April 25 - 28, 2024, in beautiful, sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, join us for another spectacular film festival where attendees mix and mingle with filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, and celebrities in an open and relaxed atmosphere right in the middle of downtown St. Petersburg!
Sunscreen Film Festival proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world’s #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.
Submissions for the 18th Annual Sunscreen Film Fest in St. Petersburg, Florida (April 27 - 30, 2023):
Important Deadlines:
July 1, 2022 Opening Date
September 30, 2022 Earlybird Deadline
December 16, 2022 Regular Deadline
January 6, 2023 Late Deadline
January 27, 2023 Extended Deadline
March 3, 2023 Notification Date (Approximate)
April 27 – 30, 2023 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 18th annual Sunscreen Film Festival's guest speakers.
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
A one-on-one conversation with Marvel Studios Executive Vice President & Producer, Mitch Bell (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), talking about everything Marvel from the production process and directing creative content.
90 mins
@ AMC Theatre #1
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Discovering the Actor’s Voice Workshop: An interactive workshop focused on helping male actors find the distinct traits of their character and how to effectively bring that to the screen.
60mins
Rm. 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Corin Nemec, Paul Wilson, Naomi Grossman, and Mary Rachel Quinn
See Sched.com for more info.Moderated by Dave DeBorde
How to maximize your relationship with your film commission to benefit your project big or small. Plus State and local incentives for your film. And where to find them.
60 mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Tony Armer, Katie Pryor, Brian Lord, Chad Newman, and Lisa Dozois
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
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Curtis Graham, David Yates, John C. Hall, Ramfis Myrthil, Nathalie Boltt, and Mitch Bell
See Sched.com for more info.Moderated by Dave DeBorde
An interactive workshop with a professional director and professional actors who share their wisdom about the Directing/Acting process. This will be an interactive workshop, so some actors in the audience will be selected to roll up their sleeves and participate with some of the industry’s best!
60mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Natalie Boltt, Jessie Kove, Naomi Grossman, Paul Wilson, and Corin Nemec
See Sched.com for more info.Presented by Dave DeBorde
Hear what Investors want to see to give you money and how that works with Distribution. No mincing words! If you're an independent film producer, you can’t afford to miss this workshop! Leading experts in independent finance and distribution will deliver pearls of wisdom, so buckle your seat belt and take notes like a maniac!
60 mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Marty Poole, John C. Hall, Santosh Govindaraju, Steve Demmler, Ramfis Myrthil, and Robert Enriquez
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
Learn from our panel of seasoned pro’s what it takes in today’s business to be a professional actor and not only survive, but thrive.
75mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
1:45p
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
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Moderated by Dave DeBorde
How do you pitch a movie? During this informative workshop, you’ll learn from our diverse panel, the secrets to successful pitching. This workshop will not only help you effectively tell your story but will also prepare you for the Pitch Fest!
60mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
4:15p
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!
60mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Ramfis Myrthil, Mike Brown, Tony Armer, Marty Poole, Robert Enriquez, Elijah Hill, and Mitch Bell
Moderated by Ben Daniele
Learn from industry veterans, the essentials every director should know and the potential pitfalls. Also, expect a dose of healthy cynicism, with a dash of optimism in this directing panel.
60mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
Guest Speakers:
Ryan Watson, Mike Brown, Andew Kiaroscuro, and Conrad De La Torres III
See Sched.com for more info.Moderated by Rose Rosen
Rose Rosen takes you through the casting pitfalls, successes and best practices.
90mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
2:00p
Moderated by Ben Daniele
Co-founders Kelli and Erica Turner discuss topics that include (but are not limited to): Unique niche of casting, coaching, 3 mistakes hopeful new talent make getting started a safe path to stardom, changes in Modeling & Acting since the pandemic and more!
90mins
Room 210, SPC Center
For Filmmaker, Day or VIP pass holders
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.
detailsMere 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.
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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"