa Firefighters Museum
720 Zack St
Tampa, FL

ORDER YOUR TIX HERE: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/55068

For more information, you can visit:
www.gasparillafilmfestival.com, or call (813)514-9962.

~Happy Festing~

Urgent Call for Volunteers for What Doesn't Kill You

2009-02-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! We need some more volunteers for the film WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU, screening tonight at 7pm. Anyone can volunteer and you get a free film pass!! Give back to your local film community and see a FREE film at the fest, what can be better than that?

Sign up here:

http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=62

The Reel Deal: FRIDAY, FEB. 27TH Pt. 3 (Trailers)

2009-02-27T13:47:00.001-08:00

Here are a few trailers for films that will be screening tonight. Have fun!

AMAL

CLEAR LAKE, WI

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU **a Florida premiere!!!

FIX

The Reel Deal: FRIDAY, FEB. 27TH Pt. 2 (Features)

2009-02-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

Name: WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU (100 mins) - Brian Goodman
When: 7:00pm-8:40pm
Where: Channelside
Cost: Tickets available at the door

Based on events from director Goodman's life, this is a film about two best friends struggling to escape from the life of organized crime once and for all, before they loose their families and all hope for redemption. Brian Goodman is expected to attend for an audience Q+A!!

Accompanying short: AN EVENING WITH EMERY LONG (14 mins, USA) - Brad DeMarea
A first date with your best friend/co-worker's ex most likely won't turn out they way you would prefer.

Name: PRE-FILM SCREENING RECEPTION FOR CLEAR LAKE, WI
When: 7:30pm-9:00 (Pre-Film Reception) 9:15pm-11:00pm (Film + Q+A) 11:00-? (After Party)
Where: Dolce Vita Lounge, Channelside Cinemas Party Deck
Cost: $25, tickets available at the door, No one under 21 admitted to the Pre-Film Reception(sorry!). After party open to the public.

I think the website best describes this event: "Come mingle with Executive Producer Charlie Poe and Writer/Actor/Producer Morgan Simpson from the film Clear Lake, WI. Beginning at 7:30pm in the Dolce Vita Lounge, a $25 ticket gets you in to the reception, 2 drink tickets, food, and admission to the film screening!

The After-Party on Channelside Cinemas' Party Deck will feature a live performance from Bob Cooper of The Cooper Band, who can be heard on the film's soundtrack.

Name: AMAL (110 mins, from Canada in English and Hindi) - Richie Mehta
When: 7:35
Where: Channelside
Cost: Tickets available at the door

A poor rickshaw driver teaches a secret billionaire about real success in life. Director Richie Mehta is expected to attend and participate in an audience Q+A.

Name: FIX (95 mins) - Tao Ruspoli
When: 7:45
Where: Channelside
Cost: Tickets available at the door

Based on true events, two filmmakers must race through California to raise the funds for their friend to be able to enter Rehab. The catch is they have to do it by 8pm that very night.

Name: CLEAR LAKE, WI (92 mins) - Brian Ide
When: 9:15pm
Where: Channelside
Cost: Tickets available at the door

A mysterious disease causes a quiet small town to be evacuated. Fifteen years later, a documentarian brings back five former residents and then disappears, leaving them to confront their past and the strange happenings that are still occuring in the town.

Name: POSSIBLE LIVES (80 mins, Spanish with English subtitles) - Sandra Gugliotta
When: 9:30 pm
Where: Channelside
Cost: Tickets available at the door

This film is part of the Global Film Iniative's 2009 Global Film Lens series.

After her husband goes missing, his wife sets out looking for him and discovers a man with a different name and family who looks eerily similar to her husband. She is convinced that this man is her husband, but the police discover a body that may prove otherwise. Who is her real husband, and what does this mean for the young wife?

The Reel Deal: FRIDAY, FEB. 27TH Pt. 1 (Shorts)

2009-02-27T08:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, my fellow film fanatics! These are all the cool details about the films screening tonight, Friday Feb. 27th.

Name: $5 SHORTS
Time: 6:20pm
Cost: $5 for all 4 shorts. Great deal! Available at the door only.
Where: Channelside

THEY (10 mins) - Sean Tweeley
Since we were old enough to talk, our parents, our friends, and our teachers have been informing us of the rules and conventions that govern society and how we function within it. How many times have we heard, "Well they say..." Who is "They"? In this humourous response to that question, Sean Tweeley takes us into the "They" secret society and their struggle to deal with their loss of influence on society as the American counter-culture begins to re-emerge.

LIFE AS A CANCER PATIENT (7 mins) - Sean Malloy
This is an inspirational documentary about the past 10 year's of Thomas Eger's life as he fiercely battles the rare Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Cancer, and how he deals with the disease in his day to day life.

SOBER (20 mins)
An intense interrogation of a prisoner of war that will have lasting effects on all involved.

DECISION (16 mins)
A surrealistic look into the afterlife in which a young woman must face figures from her past and judge herself.

Name: FOREIGN SHORTS
Time: 6:30pm
Cost: FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE!!!!!!!!!!
Where: Channelside

LAND GEWINNEN (21 mins, Germany) - Marc Brummand
A father struggles to keep his family together while living undocumented in Germany.

PORQUE HAY COSAS QUE NUNCA SE OLVIDAN (Because There Are Things that You Never Forget) (12 mins)
A rogue soccer ball in a mean old lady's yard leads to deadly revenge.

CAM2CAM (26 mins, France) - Davy Sihali
A young woman is entranced by a twisted erotic webcam game.

FUERA DE SERVICIO (OUT OF ORDER) (4 mins) - Lucia Vannucchi
An elevator and a pen bring two not-so-strangers together.

Ticket Info + Some Suggestions

2009-02-27T08:03:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone, just a reminder that you can buy tickets either ahead of time on the website, www.gasparillafilmfestival.com, or at the GIFF Box Office, which is located in the lobby of Channelside Cinemas. My advice is to snag them ahead of time, because you never know what could occur and make you late for the screening. It's much faster to have them ready with your name on them at Will Call than to have to stop and pay.

Also, If you are able to get to the screening early, I suggest you do so because seating is limited and no one wants to watch a premiere from the bottom row with their necks craning up into the most uncomfortable positions.

There are ticket packages that are available if you know there are several films that you definitely want to see. These passes are cheaper than paying for each individual ticket, and they make you look super fancy!

Pricing as follows:

All-Access Film Pass $100 (unlimited film
screenings)

"6 Pack" - Get 6 film tickets for the price of 5! $50

**The Opening Night Film and Gala was a HUGE success last night and the Opening Night Reception SOLD OUT, so if you are planning on attending the Closing Night Party, I'd recommend buying that ticket in advance, because history tends to repeat itself. The Closing Night Party is $40 and is available for purchase online and in the box office.

There will be more updates on the Blogger about films and events, so stay tuned!

~Happy Festing~

TONIGHT IS OPENING NIGHT!

2009-02-26T18:02:00.000-08:00

See this film, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, starring Kate Beckinsale, at the Opening Night Gala. Writer/Director Rod Lurie is expected to attend and will stay after the film for an audience Q&A!!

Be an Ambassador of Driver at this year's GIFF!

2009-02-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

From the official press release:

Gasparilla International Film Festival Seeks
Ambassadors & Drivers for 2009 Festival

The Gasparilla International Film Festival is seeking interested parties to act as Ambassadors for out of town visitors, filmmakers and special guests. Our intention with the Ambassador program is to help our guests feel welcome intampa our community, and provide any assistance to make their stay more enjoyable. As an Ambassador, we ask that you call and/or e-mail your filmmaker upon assignment to touch base and offer your hospitality while they are in town. This includes but is not limited to offering directions, suggesting local restaurants/things to do, researching information/background about their film, attending their film, and presenting them to the film attendees prior to their show time.

There is also a need for drivers to usher VIP's around the Bay Area. Drivers must be 25 or older with a valid driver's license and clean driving record.

