The Gasparilla International Film Festival was held for the 16th time this weekend, continuing its tradition of highlighting artists in the area and beyond.
From March 23-26, Tampa Bay hosted one of its largest celebrations for independent films. The annual Gasparilla International Film Festival is three days in downtown at the Tampa Theatre. Film directors and actors from across the country gathered together to celebrate the importance of arts and film in the community.
Visit Tampa Bay highlights the event, stating “First launched in the summer of 2006, GIFF has grown into an entertaining and educational year-round entity in Tampa Bay. Well-known for its annual film festival, GIFF is operated by the 501 (c)(3) non-profit Tampa film Institute and continually upholds its mission to provide year-long support for film screening, production, and education throughout the Tampa Bay region.”
This year saw 75 independent film submissions, including feature films, student films, and others of the like. The community has found the event to be an impactful way to express their craft and their creativity.
This 3-day event was hosted downtown at the Tampa theater filmed directors and actors from across the country gathered together to celebrate the importance of arts and film in the community. People enjoyed interacting on the red carpet, numerous photo opportunities, furry friends, and of course film. Attendees got to watch the premiere of Miranda’s victim
Participants talked about the experience of the festival and the excitement behind it “It’s important for local talent to have a place to showcase their work….. to get that experience before departing to a bigger film town,” said film director and USF professor Ryan Watson.
Tampa Bay gets Enchanted in Safety Harbor
The enchanted garden festival in Tampa Bay over the weekend included a small business festival.
The festival was held at Folly Farm Nature Preserve in Safety Harbor. The festival was filled with fairies, vendors, and gardens. Folly Farm Nature Preserve, a 9.95-acre preserve, was the local host for the festival that makes its way around the country.
Some kids and adults went dressed as fairies to fully enjoy the event that was open to the public.
It included a vendor market with businesses such as How’s Your Day Honey, Living Roots Ecodesign, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Mystic Bird Jewelry, and Knotty Nanna Macrame. The small business vendors made the festival more exciting, including Mystic Bird jewelry worker Joe Haggerty. Haggerty said his daughter showcased her business at the festival, as well.
“We’re local. We live several blocks away,” Haggerty said. “She does the third Friday event in Safety Harbor every month, and it was just a natural thing to do.”
These small business vendors were selling food, jewelry, and more. There was even a vendor showing people live birds. The festival gave these small businesses an opportunity to show off their work.
Credits
Reporters/Producers: Ashleigh Yuhas, Anna Ostraya and Ansley Topchik
Editor: Emily Ward
Anchor: Anna Ostraya
Teleprompter Ashleigh Yuhas
Technical Director: Ansley Topchik
Web Editor: Tyler Moss
Web Managing Editor: Hannah Halili
Graduate Assistant: McKenzie Muskett
Faculty Adviser: Dr. Stephanie Anderson, Wayne Garcia
