14th Gasparilla Film Festival Postponed Due To Coronavirus Scare

TAMPA, FL — The Gasparilla International Film Festival scheduled for March 17 to 22 has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The GIFF board of directors said it didn't make the decision lightly.

"After carefully reviewing all information available to us at this time, the board of directors has made the decision to put the health and physical safety of our attendees, staff, volunteers, sponsors and vendors at the forefront of our minds and postpone the festival,” said Tammy Briant Spratling, GIFF board president. “The board is exploring all options that will allow us to bring powerful and engaging independent film to the Tampa Bay area when concerns around COVID-19 have subsided."

All tickets and passes will be honored on the new dates, which will be announced as soon as they are available. Check the film festival website for updates.

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TAMPA, FL — The Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival is giving a sneak peek of Florida-focused films accepted into its 14th annual celebration of independent film. The initial selection highlights films with strong ties to the state in both the U.S. Feature Film Competition and U.S. Shorts Competition.

In just 14 years, GIFF has become known regionally as the largest celebration of independent film that inspires, educates and entertains annually in the Tampa Bay area. Part of Gasparilla Arts Month, GIFF is one of the fastest-growing film festivals in the U.S. and is consistently recognized as a Top 50 festival.

“In the past several years, we've seen an increase in the number of locally produced films,” said Tammy Briant Spratling, president of the Tampa Film Institute Inc. and Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival. “As a result, we wanted to honor and celebrate the thought-provoking and entertaining filmmaking taking place right here in our backyard."

GIFF supports and cultivates the film industry by bringing the arts, education and quality films to the Tampa Bay area and hosting thousands of filmmakers, talent, producers and film buffs. The festival is also lauded for adding engaging industry panels and lively events to its lineup.

"In its 14th year, GIFF is a mirror of the hip, urban heart of Florida's Gulf Coast that Tampa Bay has become,” said Tyler Martinolich, Hillsborough Film commissioner. “With our rich production history, I'm thrilled GIFF is showcasing the hard work and talents of many of our Bay area filmmakers."

GIFF will roll out the red carpet on opening night, March 17, at the historic Tampa Theatre at 711 N. Franklin St., in downtown Tampa.

The majority of screenings will take place at the state-of-the-art HCC Performing Arts Center in partnership with Hillsborough Community College Ybor City Campus, 1411 E. 11th Ave., Tampa. The full festival lineup will showcase films of all formats and genres, including features, documentaries, shorts, music videos, family-friendly films and international films.

The 2020 Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival will take place from March 17 to 22. Festival passes are now available for purchase online.

Preview List Of Florida-Focused Films

Florida Features:

• "Beauty is Skin Deep" - Director Joe Davison

High school can be murder.

Cast: Taylor Halsey, Adam Shimberg, Mercedes Gutierrez, Tiffany Kerr, Jessica Lemon, David Miguel, Cheyenne Buchanan, Joe Davison, Tayna Christiansen, Nickolas Wolf, Bri Leone, Monique Wilburn, Domenic Servidio, Jaime Brightbill, Sebastian Serra, Cary Mark, Austin Janowsky

Filmed in St. Pete and Clearwater.

• "Celebrity Crush" - Director Oliver Robins

A delusional fan imprisons the star of an ’80s horror movie inside a rural Florida farmhouse with the hope of making him fall in love with her.

Cast: Oliver Robins, Alissa Schneider, Melissa McNerney

Filmed in Clearwater, St. Pete and Largo.

• "Instaband" - Director Bob Rose

Surviving the Streaming Revolution.

Cast: Sam Tinnesz, Adara, Lala Anthony, Stealing Oceans

Florida Filmmaker

• "Lost Bayou" - Director Brian C Miller Richard

A struggling addict ventures into the Louisiana swamp to reconnect with her father, only to discover he is hiding a troubling secret aboard his houseboat.

Cast: Teri Wyble, Dane Rhodes, Hunter Burke, Jackson Beals

• "Mentally Al" - Director Joshua Eldelman

An intimate portrait of the life and mind of a man many consider to be the greatest comedian you’ve never heard of, Al Lubel.