This is your opportunity to play a larger role in the 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the Tampa Bay Film Commission. My contact information is below.

Thank you, and see you at the movies!

Lindsey Norris
813.342.4058

Sports Films at the 2009 GIFF

2009-02-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

From the official press release:

SPORTS FILMS MAKE LARGE CONTRIBUTION TO FEATURES AT THE 2009 GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Breakout Actor, Algenis Perez Soto; Boxing Phenomenon, Kassim "The Dream" Ouma; Blind MLB Announcer, Henry Oliu; Brandon High's Coach Cozart and the "Audi R10 TDI" Race Car Will Attend the Festival in Support of Their Documentary Films

Tampa, FL - February 19, 2009 - The Gasparilla International Film Festival will offer five sports related films for their attendees. The features tell stories of perseverance, strength, triumph and defeat. These films and documentaries will tug at the viewer's heart and simultaneously offer the ultimate adrenaline rush. The four features include Sugar starring Algenis Perez Soto; Kassim The Dream, ESPN's The Streak, Truth in 24 and Henry O'. Media interviews for the cast of these films are available and currently being scheduled. Tickets and times are available on www.gasparillafilmfestival.com.

Sugar, a narrative drama, follows the storysugar of Miguel Santos, a.k.a. Sugar, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro De Macorís, struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Miguel finally gets his break, but ultimately questions his life's ambition after injuries, loneliness and reality sets in. Algenis Soto Perez, the film's young star, plans to be in attendance.

ESPN's The Streak, is a hometown feature on Brandon High School'sstreak extraordinary wrestling team. Coach Russ Cozart led the team on a winning streak for 34 straight years with 459 consecutive victories and 468 undefeated matches, two current national records. The screening of this film will coincide with the DVD release by ESPN on Amazon.com. Coach Cozart will attend and receive the Gasparilla Outstanding Achievement Award.

Kassim The Dream, a documentary, tells the story of a boxingkassim champions' detrimental childhood as a soldier, kidnapped by an African rebel army. Kassim finds his escape through boxing and finally made it to the United States, freeing him from 12 years of captivity. Kassim Ouma, a Florida resident and World Champion boxer, plans to be in attendance for the screenings and will lead a film chat.

Truth in 24 was created by NFL Films. Director Keith Cossrow and co-director Bennett Viseltear and follows theaudi_r10 'Audi Sport' racing team, one of the most dominant sports team in the history of professional sports. With unprecedented access to Team Audi and the crew, "Truth In 24" explores Team Audi's history of domination at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the complications, as the team prepares for the 2008 race. Audi intends to bring the R10 TDI to the separate screenings at Channelside Theaters and the Beach Theater in St Pete Beach.

HENRY O!, tells the remarkable and inspiring story of Henry Oliu, a blind man who followed his dream andhenry_o became an announcer for the home town Tampa Bay Rays. Using his love for sports and an encyclopedic memory, Henry hears the crack of the bat and knows if it's a single, double, or homerun; he listens for the ball singing into the catcher's mitt and knows if it's a curveball, fastball, or change-up. Henry is the color analyst on Mega Classica 820 radio, WMGG in the Tampa Bay Area and will be in attendance with the filmmakers.

Information on these and other films are available at www.gasparillafilmfestival.com. Opening night of the festival takes place at the historic Tampa Theatre on Thursday, February 26th, and the festival ends on Saturday, March 7th with a closing night event at the Tampa Firefighters' Museum.

BUY YOUR TICKETS!! Get'em before they're gone!

2009-02-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

From the press release:

GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES ONLINE TICKETING NOW AVAILABLE!

Tampa, FL - (Friday, February 13, 2009) -The 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival's website is now complete! You're now able to purchase tickets to our special events, film screenings and educational panels.

Don't miss out on these excellent deals!

Opening Night VIP Reception & Film $35

Closing Night Party $40

All-Access Film Pass $100 (unlimited film
screenings)

"6 Pack" - Get 6 film tickets for the price of 5! $50

For more information on this year's festivities, visit www.gasparillafilmfestival.com or call (813)514-9962.

View trailers from a some of our film selections!

The 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival Red Carpet Opening night will take place at Tampa's historic Tampa Theatre on Thursday, February 26th and will end on Saturday, March 7th at The Tampa Firefighters Museum.

BUY YOUR TICKETS!!! MANY TICKETS TO FILMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS ARE EXPECTED TO SELL OUT FAST! BUY YOUR TICKETS!!! :D

See ARMAND ASSANTE at the 2009 GIFF!!!

2009-02-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

From the Official Press Release:

Emmy Award winner and four-time Golden Globe nominee, Armand Assante, will receive the Gasparilla Career Achievement Award for Excellence in Film on March 1st. The award will be presented at a reception held in his honor at the DOLCE VITA LOUNGE AT 5pm. The Steam Experiment, starring Val Kilmer, which is a FIRST-TIME PUBLIC SCREENING of the film.

Armand Assante's first film was Lord's of Flatbush (1974), but burst on to the scene in the 1980's film Private Benjamin with Goldie Hawn. He has been a popular "tough guy" in films such as The Jury, Gotti, and Rage of Angels. Other notable films in his nearly four decades of work include TV/film classics like Jack the Ripper, Striptease, The Odyssey, American Gangster, The Mambo Kings and Q & A. Attendees at this year's film festival can catch him in The Steam Experiment as he portrays the role of Detective Mancini. In this movie, a former professor (Val Kilmer) concocts a brutal experiment in order to get the word out on the effects of global warming. By trapping six people in an urban Turkish bathhouse, he vows to overheat his hostages unless his global-warming hypothesis is published on the front page of his local paper. In California Dreamin', Assante plays the lead role as Captain Doug Jones. This movie is based on a true story and follows a NATO train transporting military equipment that is stopped in the middle of nowhere by an overzealous chief of a Romanian train station. This film is set against the backdrop of the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. With humor and gritty realism, the film explores how American soldiers led by Captain Jones impact the lives of people in a small village community.
__________________________________________________
Tickets for the AWARDS RECEPTION WITH ARMAND ASSANTE AND THE STEAM EXPERIMENT ARE $30.

The film by itself is $10, and will screen at Channelside.

Schedule:

Private reception with Armand Assante
La Dolce Vita
5pm

The Steam Experiment
Channelside Cinemas
7pm

The reception with Armand Assante IS EXPECTED TO SELL OUT, so do try and get your tickets ASAP. Purchase tix at:

http://gasparilla.bside.com/2009/films/armandassantefilmsandreceptionpackage_gasparilla2009

To view the complete program for the 09 GIFF, please visit:

http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com/

Volunteers Needed!!

2009-02-10T20:04:00.001-08:00

As the programming demonstrates, the 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival promises to be a fantastic event for cinema-lovers from all around, as well as the Tampa Bay Area community. GIFF is currently looking for volunteers for this year's fest, so whether you are a student and need some service hours, or a film-lover who just wishes to give back to the local film community, here is your chance! There are several positions that require volunteers, such as Box Office attendant, Usher, etc. Volunteer perks include FREE admission to screenings and the opportunity to be invited to V.I.P. events!!

Sign up at:

http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=62

We could really use the extra hands!

GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2009 OFFICIAL PROGRAM!!!

2009-02-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

This is it folks! The moment we've all been waiting for. The official 2009 Gasparilla International Film Fest programming!!

GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REELS IN
HEAVY HITTERS FOR THIRD ANNUAL EVENT

The Festival Will Offer A-List, Award Winning
Feature Films and Shorts During 10 Day Film Fest

Tampa, FL - (Monday, February 09, 2009) - Well respected names like Rod Lurie, Oren Koules, and Brian Goodman will add style and grace to this three-year-old festival. The Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) will kick off opening night with Nothing But The Truth, starring Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett and Alan Alda. The festival will also present a lifetime achievement award to veteran actress Terry Moore. The opening night screening and award ceremony will take place at The Tampa Theatre on
Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 7:30pm. nothing_but_the_truth

Incumbent President Chad Moore, an attorney with KnopikVarnerMoore said, "Doubling in size this year to a 10-day festival was risky with the economy, but we have the people, community, and the desire to do what we do best --- line up wonderful films with global reach and create reasons for people to get out and have a good time."

