Festival

Festival presentation: 

Sunscreen Film Festival is organized and presented by the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society, a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization, which is dedicated to educating the public about the art of visual storytelling, enhancing opportunities for local filmmakers to develop their craft and art, and increasing the public’s awareness and support of local filmmaking as a cultural and economic asset. 

History:

The Sunscreen Film Festival has grown from its first festival in a local art gallery with 600 attendees in 2006 to a nationally recognized event with an attendance of over 11,000 people in 2011.  The SSFF has screened over 600 independent films in its first 6 years.  The festival is based at the Baywalk Entertainment Complex and Muvico 20 Theaters.  The festival additionally utilizes multiple locations around downtown St. Petersburg.

Sunscreen places a great emphasis on supporting and encouraging Florida based talent.  A grant has been established and given to the past two Best Florida Film winners at Sunscreen.  Additionally SSFF has film acquisition execs in attendance every year.  Over a dozen films have been picked up for distribution in the last 3 years at Sunscreen. 

Sunscreen is different from other festivals in that the festival guests are expected to take part in workshops, classes or some other manner that supports the mission of the festival.  Guests are asked to participate in educational programming as a part of their attendance at the festival.  Past guests over the first 6 festivals have included;

Just a few of our past guests have included:

• actor John Travolta (Grease, Pulp Fiction)
• actor Kelly Preston (Jerry Maguire)
• actor Billy Dee Williams (Empire Strikes Back, Brian’s Song)
• actor Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Phantom of the Opera)
• actor Jeff Donovan (Burn Notice, Changeling)
• actor Ethan Supplee (My Name is Earl, Butterfly Effect)
• actor Bill Cobbs (Night at the Museum, over 100 credits)
• actor Alexa Vega (Spy Kids 1,2,3, Broken Hill)
• actor Ayanna Berkshire (Twilight, Leverage)
• actor Solomon Trimble (Twilight)

• Ralph Winter (Producer, X-men 1-3, Wolverine, Fantastic Four, Star Trek 2-4)
• Phil Cooke (Author, Filmmaker, Media Consultant)
• Dean Batali (Producer, Head Writer, That 70’s Show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
• Sean Covel (Producer, Napoleon Dynamite)
• Doc Wyatt (Producer, Napoleon Dynamite)
• Leo Partible (Comic Author, Producer)

• screenwriter Timothy J. Sexton (Oscar nominee for Children of Men)
• screenwriter Steven de Souza (Die Hard, 48 Hours)
• casting director Lana Veenker (Twilight, Leverage)
• casting director John Jackson (About Schmidt, Sideways)
• composer, musician Michael Tolcher, (Scrubs, One Tree Hill, ESPN)

• producer Dave Anderson (Prince of Egypt)
• distribution, finance, acquisitions Jamie Fleming
• distribution, finance, acquisitions John Flynn

Description:

The Sunscreen Film Festival which is put on by The non-profit St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Society not only screens great films and brings in top notch Hollywood talent but it also provides excellent year round programming.  The festival’s year round programming includes; special film screenings in partnership with and screened at the Museum of Fine Arts in downtown St. Petersburg, free outdoor film screenings, a Film School Summer Camp, and educational “Film Schools” for adults and kids throughout the year.  As well as actor’s workshops and community support programs.  Sunscreen additionally screens local independent films throughout the year in a theater environment to support local and Florida filmmakers.

The Sunscreen Film Festival is steadily growing into one of the top film festivals in the country. By programming great films, and bringing in top notch industry talent Sunscreen has established itself as one of the best young film festivals around. 

Sunscreen continues to receive community support from the following entities in the form of resources and in-kind donations.  The City of St. Petersburg, The Pinellas County Film Commission, The St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, The University of Tampa, Southeastern University Lakeland, The Dali Museum, Baywalk Entertainment Complex and Muvico Theaters, and The Renaissance Vinoy Resort.

Festival Nickname: 

Sunscreen Fest

Edition: 

8

Festival Logo: 

Theme: 

Independent

Category/Format: 

not specified

Film Submission info 2013 (withoutabox.com)

Narrative Shorts

Narrative Shorts must be under 45 minutes in length. They may include any form in any genre. Please see "mixed media" for all commercials, experimental shorts, and music videos.

Narrative Features

Feature length entries shall be 45 minutes in length or longer. Features may include any form in any genre.

Documentary Shorts

Documentaries on any subject under 45 minutes in length.

Documentary Features

Documentary films on any subject 45 minutes or longer in length.

Animated Shorts

Animation entries can be in any genre, format or medium. Entries must be under 30 minutes. Feature-length animated films can be entered as Narrative Features.

Music Videos

Includes promotional clips for songs or short form narratives which rely heavily on a song or piece of music for their impact.

Florida Student Filmmakers

Florida Student Filmmaker entries can be in any genre, format or medium. Entries must be under 45 minutes. It is encouraged for students to list their school at the head of their film either via title card, emblem, or prepared intro.

FLORIDA FILMMAKER QUALIFICATION:
To qualify for the discounted Florida Filmmaker rate, you MUST enclose with your preview copy documentation of the Florida-based locations and resources used in your film. If this material is missing, we may disqualify your entry without notice.

Experimental shorts

Experimental entries can be in any genre, format or medium. Entries must be under 45 minutes.

