April 28 - May 1, 2022, in beautiful, sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, join us for another spectacular, live film festival where attendees mix and mingle with filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, and celebrities in an open and relaxed atmosphere! Click here for Sunscreen's Covid-19 Safety Guidelines.
Sunscreen Film Festival proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world’s #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.
Submissions for the 17th Annual Sunscreen Film Fest in St. Petersburg, Florida (April 28 - May 1, 2022):
Important Deadlines:
July 1, 2021 Opening Date
September 30, 2021 Earlybird Deadline
December 17, 2021 Regular Deadline
January 7, 2022 Late Deadline
January 28, 2022 Extended Deadline
March 4, 2022 Notification Date (Approximate)
April 28 – May 1, 2022 Event Date
Awards
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature Film
Best Foreign Feature Film
Best Narrative Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Foreign Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Student Short Film (College)
Best Student Short Film (High School)
The 17th annual Sunscreen Film Festival's guest speakers.
Executive Director
Writer, Producer
Distributor, Producer
Head of Film
Producer
VP, Three Point Capital
Producer
Producer, Writer, Director
Producer
Filmmaker, Actor
Writer, Director & Producer
Entertainment Attorney
Producer
Chief Executive Officer
Consultant
Actress, Director
Brand Strategist
Producer, Talent Manager
Attorney
Actress
Producer, Actor
Actor
Producer, Actor
Actress
Actress
Filmmaker
Actor
Actress
For a more comprehensive workshop and panel's schedule listing, please visit our partner website at: Sched.com. Powered by Sunscreen Education!
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
This is the 1st of two interactive panel discussions that go in depth on the ins and outs of trying to carve out a career as an actor, while working collaboratively with your talent manager. How do you get started? How do you find representation? How do you get in front of the right people? How do you know when to take an actor on as a client? Etc.
60 mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Eugenie Bondurant, Monika Gossmann, Lucius Baston, Paul Wilson, and Robert Enriquez. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
See Sched.com for more info.
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Veteran Documentary producer and entertainment attorney Jonathan Gray, who’s worked on countless successful docs like the Oscar-winning, American Factory, will share with attendees, what makes a good documentary, how are they funded and good strategies for distribution.
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Jonathan Gray and Sean Cisterna. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
See Sched.com for more info.
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Producers in the studios and independents, are constantly chasing after government dollars in attempts to mitigate the risks for their investors (or executives). This panel will explore practical approaches for incentive dollars from state programs as well as the federal government.
90 mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Tony Armer, Katie Patton Pryor, Tyler Martinolich, Chad Newman, Brian Lord, and Corkie Kessler. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
The good news is every filmmaker has bad films inside of them! This panel will discuss why it’s necessary to make your bad films and how to eventually make films that don’t suck.
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Joe Davison, Tony Armer, John C. Hall, Robert Enriquez, and Michael Baumgarten. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
See Sched.com for more info.
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Veteran industry pro Daniel Calderon from NYC-based #WFH Studio who works with amazing brands, such as Netflix, Campari Group, Condé Nast, Forbes, and more, will give the attendees strategies to help with the branding of their own projects as well as their own footprint.
45mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
This is the 2nd of two interactive panel discussions that go in depth on the ins and outs of trying to carve out a career as an actor, while working collaboratively with your talent manager. This session will pick up where the previous day’s session left off. How do you effectively build a career? What does the process look like when you take an actor out to meet with producers, networks and studios? How does an actor create a sustainable career?
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Eugenie Bondurant, Lucius Baston, Paul Wilson, Monika Gossmann, and Robert Enriquez.
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Presented by Dave DeBorde
Seasoned screenwriter, script doctor and recovering Film professor, Dave DeBorde, will take you through his screenwriting structure and basics lecture that he’s given in classrooms and festivals all over the world. He’ll also discuss the business of screenwriting and how to emerge from the pack as a writer.
60 mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
This budgetary range is viewed as the primary level for most “legitimate” independent films. Our seasoned panelists will unpack the secrets with a commonsense approach to raising the money, gathering the talent, and producing the best film possible, plus we’ll touch on distribution!
75mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Viviana Zarragoitia, Michael Brown, Ramfis Myrthil, Jonathan Gray, and Milan Chakraborty.