The festival lined up of some amazing films, many of which will be Florida premieres. Some of the featured films include Misconceptions featuring A. J. Cook, Orlando Jones, David Moscow and Sarah Carter; What Doesn't Kill You featuring Ethan Hawke and Brian Goodman; Kassim the Dream; and II Divo. GIFF will also host the first public screening of the Steam Experiment starring Val Kilmer, Armand Assante and St. Petersburg native, Megan Brown.
The 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival Red Carpet Opening night will take place at Tampa's historic Tampa Theatre on Thursday, February 26th and will end on Saturday, March 7th at The Tampa Firefighters Museum.

Sponsors of the 2009 Gasparilla International Film Festival include: Knopik Varner Moore, Lydian Bank & Trust, CineBistro, Tampa Bay Film Commission, Stella Artois, InterContinental Tampa, Cobb Theaters, Don Vicente de Ybor, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, NetLease Commercial Advisory, Events by Amore, Pickett Public Relations, Emotional Connections Consulting, Tampa Bay on Demand, Roundhouse Creative Studios, St. Petersburg Times, tbt*, Univision Tampa, Telemundo, Telefutura, International Academy of Design & Technology, Arts Council of Hillsborough County and Channelside Cinemas 10 IMAX.

(I really really hope Val Kilmer comes! Keep your fingers crossed I guess!!)

FINAL Tampa Film Review Screening - See the Best of the Bay!

2009-01-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

For the past 5 years, the Tampa Film Review has been showcasing the best that Tampa Bay cinema has to offer. The reason why local filmmaking has blossomed so much is largely due to the Tampa Film Review and the Guzzo brothers:

"Every month for the past five years, the Tampa Film Review has showcased films produced by Tampa filmmakers. The fact that TFR has been able to fill so many months of programming with locally produced films is a testament to the talent in the Tampa Bay area. The Gasparilla International Film Festival and the Tampa Film Institute have long admired and respected the tireless work of the Guzzo Brothers and TFR. The Film Review will be missed by us and the 100's of monthly attendees that came to see the latest that local production had to offer."

This January marks the final installment in the Tampa Film Review series, and to be screened are some of the best local shorts from the past 5 years:

Gunn Highway by Stefan Abbott (Vino-Figueroa) - Looks can be deceiving. Just because someone looks one way on the outside, doesn't mean they look the same on the inside. **GUNN HIGHWAY WON "BEST LOCAL PRODUCTION" AT THE 2008 GIFF**

To Live Is To Die by Chris Woods: A group of college students are asked to share non-fictional stories in the writing class. Strangely enough the authors fall victim to their own tales.

Tale of Two Meagans by Fred Zara: Confident science major Mark Jarvis has never encountered a problem he couldn't solve through cool-headed analysis. But when he falls head-over-heels in love with two women of equal-but-opposite appeal, the cocky whiz kid finds himself faced with the impossible task of having to choose just one.

Mexican Sky by Ken Collins: A mouthy career criminal takes a sheriff and his deputy hostage in their own squad car in a desperate attempt to flee across the Mexican border.

Time & Again by Todd Thompson: Steve Peters has found a way to control time, but how can he cheat death if fate has a mind of his own?

The Last One by Garrett Brown: Stop-motion claymation about a slacker who gets into in a horrific car crash and wakes to a surreal world where all perception is skewed.

The event takes place on:

WHEN: FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, from 8 - 10 p.m.
WHERE: THE ITALIAN CLUB, located at 1731 East Seventh Ave.
COST: FREE FREE FREE!!!!!!!!!! AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! :)

In addition, the Italian Club will be offering complimentary food and drink specials, and their weekly Happy Hour starts at 6pm.

Don't miss the VERY LAST INSTALLMENT OF THE TAMPA FILM REVIEW! Support your local filmmakers and the very best that Tampa Bay Area cinema has to offer.

GIFF Website Overhaul - Check out our New Look!

2008-12-30T19:39:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that the GIFF website has undergone a complete overhaul, and that it looks FANTASTIC! Check it out!

http://gasparillafilmfestival.com/

Also, if you are not already following us on facebook, you can do so at:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=7826345151&ref=ts

Thanks for your continued interest and support!
-Rebecca and the GIFF Team

UPDATE: TIME CHANGE FOR UT GLOBAL LENS MINI-SERIES

2008-12-11T20:51:00.000-08:00

Due to commencement ceremonies at the University of Tampa, THE FIRST TWO FILMS of the Global Lens Mini-Series, Opera Jawa and Kept & Dreamless, will have to be RESCHEDULED. THE REST OF THE FILMS, beginning with Let the Wind Blow, WILL START AT 3pm. So the updated schedule is as follows:

Let the Wind Blow - 3pm
Luxury Car - 5pm
The Custodian - 7pm

Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. See ya at the movies!

UT Global Lens Mini-Series

2008-12-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

The Gasparilla International Film Festival will offer five films from the prestigious Global Lens Film Series to the students, faculty and film lovers at the University of Tampa. The event, which is open to the public, is SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 FROM 11AM-9PM, AT UT'S REEVES THEATRE (Univ. of Tampa Vaughn Center). The Series is sponsored by Knopik Varner Moore Law Firm and was recently chosen 'Best Film Series' by the Creative Loafing, Critic's Pick, 2008 'Loafies' Awards.

Ticket prices are $8 for a single film, $12 for two films, $15 for three. The event is FREE for Gasparilla International Film Festival members.

The film schedule is as follows:
11am Opera Jawa (Indonesia)
1pm Kept & Dreamless (Argentina)
3pm Let the Wind Blow (India)
5pm Luxury Car (China)
7pm The Custodian (Argentina)

OPERA JAWA:
Setyo and Siti live a peaceful life as husband and wife, selling earthenware in their village. But when Setyo is called away on business, a flirtatious butcher, Ludiro, takes advantage of Siti's loneliness to seduce her. Tempted by song and dance, Siti initially refuses his advances but acquiesces in a moment of weakness, setting the stage for an epic battle between the two men. Located in lush forests and on pristine beaches of Java, director Garin Nugroho bases his deeply imagistic and dazzling visual narrative on the "The Abduction of Sita," from the Hindu epic, The Ramayana.

Trailer for Opera Jawa
http://globalfilm.org/lens08/opera_jawa.htm

KEPT & DREAMLESS:
During Argentina's economic crisis of the '90s, nine year-old Eugenia and her mother, Florencia, live a seemingly colorful life surrounded by eclectic neighbors and an offbeat collection of family. But for Eugenia, who must deal with her mother's dysfunctional and drug-addled lifestyle, life is anything but pleasant in this darkly inspiring story of expectation, acceptance and nontraditional family, led by standout performances from director Vera Fogwill and young actress Lucía Snieg.

Trailer for Kept & Dreamless
http://globalfilm.org/lens08/kept_&_dreamless.htm

LET THE WIND BLOW:
At the height of nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan, Arjun and his best friend, Chabia, weigh their options for the future against the reality of life on the streets of Mumbai. Enticed by the promise of wealth and opportunity in the Persian Gulf, Chabia is eager to leave his job as a mechanic. But for Arjun, who must finish college and care for his mother, the decision is not so easy in director Partho Sen-Gupta's gritty, apocalyptic interpretation of Krishna's counsel to Arjuna, from theBhagavad Gita.

Trailer for Let the Wind Blow
http://globalfilm.org/lens08/let_the_wind_blow.htm

LUXURY CAR:
In this emotionally taut narrative, Li Qi Ming travels from his small village to the city of Wuhan, determined to fulfill his wife's last wish of seeing her son. But instead of finding his son, he discovers his daughter working as a karaoke bar escort, forcing him to come to terms with their long-estranged relationship and the tenuous future of his family. Director Wang Chao uses Li Qi Ming to represent the painful reality of thousands of parents who have lost contact with their children through rural exodus and political upheaval in China.