Cast: Al Lubel, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Nealon, Judd Apatow, and Andy Kindler

Florida filmmaker

• "Skyman" - Director Dan Myrick

An obsessed man is on a mission to document a reunion between himself and the "alien" of his youth.

Cast: Michael Selle, Nicholette Sweeney, Faleolo Alailima

Tampa filmmaker/Tampa producer

• "Two Weeks With Tom" - Director Michael M. Sinclair

Spend two weeks with Ybor City legend Tom DeGeorge.

Cast: Tom DeGeorge

Filmed in Tampa/Tampa filmmaker

• WDED “Dead in the Morning” – Director Maurice Jovan Billington

A failing morning show uses a zombie outbreak to get better ratings.

Cast: Kevin Caswell, Carl Rimi, Elayna Clair, Jacob Rosado, George Geo Gauvin, Mike Calta

Filmed in Tampa/Tampa filmmaker

• "When It Breaks" - Director Todd Tue

"When It Breaks" is the journey of a special ed teacher-turned-folk singing advocate on the road in search of answers.

Cast: Konrad Wert, Jenny Gillespie, Jonah Gillespie, Kai Gillespie

Partially filmed in Fort DeSoto.

Florida Shorts:

• "Ben DeSoto: For Art's Sake" Directors Michael Witnes Zapata and Andrew Benavides

That captured moment of interaction.

Cast: Ben DeSoto, Jamar Riley, Emily Vega, ESG and Russel Gonzalez

Tampa filmmaker

• "Blass Mass" - Director Jeremy Westrate

Awakened by forces of darkness, a man must gain his composure and the advantage over the malevolent spirits in order to survive.

Cast: Christopher S. Kapper II

Tampa Filmmaker

• "The Brewchurch" - Director Aaron Hosé

Welcome to America's first modern-day church-owned brewery. Come on in. Join us for a pint. Or a prayer. Or both.

Cast: Jared Witt, Aaron Schmalzle, Ed Ruble

Florida filmmaker

• "¡Come! (Eat)" – Director Lizette Barrea

A 12-year-old Puerto Rican girl’s perspective changes when she brings a popular dessert dish, Arroz con Leche, to a Thanksgiving event at her school and no one eats it.

Cast: Noa Garcia; Elvia Hill; Aniria Turney; Kianna Jackson; Michale Roman; Saul Cancel

Florida producer

• "Death at Dinner" - Director Bethany Ruth Miller

The in-laws...are dying to meet you.

Cast: Julia Rudgers, Josh Cordle, Erika Stone, Greg Rabidoux, Susan O’Gara, Makenzi Spell, Jeff Shapiro, MaryBeth Ritter, Daniel Deist

Florida State University film

• "Dorset" - Director Karl Huber

A hit man goes deep into the restricted woods called Dorset to kill a woman. Then finds out about its haunted history shortly after killing her.

Cast: Linda Roser, Sean Michaels, Sarah Jimenez, David Mcmahon

Filmed in Florida/Tampa filmmaker

• "Ghostal Galaxies" - Director William Allen

Weaving his twisty surrealist jabs, this documentary pays homage to the masterful voice of the Space Ghost character George Lowe.

Cast: George Lowe

Florida filmmaker

• "Girl Beast" - Director Zoë DeLeon

After an awkward 12-year-old girl is bitten by a mysterious beast, she undergoes a physical transformation that threatens her chances of fitting in with the cool clique at school.

Cast: Acadia Colan, Akira Jackson, Anastasia Mirabelle, Christopher Bencomo, Toni Murdock, Eva Coleman

Tampa filmmaker

• "Hammer" - Director Orlando Cicilia III

When a man returns home early to surprise his wife, he's met with a surprise of his own.

Cast: Eric Roberts

Tampa filmmaker

• "Hashtage" - Director Ben Alpi

In a looming future where social media celebrities dominate our culture, X (Gigi Edgley) is the world’s supreme online icon—but how far must she go to hold on to her popularity?

