5 Tampa Film Festivals You Can’t-Miss.
If you’re a fan of filmmaking in the Tampa Bay area, be sure to take in the many Tampa film festivals to immerse yourself in art and culture. In all the hustle and bustle of busy Tampa, filmmaking, and film appreciation have held their ground rock solid! When it comes to the Tampa video production community, festivals are essential, so here are our top picks:
1. The Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival
Location:
Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival
13009 Community Campus Drive
Tampa, FL 33625
Contact:
813.769.4725
[email protected]
Held each year in Tampa since 1995, this film festival is committed to celebrating the Jewish experience and bringing you the best in Jewish film, and has both a local and global appeal. It has something for everyone—comedy, documentary, drama, and shorts—all with a Jewish theme that seeks to entertain and enlighten audiences of varying ages, cultural backgrounds, and tastes. Some of the films offer a platform for questions and discussions between audiences and the writers, actors, and producers of these films. This festival is made possible with generous donations, so if you want to see it continue, consider supporting it financially. The festival holds events at different times of the year, one being ENCORE Movie Night. Remember, Baghdad will be shown on November 19, and Winter Hunt will be screened on December 10—both at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC (Jewish Community Center).
2. 30 Day Film Challenge
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Everyone enjoys a healthy competition, and the art of film is known for its yearly awards for the best-of, like The Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Art), so it’s no surprise to find that many film festivals across the country are the result of contests that come in all shapes and sizes, like The 30-Day Film Challenge, where filmmakers have 30 days to write, shoot, edit, and submit their films in the action, comedy, or zombie categories—all to be kicked off on November 29 at the Coppertail Brewing Company in Tampa. The 30-day timeframe for this contest is November 29-December 29.
3. Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival
The Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival is one of the city film festivals that embraces films that may be overlooked or underappreciated by the larger film community. Some films are created for audiences to be informed or educated, but this festival believes film should still be about escaping the stress and worry of everyday life. That isn’t to say that there won’t be serious dramas or documentaries, but the subject matter won’t be typical. This event is to be held December 5-8, 2019.
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4. Fantastic Fears Shorts
Again, thanks to the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival, you can eat your heart out with a series of short scary films on December 8 at the Britton 8 Theater. The tickets are reasonably priced at $10, and if you’re a hardcore horror fan, you may be tired of Jason and Freddy and are looking for new blood. Some of the titles include Pillow Case, Signal Lost, and Netflix, and Kill.
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5. Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Celebrating their 28th annual festival in October, you’ll want to mark your datebook for next year’s festival! You can expect to choose from over 40 films to enjoy in the documentary, comedy, musical, and drama categories, all connected to the gay and lesbian community in some way. Participating countries include but aren’t limited to China, Spain, Australia, and Germany.
Location:
TIGLFF
PO Box 17816
Tampa, FL 33682-7816
United States
Contact:
Judging by all the city film festivals happening in Tampa, you’ll want to find one to suit your taste and schedule, and there are plenty to choose from.