Trailer for Luxury Car
http://globalfilm.org/lens08/luxury_car.htm

THE CUSTODIAN:
As a bodyguard for a high profile politician, Ruben is reduced to a mere shadow of a man: every action in his life is regulated by a series of mundane routines, and everywhere his boss goes he must follow, watching but never speaking. Resigned to his invisibility, his life is a series of days without meaning, punctuated only by visits to a prostitute, in this compelling chronicle by first-time director Rodrigo Moreno of a man without any true identity or connection to the world in which he lives.

Trailer for The Custodian
http://globalfilm.org/lens08/custodian.htm

More information on these and other Global Film Initiative features is available at www.globalfilms.org.

ABOUT THE GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:
The Gasparilla International Film Festival, Tampa Bay 's largest independent film festival, is operated by the Tampa Film Institute, a full-time 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to advancing film education and community involvement in film in the Tampa Bay area. The 2009 Festival, taking place from Thursday, Feb. 26th- Saturday, March 7th, 2009, will attract over 10,000 moviegoers during its 10 days. For more information, please visit http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com.

3rd Annual Children's Day

2008-11-22T14:01:00.001-08:00

The Gasparilla International Film Festival announces its 3rd Annual 'Children's Day' to take place in Hyde Park Village on Sunday, November 23rd, featuring the movie classic, "Miracle on 34th Street".

Lead sponsor for this unique event:

knopik
The Law Offices of KnopikVarnerMoore

Media sponsor for this unique event:
The Parent Guide

In addition to a special screening of 'Miracle on 34th Street', the day will be filled with incredible children's activities, featuring PBS origami artist, Leonor Rosser ('Origami with Leonor'), clowns, face painters, food and much much more.

The schedule is as follows:

2:00- 6:00 pm
Children's events

6:00- 8:00 pm
'Miracle on 34th Street'

All events are free, and the event is operated by the Tampa Film Institute, a 501 (c) (3) corporation dedicated to film education and screening activities in our Community.

The Tampa Film Institute operates the Gasparilla International Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in Tampa Bay. Over 10,000 people will attend the 10 day Festival taking place from Thursday, February 26th- Saturday, March 7th, 2008. Over 100 films will be featured.

Halloween Horror Picture Show!!!!!!

2008-10-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

The Gasparilla International Film Festival will present along with its partners
Enigma Films, and the Historic Beach Theater
(St. Pete Beach) to bring you a weekend of Halloween Horror goodness!

A blend of Classic and Independent Horror Films as well as activities and site gags you'll find no where else!

The fun kicks off on Friday, October 24th with Free Family Friendly Movies, Vintage Trailers and more. Shows are sponsored by Sail Away Realty, The Hurricane Restaurant and Jay's Fabrics. Screening times are listed below:

1:30pm: Robot Monster
3:00pm: Son of Godzilla
5:00pm: I Bury The Living
6:45pm: House on Haunted Hill
8:30pm: The Evil Dead II
10:45pm : Army of Darkness

House on Haunted Hill will be screened as a William Castle Classic with the Coward's Corner; a nurse will be on hand to check your heartbeat and more!

Friday evening turns dark with 'Deadite Night'! Come dressed as your favorite Evil Dead character and win prizes.

Bloody Mary's will be on sale and more fun is in store.

Saturday, October 25th includes Free Family Friendly Movies, Vintage Trailers, Face Painting for the kids, Trick or Treating on the street and a Costume Parade before the first film.

The films are:
10:00am: Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
12:00pm: Munsters Go Home
2:00pm: Gremlins (audience participation and gremlins in the theater)
4:30pm: Ghostbusters
7:00pm: The Tingler (another William Castle Classic with audience participation)
9:00pm: Night of the Living Dead
11:30pm: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Then, the evening turns to the Undead with 'Zombie Night'! Come dressed as a zombie for prizes, Bloody Mary's will be on sale and plenty more horrific fun.

The outrageous members of Interchangeable Parts will be on hand to perform for all you Rocky Horror fans so bring your toast and squirt guns.

Sunday October 26th
For the family that likes horror!

10:00am: Ghostbusters
12:00pm: Gremlins (with audience interaction)
2:15pm: The Tingler (with audience interaction)

Indie Horror Scene. Opening with a collection of Short Horror Films.

Starting at 4:30pm:
a. The Reaper
b. Frankenstein vs The Wolfman
c. Side Effect
d. Lamp Post Lake
e. In Darkness
f. Alarm

5:45pm: A Gothic Tale
8:15pm: Live Evil
10:00pm: Shadowland

For more information on the films slated to be screened,ticket prices and more, make sure to visit the Official Halloween Horror Picture Show web site at:
www.halloweenhorrorpictureshow.com
or www. gasparillafilmfestival.com or
http://www.beach-theatre.com/

State of the Florida Film and Entertainment Industry

2008-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Florida production community needs your support! The Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commissions invite you to the 2008-2009 State of the Industry Summit. Join State Film Commissioner Lucia Fishburne, Film Florida President Graham Winick, local leaders and industry professionals as we explore the challenges facing Florida's Film and Production industry.

Afterward network with state and local VIP's in the industry.

Admission is FREE and includes refreshments and cash bar.

Date:
October 9, 2008

Time:
6:30 p.m.

Location:
Nova 535
535 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Please RSVP to the Tampa Bay Area Film & Entertainment Industry Summit here:
https://www.visittampabay.com/meetings/index.cfm?action=Details&eventid=46

Mini-Festival Time

2008-10-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

MINI-FESTIVAL TIME!!!

Tampa, Fl - Sept. 23rd, 2008. The Gasparilla International Film Festival- along with sponsor Knopik Varner Moore- presents a mini-Festival of 5 top films from the prestigious Global Lens Film Series. The mini-Festival will take place on Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th at Studio @ 620 in St. Petersburg. The Series recently was chosen 'Best Film Series' in Creative Loafing, Critic's Pick, 2008 'Loafies' Awards.
knopik

SPECIAL MINI-FESTIVAL TICKET PRICES:

$8 for single film, $12 for two films, $15 for three. Free for Gasparilla International Film Festival members.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Friday October 3, 'Argentine Doubleheader':

The Custodian
Friday, October 3, 2008 @ 7 pm
93 minutes

As a bodyguard for a high profile politician, Ruben is reduced to a mere shadow of a man: every action in his life is regulated by a series of mundane routines, and everywhere his boss goes he must follow, watching but never speaking. Resigned to his invisibility, his life is a series of days without meaning, punctuated only by visits to a prostitute, in this compelling chronicle by first-time director Rodrigo Moreno of a man without any true identity or connection to the world in which he lives.

Trailer for 'The Custodian'
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/custodian.htm

Kept & Dreamless
Friday October 3, 2008 @ 9 pm
94 minutes

During Argentina's economic crisis of the '90s, nine year-old Eugenia and her mother, Florencia, live a seemingly colorful life surrounded by eclectic neighbors and an offbeat collection of family. But for Eugenia, who must deal with her mother's dysfunctional and drug-addled lifestyle, life is anything but pleasant in this darkly inspiring story of expectation, acceptance and nontraditional family, led by standout performances from director Vera Fogwill and young actress Lucía Snieg.

Trailer for 'Kept and Dreamless'
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/kept_&_dreamless.htm

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday October 4, 'Celebration of Asia':

Let the Wind Blow (India)
Saturday, October 4, 2008 @ 3 pm
93 minutes

At the height of nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan, Arjun and his best friend, Chabia, weigh their options for the future against the reality of life on the streets of Mumbai. Enticed by the promise of wealth and opportunity in the Persian Gulf, Chabia is eager to leave his job as a mechanic. But for Arjun, who must finish college and care for his mother, the decision is not so easy in director Partho Sen-Gupta's gritty, apocalyptic interpretation of Krishna's counsel to Arjuna, from the Bhagavad Gita.