FLORIDA FILMMAKER QUALIFICATION:
To qualify for the discounted Florida Filmmaker rate, you MUST enclose with your preview copy documentation of the Florida-based locations and resources used in your film. If this material is missing, we may disqualify your entry without notice.

Screenplay

Feature Screenplays:

Narrative screenplays 90-150 pages in length.

Horror Screenplays:

Feature-length screenplays, 90-150 pages in length, including blood shed in the story, or the imminent threat of blood shed or death.

Teleplays

◦ One hour or half hour formats are accepted.
◦ With all teleplay submissions, supplementary written materials may also be included but are not required. These could include up to five pages of concept, character analysis, and future episode mini-synopsis. Attach these to the end of the script in your pdf file.
◦ Spec scripts and original material are both encouraged.

Top 3 Screenplay winners will get an exclusive meeting with top Literary Managers Josh Adler and Mike Goldberg of NWE Entertainment in Los Angeles at the Sunscreen Film Festival in April 2013. They will be in attendance and also teach a screenplay workshop.

Latin Film Shorts

This year Sunscreen is pleased to announce a focus on Latin films, shorts, and documentaries. Florida, in particular the bay area, is among the largest Latin markets in the US. This years festival will have a dedicated theater and Latin focused events to engage and challenge the local film community which we hope will result in further exposure to Latin films, and an increased awareness of Latin filmmakers.

Latin Film Features

This year Sunscreen is pleased to announce a focus on Latin films, shorts, and documentaries. Florida, in particular the bay area, is among the largest Latin markets in the US. This years festival will have a dedicated theater and Latin focused events to engage and challenge the local film community which we hope will result in further exposure to Latin films, and an increased awareness of Latin filmmakers.

Latin Film Documentaries

This year Sunscreen is pleased to announce a focus on Latin films, shorts, and documentaries. Florida, in particular the bay area, is among the largest Latin markets in the US. This years festival will have a dedicated theater and Latin focused events to engage and challenge the local film community which we hope will result in further exposure to Latin films, and an increased awareness of Latin filmmakers.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Sunscreen Film Festival is dedicated to educating the public about the art of visual storytelling, enhancing opportunities for local filmmakers to develop their craft, and increasing the public's awareness and support of local filmmaking as a cultural and economic asset. We believe great storytelling is the core of effective filmmaking, whether the intent is to motivate or simply to entertain an audience.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Named one of the top 25 film festivals by MovieMaker Magazine, the Sunscreen Film Festival challenges expectations by providing filmmaker centered programing, networking opportunities, and intensive workshops. All of which truly make Sunscreen one of the "Coolest Film Festivals" in the U.S.

(MovieMaker Issue 82 Vol. 16)

Over the course of four days, the Eighth Annual Sunscreen Film Festival will showcase more than 65 short and feature films, including films of all styles and genres as well as music videos, mixed media, student films, documentaries and feature films from around the world. Exclusive parties, workshops and panels with celebrities and special guests from the film industry provide a warm, educational atmosphere for filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike. Make no mistake, these are not your typical interactions with filmmakers. Its our mission to only bring in top talent who are willing to interact at a personal level with filmmakers, teaching classes, and answering questions in professional settings.

The 2012 Sunscreen Film Festival screened over seven hundred film submissions. Over Sixty five short and feature films were selected. The star studded festival has featured such celebrity guests as John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Billy Dee Williams, Patrick Wilson (The Watchmen, Little Children, Hard Candy), Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder, JFK, Cliffhanger), Bill Cobbs (Night at the Museum), Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl), Jeff Donovan (Changeling, Burn Notice), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids 1-3), Producers Dave Anderson (The Prince of Egypt), Phil Cooke and Ralph Winter (X-men, Fantastic Four), Chris Wyatt and Sean Covel (Napoleon Dynamite), and Screenwriters Dean Batali (That 70's Show), Stephen DeSouza (Die Hard) and Timothy Sexton (Children of Men) and celebrity judge, Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons). Return guests such as John N. Flynn and Jamie Fleming (MGM Hollywood Classics) hosted the fourth annual Distribution and Finance Panel. Hosting our largest Actor's Workshop was Patrick Wilson teaching a Master Class.

The BayWalk entertainment complex in St. Petersburg, FL will be the central hub and "heart" of Sunscreen 2013, with festival screenings, information and ticket sales based in one location. Muvico's BayWalk 20 will be the primary film screening venue, with parties and workshops rounding out the festival at a variety of spectacular venues throughout downtown St. Petersburg and the city's waterfront.

Filmmakers attending Sunscreen 2013 will get to experience their films in a state-of-the-art theater, have access to all festival screenings and workshops, have access to special hospitality areas for filmmakers and industry guests.

Sunscreen presents an overall audience favorite award and juried awards in the following categories:
Best Mixed Media
Best Short Film
Best Documentary
Best Director
Best Student Film
Florida Fresh Filmmaker Award
Best Florida Film
Best Feature Film
Best Spanish Language Film
Best Screenplay

In 2008, Sunscreen offered our first guaranteed Distribution Prize in conjunction with York Entertainment. Since then Sunscreen has had distribution and acquisitions executives actively looking for films at every festival since then. We are looking forward to having them back to search for more film in 2013. Dozens of films over the years and four films in 2012 received offers of distribution from sales agents and distributors. Don't miss out on getting your film distributed in 2013!

Don't forget your Sunscreen! Make your plans to join us in April, 2013 for another spectacular season of films and fun in the sun!