Cast: Gigi Edgley, Erryn Arkin, Juliet Landau (voice)

St. Pete editor

• "Hurricane Flora" - Director Gabriel de Varona

A filmmaker attempts to interview her emotionally closed off father about his tragic past in Cuba while a powerful hurricane rages outside.

Cast: Roberto Marrero, Karina Curet Flores, Isabella Viera Linares, Gregory Burdett

Filmed in Miami

• "I Will Not Say His Name" - Director John Taylor Timmons

After committing a mass shooting, a man takes cover in his family's vacation house. He’s in eager anticipation of hearing his name announced on the news but learns he will be the first mass shooter to remain unnamed.

Cast: Walker Cody, Sam Franz, David Edwards

Tampa filmmaker

• "Just the It Guy" - Director Wesley Hayes

When the world is on the brink of catastrophe, the fate of humanity lies in the hands of an average IT worker.

Cast: Blake Lafita & C. P. Walker

Florida State University film

• "Kitty Daniels With Majid Shabazz Jazz Legends" - Director Louise Krikorian

A documentary following the struggles and successes of 85-year-old jazz legends Kitty Daniels and Majid Shabazz, who live in Tampa, where Ray Charles began his career.

Cast: Kitty Daniels, Majid Shabazz, Bob Seymour, Mike Reed, La Lucha, Nicole Hoffer, Ron Kert, Elizabeth A. Baker, Pete Caldera, Belinda Womack, Jack Bricklemeyer with Jazz Band Students of Coleman Middle School, Gino Tiozzo, Bryan Hughes, Bob Buckhorn, Mike Cornette, and Paul Wilborn.

Filmed in Florida/Tampa filmmaker

• "Making Herstory: Girls Rock St. Pete, FL" - Director Maggie Perrotta

When a torrential downpour threatens to cancel the Girl’s Rock St Pete - Jannus Live finale, we see the spirit, energy, and power of camp as the campers come together to will the event into being.

Cast: GRC volunteers, campers, and Jannus Live audience members

Filmed in St. Pete.Florida cast

• "Mother Stands for Comfort" - Director Nick Smith

In a sleepy Florida town, a by-the-book sheriff investigates a missing person report of local town hooligan.

Cast: Steve Aaron, Daphne Lewis, Joseph Corcoran

Filmed in Florida.Florida filmmaker

• "Mr. Pita Meets a Monster" - Director Garrett Brown

He's here to stop the squeak no matter who tries to stop him.

Cast: Chiko Mendez, J.J. Crowne, Dave McMahon

Filmed in Florida/Tampa filmmaker

• The Return of the Panther" - Director Oscar Corral

A new era for living with Florida's panthers.

Cast: Chris Morgan, Tamara Whittington, David Onorato, Franklin Adams, James Ivey, Virginia Marshal, Liesa Priddy, David Shindle, Daniel Tommie, and David "Lefty" Durando.

Filmed in Florida

• "The Shade" - Director Nicholas Canning

A mother and daughter are preyed upon by a foreboding entity.

Cast: Lisa Walton, Luna Jarquin

Tampa filmmaker

• "Sleepwalker" - Directors Josh Noftz and Joe Bariso

When tech genius 8-Ball terrorizes a Brooklyn neighborhood, it’s up to the reluctant alien known as Sleepwalker to stop him.

Cast: Chris Cavalier, Lexi Balestrieri, Hoon Park, Christopher Cutillo

Tampa filmmaker

• "Surfer Vs. Crocodile: A Story of Survival" - Director Drew Petrimoulx

A surfer survives a vicious crocodile attack and strives to return to the water.

Cast: Jon Becker

Tampa filmmaker

• "W.A.S.P. (The Unsung Heroes of WW2)" – Director Bill Suchy

W.A.S.P The Unsung Heroes Of WW2 tells the story of America's female pilots of WWII.

Cast: Narrated by Mary Thompson Hunt

Filmed in Florida

• "The Widow of Mary Kane" - Directors Marc Dahl & Evan Smith

During his wake, a widow learns more than she ever wanted to know about her dead husband.

Cast: Mary Rachel Quinn, Ray Bouchard, Elizabeth Fendrick

Tampa filmmakers and actors.