Trailer for 'Let the Wind Blow'
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/let_the_wind_blow.htm

Luxury Car (China)
Saturday October 4, 2008 @ 7 pm
88 minutes

In this emotionally taut narrative, Li Qi Ming travels from his small village to the city of Wuhan, determined to fulfill his wife's last wish of seeing her son. But instead of finding his son, he discovers his daughter working as a karaoke bar escort, forcing him to come to terms with their long-estranged relationship and the tenuous future of his family. Director Wang Chao uses Li Qi Ming to represent the painful reality of thousands of parents who have lost contact with their children through rural exodus and political upheaval in China.

Trailer for 'Luxury Car'
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/luxury_car.htm

Opera Jawa (Indonesia)
Saturday October 4, 2008 @ 9 pm
120 minutes

Setyo and Siti live a peaceful life as husband and wife, selling earthenware in their village. But when Setyo is called away on business, a flirtatious butcher, Ludiro, takes advantage of Siti's loneliness to seduce her. Tempted by song and dance, Siti initially refuses his advances but acquiesces in a moment of weakness, setting the stage for an epic battle between the two men. Located in lush forests and on pristine beaches of Java, director Garin Nugroho bases his deeply imagistic and dazzling visual narrative on the "The Abduction of Sita," from the Hindu epic, The Ramayana.

Trailer for 'Opera Jawa'
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/opera_jawa.htm

ABOUT THE GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Gasparilla International Film Festival, Tampa Bay 's largest independent film festival, is operated by the Tampa Film Institute, a full-time 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to advancing film education and community involvement in film in the Tampa Bay area. The 2009 Festival, taking place from Thursday, Feb. 26th- Saturday, March 7th, 2009, will attract over 10,000 moviegoers during its 10 days. For more information, please visit http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com

Screening of "Misconceptions" on Fri. Sept. 26 (filmmaker scheduled to attend)

2008-09-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

On Friday Sept. 26, there will be a screening of "Misconceptions", a film about gay adoption directed by Pinellas resident Ron Satlof. Interestingly, scenes from this film were viewed and discussed at a Kodak film workshop held during last year's Gasparilla International Film Festival. The discussion was about the advantages and disadvantages of shooting on film, as this picture was. Satlof was in attendance to explain how shooting on film enhanced his vision for what he wanted the scenes to look like. For anyone who was in attendance at this workshop, this is a great opportunity to see the entire film for FREE, and discuss the final outcome with the filmmaker himself. And for those who weren't in attendance, an excellent opportunity to see a film made by a local AND shot locally (in St. Pete).

The following is from a GIFF press release:

'Misconceptions'

Friday, September 26, 2008
Eckerd College
Miller Auditorium
7 PM

The Gasparilla International Film Festival, along with partners Studio @ 620, WMNF and Eckerd College, will screen 'Misconceptions'.

Immediately after the screening, a film chat will be led by Producer/Director Ron Satlof.

The screening is free.

The film was shot in and around Pinellas County by Oscar and Emmy- nominated Producer/Director Ron Satlof, a Pinellas resident.

The story centers on a religiously conservative, married southern woman who receives a message from God instructing her to act as a surrogate mother and carry a child for two married gay men who live in Boston - a Jewish doctor and and African-American dance choreographer. All "Hell" breaks loose when the African-American man comes to her home in the deep south to micro-manage her pregnancy, and he won't leave.

Said director Satlof: "Regardless of where you are on the issue of gay marriage or religion in public life, this story has something for everybody."

QUICK FACTS

WHERE: Eckerd College, Miller Auditorium

Directions to Miller Auditorium

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 26th, 2008 at 7:00 PM

ADMISSION: Free

Screening of "The Bet Collector" Tonight @ 8PM

2008-09-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

Screening for 'The Bet Collector', (Friday, Sept. 12th at 8:00pm)

Philippine film 'The Bet Collector' , part of the prestigious Global Lens Film Series, will screen at Studio @ 620 at 8:00pm- Friday, Sept. 12th. Tickets are $8 at the door, but members of the Gasparilla International Film Festival may attend free.

Synopsis

Amy, the family matriarch, makes ends meet by running a small convenience store out of her home. But in a struggling economy customers are scarce, and without the help of her husband or pregnant daughter, she is forced to supplement the family income by collecting bets for an illegal numbers game. Film festIn this starkly realistic narrative, director Jeffrey Jeturian presents a captivating portrait of a once-proud woman, haunted by memories of a dead son and hounded by the police, and her fragile and lonely life as a kubrador (bet collector) on the streets of Manila. knopik

About the Director

Jeffrey Jeturian was born in Manila, Philippines in 1959. He studied Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines. After college, he held various positions within the film industry for fifteen years before making his first feature film, Enter Love (1998). His second feature film, Fetch A Pail Of Water (1999), about slum dwellers and their struggle for survival, won the NETPAC Jury Award at the 1st CineManila International Film Festival (Philippines) and a Gold Award at the 2000 Worldfest International Film Festival (USA). His third feature film, Larger Than Life (2000), a satirical take on the state of filmmaking in the Philippines, was an official selection for competition in the Cinema Of the Present program of the 2001 Venice International Film Festival (Italy) and won a Gold Award at the 2002 Worldfest International Film Festival (USA). Jeturian's other previous feature films include Bridal Shower (2004), One Moment More (2004), and Bikini Open (2005). The Bet Collector is his seventh feature film.

QUICK FACTS:

DATE: Friday, Sept. 12

WHERE: Studio @ 620, St. Petersburg

WHEN: 8 PM

ADMISSION: $8 general admission.
Gasparilla International Film Festival Members Attend for Free.

Trailer for 'The Bet Collector' can be found at:
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/bet_collector.htm

Gasparilla International Film Festival website:
http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com

Sponsored by:
knopik

Remaining Studio @ 620 screenings:

- Friday, October 4th: MINI- FESTIVAL #1- STUDIO @620, St. Petersburg
Argentine doubleheader: The Custodian, Kept & Dreamless

- Saturday, October 5th: MINI-FESTIVAL #2- STUDIO @620, St. Petersburg
"Celebration of Asia":
(1) Let the Wind Blow (India),(2) Luxury Car (China) + (3) Opera Jawa (Indonesia)

"The Kite" Trailer

2008-08-27T13:11:00.001-07:00

http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/kite.htm

Screening of "The Kite"

2008-08-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

The following is from a Gasparilla International Film Festival press release:

The Gasparilla International Film Festival, along with presenting sponsor Knopik Varner Moore and The University of Tampa, will screen the next film in the prestigious Global Lens Film Series, 'The Kite' (Lebanon). 'The Kite' will begin at 8pm on Friday, August 29th at the Univ. of Tampa (Reeves Hall).
Additional sponsors include the Studio @ 620 and WMNF.

The screening is free for all members of the Gasparilla Film Festival. Members should make their reservations known 24 hours in advance with an email to:
info@gasparillafilmfestival.com

SYNOPSIS

In director Randa Chahal Sabbag's 'fairytale for troubled times,' sixteen-year old Lamia must cross a border checkpoint between Lebanon and Israel to marry a man she has never met. Neither she nor her betrothed are eager to consummate a marriage to a stranger-a matter further complicated by Lamia's surprising admission that she is in love with the Israeli soldier guarding the border. Sabbag's enchanting drama about marriage and tradition is underscored by delicate symbolism and artful references to politics of Lebanon's territories that have been annexed.

To view the trailer for The Kite, click on the link below or paste the address in your browser:

http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/kite.htm

---------------------------------------------------------------
The Gasparilla International Film Festival is partnering with the Global Film Initiative (GFI) to host 'Global Lens Film Series 2008', a GFI-sponsored traveling film series. GFI promotes cross-cultural understanding and diversity by presenting developing world feature films in over forty major U.S. cities.
GFI is considered one of the foremost leaders in funding and distributing world cinema. Its Film Board is comprised of well-known, accomplished international filmmakers, such as Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier, Mira Nair & Lucy Barreto, to name a few.