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
We’re not going to mince words here – if you are an independent Film producer, you can’t afford to miss this panel! Leading experts in independent finance and distribution will deliver pearls of wisdom, so buckle your seat belt and take notes like a maniac!
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Steve Demmler, Santosh Govindaraju, John C. Hall, Marty Poole, Milan Chakraborty, and James Cole, Jr. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Learn from the pros how to pitch your production and actually land the deal. Learn the guidelines of pitching your project and yourself.
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Michael Baumgarten, Ramfis Myrthil, James Cole, Jr., and Paul Wilson
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Learn about the legal fundamentals needed for your project. Discuss ownership rights, clearing, production/financing/distribution deals, insurance and more! The information covered in this panel is worth thousands. So, bring a notebook! (Note legal discussions will be cursory. For detailed legal advice, the moderator and/or guest speaker(s) reserve the right to either answer in detail or suggest a consultation.)
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Scott Goldberg and Jonathan Gray. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
See Sched.com for more info.
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
This is your opportunity to pitch movers and shakers in the industry! There will be a sign-up sheet and you will be given one minute to pitch and then receive two minutes of feedback from our panel of big industry machers. It will be 1st come, 1st serve and once the sheet fills up, there won’t be an opportunity to pitch your big idea to the panel. Do you have what it takes to be the next big thing? We’ll find out!
90mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Kestrin Pantera, David Yates, Ramfis Myrthil, Viviana Zarragoitia, Tony Armer, Robert Enriquez, James Cole, Jr., and Corky Kessler. Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Moderated by Ben Daniele
This workshop will introduce attendees to an overview of standard industry principles applied to prep, scheduling, shooting and management of feature length, one-hour episodic, half-hour comedy entertainment projects and commercials.
60mins
@ AMC 13 Theatres
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Doug Tschirhart and Victoria Jorgensen. Moderated by Ben Daniele
The Sunscreen Film Festival is held at the Sundial AMC 12 Theatres located in the beautiful Mall at Sundial nestled in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.
153 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-800-3201
21.0 mi / 33.8 km from Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Accommodations, located in the heart of downtown St. Pete, within walking distance or a short ride to venue.
Within walking distance to the festival and local restuarants. Call 1-800-445-8667.
details
Mere blocks from the festival's
venue, surrounded by shops and restaurants.
A very nice and economical hotel in north central St. Pete, close to interstate.
details17
years
2286
films
390
workshops
21
countries
This really was an incredible festival: packed screenings, elegant events, GREAT workshops and panels, excellent communication, and WHAT A TOWN! Tony and the team at Sunscreen made us feel like the most important film at the fest...while also making other filmmakers feel just a special. Quite a trick!
Chris White - "Electric Jesus"
Thank you so much Sunscreen for having my film "Jackals" at your festival. I enjoyed bouncing around to the different screenings and the panels. Can't wait to submit my next film! Keep rocking Sunscreen!
Sean Menendez - "Jackal"
Wow. This festival was amazing. Even during Covid they managed to have an in person event with panels, workshops, parties and lots of networking. Oh and of course wonderful films! Every email and question i had got answered in a timely fashion and I really felt welcome at this event. Great job Sunscreen!!
Jennifer Msumba - "The Fish Don't Care if it Rains"
Sunscreen is a very hospitable, warm and inviting festival. Communication was prompt, courteous and personable. Members were eager to network and help filmmakers find next steps. I highly recommend this festival!
Sheryl Carbonell
Sunscreen was a diamond in the rough. I hadn’t heard of it prior to this festival season when I came across it on FF and I can’t tell you how happy I am that I decided to apply. They did an incredible job through the difficult situation of COVID remaining “open” yet safe. The value that I got in applying to this festival can not be overestimated. Do yourselves a favor and get on it for 2022. I’ll be the first in line.
Dave Siegel - "Would Have"
What a festival! After the throes of 2020, this FF picked itself up and put an in-person 2021 event that rallied the best of spirit. Great energy, workshops, and leadership behind making the filmmakers feel welcomed and informed. If you are thinking of submitted to Sunscreen, don't think twice! It was an honor to have "Silent Notes" be part of the selected short films. Thank you, SFF!
Kiki Tsakalakis - "Silent Notes"
The 17th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival would like to thank Visit St. Pete Clearwater and the Film Commission office.
