Major Florida Film Festival Returns For 19th Anniversary

Sunscreen Film Fest Facebook Page

*Uncovering Florida is in no way affiliated with Sunscreen Film Festival and receives no commissions from sales.*

Have you ever wanted to rub elbows with celebrities, see movie premiers, and experience the film industry from the inside all from a city near you? This opportunity is available this week at the Sunscreen Film Festival in Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

The 19th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival starts on Thursday, April 25 and ends on Sunday, April 28. The event will feature a variety of workshops, panels, short and feature-length film showings, a red carpet, parties, and Q&As. While there will be actors, directors, producers, and press in attendance, this festival is also open to the general public.

Day passes start at $50-65, a pass for the whole festival runs about $175, and individual tickets to movie showings cost around $12 each. VIP, Filmmaker, and Sponsor passes also come with 10-15% off discounts to a few local restaurants. Tickets can be purchased here. 

A full breakdown of the events for each day of the festival is as follows:

Thursday, April 25:
AMC Sundial 12:
-2:45 p.m. - Old Righteous Blues - Theatre #1
-4:00 p.m. - Food Roots - Theatre #1
-5:30 p.m. - Opening Night Red Carpet 
-7:00 p.m. - Bau, Artists at War - Theatre #1
Nova 535:
-9:00 p.m. - Opening Night Party - Chic Red Carpet Attire

Friday, April 26:
AMC Sundial 12:
-10:00 a.m. - Bau, Artist at War Q&A with the filmmakers - Theatre #2
-10:00 a.m. - 12 college short films - Theatre #4
-10:00 a.m. - 14 Florida-made short films - Theatre #3
-10:15 a.m. - The Guru - Theatre #1
-11:30 a.m. - Workshop: Biohacking and Fitness - Theatre #2
-12:00 p.m. - 10 comedy short films - Theatre #4
-12:15 p.m. - Nine documentary short films - Theatre #1
-12:30 p.m. - Eight animation short films - Theatre #3 
-12:45 p.m. - Workshop: Screenwriting, Writing Dynamic Dialogue - Theatre #2
-2:00 p.m. - All the Wrong Ingredients - Theatre #4
-2:30 p.m. - A Splash of Color - Theatre #1
-2:30 p.m. - Workshop: Virtual Production and LED Volumes - Theatre #2
-2:30 p.m. - Back to Bridgewood - Theatre #3
-3:45 p.m. - Nine labyrinth of the mind short films - Theatre #1
-4:00 p.m. - Workshop: Documentaries 101 - Theatre #2
-4:15 p.m. - Fallen Drive - Theatre #4
-4:30 p.m. - Q - Theatre #3
-5:15 p.m. - Workshop: Comic Book to Film - Theatre #2
-6:00 p.m. - The Green Flash - Theatre #1
-6:15 p.m. - Eight twilight tales short films - Theatre #4
-6:15 p.m. - Savage - Theatre #3
-8:15 p.m. - What We Find on the Road - Theatre #4
The Birchwood
-9:00 p.m. - Filmmakers Party - 70s Disco Attire

Saturday, April 27:
AMC Sundial 12:
-9:30 a.m. - Child Machine - Theatre #4
-9:30 a.m. - Camp RicStar - Theatre #3
-9:30 a.m. - 15 high school short films - Theatre #1
-10:00 a.m. - Workshop: AI in Filmmaking - Theatre #2
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Sundial 
-10:30 a.m. - Power of Pink Brunch - Available as an add-on event bookable here.
AMC Sundial 12:
-11:15 a.m. - Workshop: Acting - Theatre #2
-11:30 a.m. - Eight genre roulette short films - Theatre #3
-11:30 a.m. - Nine heartstrings short films - Theatre #4
-11:45 a.m. - Nine college short films - Theatre #1
-1:00 p.m. - Workshop: Finance & Distribution - Theatre #2
-1:45 p.m. - Documentary Double Feature - Theatre #3
-1:45 p.m. - 10 silhouettes of society short films - Theatre #4
-2:15 p.m. - Workshop: Film Commissions - Theatre #2
-2:30 p.m. - Place of Bones - Theatre #1
-3:30 p.m. - Workshop: Pitch Fest - Theatre #2
-3:30 p.m. - Seven visionary tales short films - Theatre #3
-4:00 p.m. - Seven futuristic tales short films - Theatre #4
-4:45 p.m. - Eight comedy short films - Theatre #1
-5:30 p.m. - Horror Double Feature - Theatre #3
-6:30 p.m. - Kiss of the Con Queen - Theatre #4
-6:45 p.m. - CASH FOR GOLD - Theatre #3
-7:00 p.m. - I feel fine. - Theatre #1
The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art
-9:00 p.m. - Awards Ceremony and Party - Fancy Western Attire

Sunday, April 28:
AMC Sundial 12:
-11:00 a.m. - Workshop: Ask a Lawyer - Theatre #2
-11:00 a.m. - Nine documentary short films - Theatre #4
-11:00 a.m. - Sara, The Force of the Sea - Theatre #3
-11:00 a.m. - 12 Florida-made short films - Theatre #1
-12:30 p.m. - Workshop: From Concept to Screen - Theatre #2
-1:00 p.m. - Nine soulful journeys short films - Theatre #4
-1:15 p.m. - Seven retro revival short films - Theatre #3
-1:30 p.m. - 11 college short films - Theatre #1
-2:00 p.m. - Workshop: Behind the Scenes of a Film Festival - Theatre #2
-3:15 p.m. - Two Lives in Pittsburg - Theatre #3
-3:30 p.m. - Seven hidden gem short films - Theatre #4
-3:45 p.m. - I feel fine. (second screening) - Theatre #2
-4:00 p.m. - I Think I’m Sick - Theatre #1
-5:15 p.m. - ToxiCITY - Theatre #3
-5:45 p.m. - Couples Retreat - Theatre #4
-6:00 p.m. - The Pages of My Heart: Volume 2 - Theatre #1
-6:00 p.m. - The Green Flash (second screening) - Theatre #2

Sunscreen Film Festival prides itself on being both the “oldest and longest-running mainstream film festival” in Tampa Bay. In the past 18 years, Sunscreen has shown 2,537 films, hosted 402 workshops, and featured 19 countries. This festival has also attracted celebrities like John Travolta, Billy Dee Williams, John Cena, Dylan McDermott, and Martin Kove, who have all made appearances.

Sunscreen Film Festival was founded in 2005, has approximately 10,000 attendees every year, and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As of 2013, Sunscreen expanded to Los Angeles, where it hosts a festival in the fall as well. Additionally, between 2013-2014, both Sunscreen Film Festivals were chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be the 23rd film festivals nationally to be awarded a Festival Grant 

If you want an alternative way to be involved with this festival in another capacity, Sunscreen also offers volunteer opportunities. For every four hours worked as a volunteer, you can earn a day pass, and for 12 hours or more, you can earn a VIP all-inclusive four-day pass. Contact Julie Chalhoub at [email protected] for further details.

Uncovering Florida will be attending this festival. Keep an eye out for our follow-up article.

Article by Ema Tibbetts