Global Film Initiative on YouTube

2008-08-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/GlobalFilmInitiative

This is the YouTube home of Global Film Initiative. Check this page out for trailers for films in the series

Screening of "The Fish Fall in Love" Friday

2008-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

The following is from a Gasparilla Film Festival press release:

The Gasparilla International Film Festival, along with presenting sponsor Knopik Varner Moore and partners Studio @ 620, the University of Tampa and WMNF, will screen the next film in the prestigious Global Lens Film Series, 'The Fish Fall in Love' (Iran). 'The Fish Fall in Love' will begin at 8pm on Friday, August 22nd, 2008.
Trailer for 'The Fish Fall in Love'

Immediately after the screening, a film chat will be led by Dr. Andrew McAlister of the University of Tampa.

The screening is free for all members of the Gasparilla International Film Festival. Members should make their reservations known 24 hours in advance, notifying our office through our contact form.

Synopsis

Atieh's singular passion is food, and her small but popular restaurant on the sleepy Caspian coast is her pride and joy. But when Aziz, her former fiancé, appears after a twenty-year absence, the women believe he has intentions of closing the restaurant, so Atieh prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate effort to convince him otherwise. Loosely based on the Persian fable of Shahrazad and the Thousand Myths (A Thousand and One Nights), director Ali Raffi uses the language of food to paint a richly textured portrait of life and love on the northern coast of Iran.

About the Director

Ali Raffi was born in Isfahan, Iran in 1938. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Sociology, and B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Dramatic Arts from the Sorbonne University. He also holds a Higher Diploma in Film and Stage Direction from the International Theater University in France, and a Diploma of Acting from Charles Dulain in France. He was the head of the City Theater in Tehran from 1975 to 1978, the dean of the Dramatic College from 1977 to 1980, and currently teaches at Tehran University. He has staged numerous theater productions, and has experience as a performer in multiple films and TV programs. The Fish Fall In Love is his first feature film.

QUICK FACTS

TITLE: 'The Fish Fall in Love'
WHEN: Friday, August 22nd at 8pm

WHERE: Studio @ 620, 620 First Avenue South,
Downtown St. Petersburg

ADMISSION: $8 general, free for members of the Gasparilla International Film Festival.

Bunny Chow trailer

2008-07-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9lZ3wIhUDlY

GFF screens Bunny Chow from the Global Film Lens Series TONIGHT!

2008-07-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

The following is from a Gasparilla Film Festival press release:

The Gasparilla Film Festival, along with presenting sponsor Knopik Varner and Moore and partners Studio @ 620, the University of Tampa and WMNF will screen the next film in the prestigious Global Lens Film Series, 'Bunny Chow' (South Africa). 'Bunny Chow' will begin at 8pm on Friday, July 25th, 2008.

Immediately after the screening, a film chat will be led by Dr. Andrew McAlister of the University of Tampa.

The screening is free for all members of the Gasparilla Film Festival. Members should make their reservations known 24 hours in advance notifying our office through our contact form.

'Bunny Chow' is director John Barker's debut feature. Up-and-coming comedians Kags, Joey and Dave make clear that life in the 'new' Johannesburg is not just about hardship and townships. It's also about finding humor in relationships, hanging out with friends and celebrating life on a raucous roadtrip to Oppi Koppi-South Africa's largest music festival. Shot in a cinema vérité style and using the street food 'bunny chow' as a metaphor for contemporary Johannesburg's mix of races, cultures and attitudes, Barker's edgy, urban comedy asks us to envision a nation through the eyes of its future, rather than the tragedy of its past.

QUICK FACTS:

WHERE: University of Tampa, Reeves Theatre

ADMISSION: $8 general, free for members of Gasparilla Film Festival, and professors, administrators and students of UT

Trailer for 'Bunny Chow' can be found at: www.globalfilm.org

WHEN: Friday, July 25th, 2008 at 8:00 PM

Global Film Lens series - screening of All for Free

2008-07-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I mentioned that the Gasparilla Film Festival and Global Film International had struck a deal to bring you a series of award-winning films through Global Film's traveling film festival. Well, thanks to sponsors Knopik Varner and Moore and Studio @ 620, the Gasparilla Film Festival is proud to be hosting a special screening of "All for Free", a film from Croatia and the GFI series, on July 11. The following information is from the GFF website:

'All for Free' (Croatia)
Friday, July 11 at 8pm
Studio @ 620, St. Petersburg
Gasparilla Film Festival

The Gasparilla Film Festival, along with presenting sponsor Knopik Varner and Moore and Studio @ 620, will screen the next film in the prestigious Global Lens Film Series, 'All for Free'. 'All for Free' will begin at 8pm on Friday, July 11th at Studio @ 620.

The screening is free for all members of the Gasparilla Film Festival. Members should make their reservations known 24 hours in advance by filling out our contact form.

Synopsis

After his friends are killed in a bizarre, bar room argument, Goran devises an unusual plan to deal with the loss: he will sell his house, buy a mobile tavern and travel from town to town, giving away free drinks to everyone he meets. But for everyone except Goran, the idea is strangely suspicious, and a bit absurd, in director Antonio Nuic's darkly humorous tale of loss and reconciliation, told as a metaphor for Bosnia's gradual rediscovery of its shared humanity, lost during the war.

About the Director

Antonio Nuic was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1977. He graduated in Film and TV Directing from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, Croatia and is a member of the Croatian Film Directors Society. He has previously directed numerous short films, TV shows, and music and promotional videos. 'All For Free' is his first feature film.

For further information (including a trailer), please visit:
http://www.globalfilm.org or http://www.thestudioat620.com

Recap: 2008 Festival Winners

2008-07-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a recap of the 2008 Gasparilla Film Festival winners. For all those who attended, I hope you got a chance to see these great films. And to the filmmakers - cast, crew, and families - CONGRATULATIONS!!

* Young Filmmaker Grand Jury
Oneric

* Audience Best Short
Oneric

* Best Local Production
Gunn Highway

* Special Mention Cinema Award
The Flock

* Special Mention Grand Jury
Big Rig

* Grand Jury
American Fork

* Audience Best Documentary
Tocar y Luchar “To Play and To Fight”

* Audience Best Narrative
The Fly Boys

* Special Mention- Actress
Arielle Kebbel
"Day Dreamer"

* Special Mention - Actor
Shane West
"What We Do Is Secret

DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 FESTIVAL!!!

2008-07-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

Great news, my festival friends! The Gasparilla Film Festival has recently announced the dates for the 2009 festival. This year's festival will be held

Thursday, February 26th-
Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Specific locations will be announced as we approach the dates of the festival. Get excited, everyone!

Blog is Back!

2008-07-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It's Rebecca! Thanks for tolerating this break from updates. From now on, the blog will be updated continuously for new special screenings, events, and the 2009 Festival! I hope all of you had loads of fun at the previous Gasparilla Film Festival. With several sold out screenings, VIPs, and best of all, hundreds of excited and content moviegoers, we can safely call the '08 Gasparilla Film Festival a success!! Again, a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported the film festival - we couldn't have done it without you. And now, on to '09!! :D

Day 4 Photos

2008-03-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

What We Do Is Secret Q+A

Shane West

Director Rodger Grossman

Day 2 Photos

2008-03-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos taken last night during the Bobby Bowden documentary, The Good Fight. Director George Butler, who also directed the highly successful Pumping Iron, was participated in an audience Q+A. Warrick Dunn, runningback for the Atlanta Falcons (formerly of the Bucs) and an FSU grad was also in attendance, as well as FSU runningback Lorenzo Booker, who was featured several times in the rough cut of the
film.

