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.

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