Glad I got a chance to check out last weekend’s eighth annual Sunscreen Film Festival, which offered screenings of 9o features, documentaries and short films, and nearly a dozen filmmaking workshops.
The fest, held at Muvico Baywalk 20 theaters in St. Petersburg, also included its first Spanish Language Filmmaker Showcase, funded with a $5,000 grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to a report by Tampa Bay Times film critic Steve Persall.
The low-budget crime thriller “Confine” (my review) offered an intriguing premise and impressive performances by its small cast, and the Friday night block party featured walk-throughs at local art galleries, access to a variety of food trucks, and music from area bands.
WINNERS———————————
Alonso Mayo’s “The Story of Luke” was named Best Film, and Patrick Barry’s “Veer!” was honored as Best Florida Film.
Valenti Figueres Jorge was named Best Director, for “The K Effect: Stalin’s Editor,” and Andres Rosende’s “Mr. Bear” won for Best Short.
The complete list of winners:
- Best Short: Mr. Bear, directed by Andres Rosende
- Best Screenplay: I Hate Your Kids, written by Ben Fingerhut
- Best Florida Film: Veer! directed by Patrick Barry
- Best Up and Coming: Actor Matthew Ziff
- Best Latin Director: Valenti Figueres Jorge for “The K Effect: Stalin’s Editor”
- Best Latin Film: La Gran Falacia, directed by Paco Vazquez
- Best Documentary: Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer, directed by Mimi Chan
- Best Director: Valenti Figueres Jorge for “The K Effect: Stalin’s Editor”
- Best Film: The Story of Luke, directed by Alonso Mayo