Lorenzo Booker

Warrick Dunn

Warrick Dunn with Director George Butler

George Butler with Andrew Lee, director of the documentary Easy Street, which screened back in August

Photos by Susan Rodnite

Blood Feast - 45th Anniversary Screening

2008-02-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

So out of all the films that will be screened throughout the 5 day festival in Tampa, this is the film that I am most looking forward to seeing at the Gasparilla Film Festival. Blood Feast, released in 1963, directed by H.G. Lewis, is considered to be the first ever "splatter film". It is one of a series of H.G. Lewis and David F Friedman (producer) films that cultivated the sexploitation genre. Interestingly, most of their films were shot right here in sunny Florida!

Blood Feast is about an Egyptian caterer who collects the body parts of young women in the hopes of resurrecting the goddess Ishtar. Oh my! David F. Friedman and H.G. Lewis, AKA The Mighty Monarch of Exploitation and The Godfather of Gore themselves, will be in attendance. On Saturday March 1st at 8PM, their will be a reception for the filmmakers at Channelside Theatres. At 9PM will be the screening, and at 10PM there will be a Q+A with Times film critic Steve Persall. So come out and enjoy the first ever gore film. Tarantino eat your heart out!

Shane West to attend GFF Screening of "What We Do Is Secret"

2008-02-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

The Gasparilla Film Festival is excited to announce that Shane West, star of the hit romance film "A Walk to Remember" and "ER", will be attending the GFF screening of his new film, "What We Do is Secret". "What We Do is Secret" is a biopic about the '70s LA punk band The Germs. Director Rodger Grossman will also be in attendance. The screening will be held at Channelside this Saturday at 9:20 PM. There will only be a limited number of tickets available, so if you are interested in attending and possibly meeting Shane West (!!!), you'll want to buy them soon before the sell out like the Bobby Bowden docu, "The Good Fight".

Buy your tix here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/28148

FREE Screenings and Events!!!

2008-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

Part of the Gasparilla Film Festival's goal is to introduce people to the entire Film Festival Experience. Some of the ways we do this is by offering free screenings to the community, as well as free panel discussions on industry topics. Here are a few of the free screenings and panels that will be featured during this year's festival:

**FREE Admission to Shorts Series 1+2

When: Thursday @ 5:15 @ Channelside
Shorts: Vanished Acres, North American Speed, Sovereignty, The Hit

When: Sunday @ 2:35 @ Channelside
Shorts: Rabia, The Janiter's Office, Men of Steel

**1 FREE Child Ticket to Flyboys after 1 Adult Ticket Purchase

**FREE Admission to Industry Panels, Sponsered by the International Academy of Design and Technology

What: Worldwide Marketing and Distribution of Your Film (Panel 1)
When: Sunday @ 1:30 @ IADT

What: Budget Techniques for Producing Your Film (Panel 2)
When: Sunday @ 2:30 @ IADT

What: Working in 16 MM and Other Filmmaking Techniques (co-sponsored by Kodak) (Panel 3)
When: Sunday @ 3:30 @ IADT

For Directions to the International Academy of Design and Technology, please visit this page:
http://gasparilla2008.bside.com/2008/?_view=_venues&city=Tampa#venue_49751879

Bobby Bowden Docu "The Good Fight" SOLD OUT!!!

2008-02-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

Exciting news, everyone! (Although heart-breaking I suppose, if like me, you didn't buy your tickets in time.) The Bobby Bowden/FSU football documentary is now officially SOLD OUT! HOWEVER, there WILL be a limited number of walk-up tickets available before the showing. So if you want to see this film but were not able to purchase an advance ticket in time, there is still hope for you! The screening is on Friday at Channelside at 8 PM. Good luck!!

"The Good Fight" GFF Page:
http://gasparilla2008.bside.com/2008/?_view=_filmdetails&filmId=48634699

Save Money, Even if You're Not a Member!!

2008-02-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

With the fabulous film selection for this year's Gasparilla Film Festival, it is difficult to choose which films to see, especially if like me you have limited funds. So if there is already a handful of films that you are interested, why not consider taking advantage of our non-member passes? You will find that purchasing a pass will save you money and give you more freedom to see other films. Say you wanted to see Tocar y Luchar (To Play and To Fight) on Sunday at Channelside at 12:30, a documentary about a government program for rural Venezuelan children to be exposed to orchestral music, but you arrived late. If you have a festival pass, you can simply see another film, such as Flyboys at 2:05 about two boys who sneak onto an airplane and discover a bomb in the luggage compartment, without having to buy another ticket or losing any money at all. Here is a breakdown of the non-member fest passes:

From the GFF site:

Festival Passes Now Available
Special Passes for the 2008 Film Festival
(Non-Member Solutions)

Screening/All movie pass (5 days): $59: This pass provides you access to all film screening for the duration of the fest. (Parties and events not included) Purchase Pass

Weekend pass: $35: This pass provides you entrance to any film screening Saturday and Sunday of the fest (Mar 1&2). (Parties and events not included) Purchase Pass

VIP All Access - $199: This pass provides you access to every film and event for the entire film fest. This also gives you access to the film lounge, the reception deck, all parties and screenings. Purchase Pass

Block of 6 tickets: $39 : receive HUGE discount on the films when you buy this six-pack of tickets. ($21 savings when you buy in a block) Purchase Block

Documentary on Bobby Bowden

2008-02-14T12:28:00.000-08:00

WHAT: Documentary on Bobby Bowden and his Seminoles football team

WHEN: On 2/29/08 @ 8PM @ Channelside Cinemas

VIPs: Director George Butler and co-producer Elisabeth Haviland James will attend the screening and participate in a question and answer session. A reception will follow afterwards. Tickets for both the film and the VIP reception are available on the GFF website.

GFF Synopsis of Film:

THE GOOD FIGHT
He's called Saint Bobby, the winningest coach ever in major college football. For thirty-one years, Bobby Bowden has made the Florida State Seminoles a legendary powerhouse, building on his instinct for raw talent, electrifying plays, and Baptist faith. When Bowden allowed White Mountain Films unique, unrestricted access to his program, no one knew that the Seminoles would be facing their toughest season. THE GOOD FIGHT is more than an unprecedented portrait of a great sports team; it is a chronicle of how a coach and his young men kept their fighting spirit alive when their fortune deserted them.

Opening Night Film Details

2008-02-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

From a Recent Press Release
_______________________________________________________________

Opening Night Event Details:

Tickets are available through the Gasparilla Film Fest website.

When: Wednesday, February 27th

- Opening Night VIP Party: Starts at 6pm
- Feature 'Kabluey' Starts at 7:45pm
- Producer Chat w/Jeff Balis, starts at 9:30 pm
- After Party at Spain/Toma Starts at 9:30 pm

Where: Tampa Theatre
Refreshment: VIP only

Tickets: Sold individually.
VIP (Movie plus reception) $35
Movie-Only $10 each

Ordering:
Tickets can be purchased and mailed or picked up through will call day of the show. Delivery of tickets takes between 7 and 10 days.

Trailer and Animations for Opening Night Film KABLUEY

2008-02-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here is the trailer for the Opening Night Film KABLUEY, as well as some very amusing animations for the film.

Trailer

Animations

Apache / U.F.O.

Delicious

Paper Caper

Super Kabluey

All videos are from the KABLUEY Official Site: http://www.kabluey.com/

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS OF THE '08 GASPARILLA FILM FESTIVAL

2008-02-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

They're here! The official selections have been announced for the '08 Gasparilla Film Festival. The opening night film is "KABLUEY", an offbeat comedy starring Chris Parnell, Lisa Kudrow, and Christine Taylor. It is the first feature film for short film director and improv performer Scott Prendergast. Executive producer Jeff Ballis is a Tampa native.

FOR A PDF OF ALL THE OFFICIAL '08 GFF SELECTIONS: http://gasparillafilmfestival.com/

Countdown to Feb. 7th!

2008-02-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

Fantastic news, everyone! The Gasparilla Film Festival will be announcing its full schedule of films, events, and celebrities this Thursday, February 7th at a press conference. This is the moment we have all been waiting for! As soon as the schedule is released, I will break down all the films for you.

