The Sunscreen Film Festival today announced its official program selections for its 2020 showcase taking place at AMC Theaters Sundial (151 2nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, Fla.) — and other support venues in the area — from Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 3, 2020. The festival, now in its 15th year, will kick off with a screening of Beast Beast, an official selection at Sundance, produced by Alec Baldwin and directed by Danny Madden; and Wake Up, a short directed by Olivia Wilde, starring Margaret Qualley. The Festival will close with The Illegal — directed by Danish Renzu and starring Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) — a gripping coming of age story about a passionate film student that must leave everything behind to follow his dream in a new country. Confirmed celebrity attendances include: Dean Cain for The Seven, a supernatural horror film; and Robert Davi for Mott Haven, a gritty drama.
“Not only is the Sunscreen Film Festival the longest running mainstream film festival in the Tampa Bay area, it has also become a widely recognized festival around the world. I travel to festivals like Cannes, Sundance and Toronto every year; and I can see it growing to have an impact like those fests. It has really put the St. Pete, Clearwater, Tampa area on the film world map — and it’s amazing to see the positive effect it’s had on our community over the years. The Film Commission is thrilled to be the headline sponsor and is looking forward to the next 15 years,” said Tony Armer, St. Petersburg Clearwater film commissioner and Sunscreen Film Festival founder.
The 15th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival will present 25 features from the US and around the world within various categories including foreign, documentary, thriller, drama, and comedy; plus, 100 shorts across 13 different thematic blocks.
Feature highlights include: The Miseducation of Bindu — a coming of age dramedy directed by Prarthana Mohan and produced by the Duplas Brothers — that centers around a bullied Indian teenager as she navigates through high school; Snaeland, a Finish film noir about a disgraced German journalist who finds redemption in a small Icelandic fishing village; and Angela, a Columbian film directed by Agamenon Quintero that sheds light on the power men hold over women in many parts of the world.
Locally made films will also be taking center stage with the Festival screening WDED Dead In The Morning, Beauty is Skin Deep, Celebrity Crush, and several high school shorts.
Documentary highlights include the Story of Plastic directed by Deia Schlosberg; Flannery, a biopic on southern gothic writer Flannery O’Conner; and Frenemies, a film shot in Cuba that covers the country’s complicated relationship with the US. Also featured is Stalking Chernobyl: Exploration After the Apocalypse, an in-depth look into the increasing number of adventure-seekers risking radiation poisoning to take photos in the area.
“Finding our way in the world is the theme of the Festival this year. I think more than ever we need stories from fresh, new perspectives to help us become more connected as people in this world. That’s why we are so proud of all the films in our lineup this year. These films give emerging talent a much-needed voice to share the stories that make you feel real human emotion. If you really want to get a feel for what lies ahead in film making, this is where you need to be,” said Chris Eaton, festival programming director.
ABOUT THE SUNSCREEN FILM FESTIVAL
The Sunscreen Film Festival is organized and presented by the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society Inc., a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, screening top-notch films, providing year-round programing, including; films, educational workshops, parties and events in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa, Florida. Consistently internationally recognized as a top global film festival it is the longest running mainstream film festival in the Tampa Bay area.
ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER FILM COMMISSION
The St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission serves Pinellas County, Florida supporting and working to bring commercials, TV shows, feature films and digital media projects to the area.
Film SPC supports local signature Film Festivals, fosters industry development with free workshops, an online production guide and location database. The film commission participates in direct marketing and trade missions at major film markets, festivals and tradeshows in North America and Internationally like Sundance, Cannes, Toronto and more.
Film SPC has a local film incentive program. Film, TV, digital media, music videos and more are eligible for the development marketing partnerships. The goal of the incentive is to provide exclusive destination exposure for St. Pete/Clearwater as an area with a growing reputation for filmmaking and television programming, great locations, and excellent crew and equipment resources.