Information about "El Custodio" and Director Rodrigo Moreno

2008-01-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

As previously reported, the short film "El Custodio" will be screened during the 2008 Gasparilla Film Festival as an introduction to the Global Lens 2008 program.

Here is some information about the film and it's director, from the Global Lens site:
http://www.globalfilm.org/lens08/custodian.htm

THE CUSTODIAN (EL CUSTODIO)
A film by Rodrigo Moreno
Spanish, with subtitles in English
Argentina, 2006 (93 minutes)

Synopsis
As a bodyguard for a high profile politician, Ruben is reduced to a mere shadow of a man: every action in his life is regulated by a series of mundane routines, and everywhere his boss goes he must follow, watching but never speaking. Resigned to his invisibility, his life is a series of days without meaning, punctuated only by visits to a prostitute, in this compelling chronicle by first-time director Rodrigo Moreno of a man without any true identity or connection to the world in which he lives.

About the Director
Rodrigo Moreno was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1972. He graduated from the directing program at the Universidad del Cine, where he has been teaching screenwriting and directing since 1996. He collaborated as writer and director with Ulises Rosell and Andrés Tambornino on the feature film Sweet Repose (2002), an offbeat comedy that won Best Film at Images du Monde Festival (Canada). He also wrote and directed Compañeros, the last segment of the episodic feature Bad Times (1998). He has previously directed several short films, his first being Nosotros (1993), which screened at the Berlin International Film Festival Forum (Germany) and won Best Film at the Bilbao Festival (Spain). The Custodian is his first feature film.

Global Lens 2008 Update: "El Custodio" to be Screened During GFF

2008-01-27T15:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, so after speaking with Eric Odum of the GFF Board, I have learned that Global Lens 2008 will begin after the festival in April, and will run through November. The film "El Custodio" will however, be shown at the Gasparilla Film Festival as an introduction to the series. The schedule for the rest of the films and the screening sites have not yet been set. I will continue to update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Volunteers Requested!

2008-01-21T18:37:00.001-08:00

It is not too late to volunteer for this year's Gasparilla Film Festival! The festival is still looking for people to help usher in guests and set-up for screenings. The perks? Not only do you get to be part of a friendly, enthusiastic, and genuinely excited team, but you may even get to meet the stars themselves! Not to mention seeing all of the films for free, which is of course, the best part! Visit the official homepage, www.gasparillafilmfestival.com, to sign up today!

Update on Global Film Screenings

2008-01-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

Great news, everyone! As I investigated the Global Film Initiative's Film Calendar, I discovered that they are now listing a run in Tampa from February to August 08! So instead of playing just after the regular festival season, it seems as though either all or some of the films will be screened during the Gasparilla Film Festival itself as well as each month after that until August. I will try to confirm these dates with the organizers of the Gasparilla Film Festival, as well as the screening schedule, so stay tuned!

http://www.globalfilm.org/calendar.php

Global Film Initiative Partnership

2008-01-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

Some very exciting news, everyone! The Gasparilla Film Festival and the Tampa Film Institute have reached an exclusive partnership with Global Film Initiative.

_______________________________________________
From Press Release:
GFI (www.globalfilm.org) promotes cross-cultural understanding and diversity by presenting developing world feature films in major US cities, through their series entitled "Global Lens 2008 Film Series." GFI is considered one of the foremost leaders in developing and executing world film initiatives and boasts a board comprised of well known, accomplished international filmmakers, such as Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier, Mira Nair & Lucy Barreto, to name a few.

Films from Argentina, China, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Philippines and South Africa that will headline the Global Lens 2008 film series include:

ALL FOR FREE (SVE DZABA), Croatia
THE BET COLLECTOR (KUBRADOR), Philippines
BUNNY CHOW, South Africa
THE CUSTODIAN (EL CUSTODIO), Argentina
THE FISH FALL IN LOVE, Iran
KEPT & DREAMLESS (LAS MANTENIDAS SIN SUEÑOS), Argentina
THE KITE (LE CERF-VOLANT), Lebanon
LET THE WIND BLOW (HAVA ANEY DEY), India
LUXURY CAR (JIANG CHENG XIA RI), China
OPERA JAWA, Indonesia
_________________________________________________

Here is the trailer for Global Lens 2008. These are the films that you'll be seeing immediately following the festival.

Schedules and venues for the Global Film screenings will be announced in March 2008, after the '08 Gasparilla Film Fest. I'm going to do some research on these films so that you have some nice background info walking into the theater. This is a very exciting partnership and hopefully the first of many more of its kind!

Brittany Snow to receive "Rising Star" award at Closing Night Ceremonies

2007-12-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

Tampa native Brittany Snow, star of Hairspray, American Dreams, and Guiding Light, will attend the GFF's closing night ceremonies on March 2nd, 2008 at the Florida Aquarium. The event will be hosted by Action 10 News anchor Wendy Ryan, and will feature more stars to be announced in the coming weeks. So stay tuned!

Pictures from "Easy Street" Screening

2007-08-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

Just look at all these super awesome, excited volunteers and guests at the Channelside screening of "Easy Street"! The nice fellow with blond hair and glasses is director Andrew Lee!

Andrew Lee and John Rosser on Tampa Digital's Media Talk

2007-08-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Well, the Channelside screening of "Easy Street" on Thursday was a big success! A very big "Thank You!" to all those who showed their support for the film. Below is an interview with director Andrew Lee and GFF Executive Director John Rosser, conducted on Tampa Digital Studio's show Media Talk. Tampa Digital Studio also co-sponsered the event.

You can find out more about Tampa Digital Studios and Media Talk here: tampabaysmediatalk.com

Special Screening of docu "Easy Street" on Thurs. 8/9 @ Channelside

2007-08-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! The Gasparilla Film Festival is co-sponsoring with Tampa Digital’s “Media Mix” a very special screening of "Easy Street". "Easy Street" is a documentary helmed by local filmmakers Stephen Ashton and Andrew Lee about St. Pete’s homeless. There is a pre-screening party at Splitsville @ 5:30 PM and the film is @ 7:15 at Channelside Cinemas. Tickets are $10 for the general public and FREE!!!! to members, sponsors, and volunteers from the '07 festival (see, it pays to volunteer!!!). Tickets are currently on sale on the GFF website, or you can buy them at Channelside the night of for the same price. If you are eligible for free entry into the screening, please RSVP as soon as possible to (813) 514-1070 . You may pick up your tickets at Will Call at the Channelside Cinema.

There will also be a question and answer session with filmmaker Andrew Lee, as well as with representatives of area homeless services immediatly following the film.

Furthermore, both GFF and the Tampa Film Institute will be donating a portion of the proceeds to selected Tampa Bay Area homeless services.

So come out and show your support on Thursday evening!

Here is the link to buying tickets online: http://gasparillafilmfestival.com/easypurchase.html

Here is the trailer for "Easy Street"

Call for Volunteers

2007-08-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

GFF is currently looking for volunteers for this year’s festival. We need ushers and ticket sellers as well as quite a few nice people to hold the positions listed below. Perks of being a volunteer include free entrance into screenings and V.I.P. parties!

List of available positions:

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Gasparilla Film Festival, please fill out a very brief form on the GFF website. Lori Hall, our '08 Volunteer Coordinator, will contact you soon after. Then you can sign up for a shift on shiftboard (link on sidebar)!

Any help is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Welcome!

2007-08-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the official blog of the Tampa Bay Area’s 2nd Annual Gasparilla Film Festival. The Gasparilla Film Festival, or GFF, is Tampa and St. Petersburg’s largest independent film festival. The event will take place Wednesday, February 27 – Sunday, March 2, 2008. Keep watching the official website for updated news and information on screenings and tickets, and check back here for information on the festival and behind the scenes videos and pics, as well as interviews with directors and stars once the festival is underway.

Read the official press release here: http://gasparillafilmfestival.com/press/071007.html