One of our favorite annual events in the Sunshine City has hit an incredible milestone. The Sunscreen Film Festival, a cultural cornerstone in St. Pete, announced that it has totaled nearly $40 million in economic impact in Pinellas County over its years drawing crowds to the area.

Nearing its 19th annual appearance (April 25-28), the announcement of the findings comes as the celebrated film festival continues its upswing, growing bigger and bigger with each passing year. With such a tremendous impact, the remarkable achievement highlights the festival’s role not only as a cultural beacon for the area, but also as an economic powerhouse helping to drive the region’s red-hot appeal.

Indeed, in the nearly two decades of the Sunscreen Film Festival (a notable history deserving of its own full story), Pinellas County has seen a corresponding boom in filmmakers and studios choosing to film movies and tv shows in the area. According to organizers, dozens of film projects have chosen to shoot in Pinellas County directly because of the Sunscreen Film Festival’s initiatives and support. These projects represent close to $4 million in direct spending and have contributed an economic impact of $20 million to the local economy.

Sunscreen Film Fest drives millions in industry impact

As far as drivers for the industry, those eye-popping numbers are second only to the Dolphin Tale movies, set in Clearwater and having gained international renown. In fact, Dolphin Tale’s Executive Producer David Yates credited the film festival directly for the explosive growth of the industry locally.

“The impact of the Sunscreen Film Festival on our local film industry cannot be overstated,” he said. “It’s been a catalyst for growth, bringing together talent, creativity, and business in a way that has fundamentally transformed the landscape of filmmaking in Pinellas County and Tampa Bay.”

Just the festival on its own – consisting of a four-day weekend of films, workshops and more – has a tourism an economic impact of close to $20 million, solely for the direct business and tourism it draws that weekend. Not only does Sunscreen enrich the cultural fabric of the region, but it also significantly bolsters the city and county’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

Film fest garners PR for St. Pete, Clearwater

Of course, the festival’s impact extends beyond economic figures, as it has consistently garnered national, international, and local press attention for St. Pete and Pinellas County over its 19-year tenure. This media exposure has not only elevated the profile of the festival but also highlighted the region as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and film. The consistent presence of up-and-coming film stars, major Hollywood professionals and known celebrities has added to the national, international traditional and social media exposure.

“The Sunscreen Film Festival has been more than just an event; it’s a movement that has dynamically transformed the cultural and economic landscape of Pinellas County,” said Festival Co-Founder Tony Armer. “We are immensely proud of the role the festival has played in not only enhancing the artistic fabric of the area, but also in significantly contributing to the community by boosting tourism and generating millions of dollars for the local economy.”

The Sunscreen Film Festival got its start in 2006 when it was hosted at Studio@620 and drew a crowd of 600. In the years since, it has become one of the country’s most celebrated productions and has expanded to include a second festival each year in Los Angeles.

Organized and presented by the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society, a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization, the annual Sunscreen Film Festival supports and enhances St. Petersburg’s economic profile by putting on an internationally recognized event to draw tourism and international media coverage to the city. The society is dedicated to educating the public about the art of visual storytelling, enhancing opportunities for filmmakers to develop their craft and art, and increasing the public’s awareness and support of filmmaking as a cultural asset.

Learn more about the Sunscreen Film Festival sunscreenfilmfestival.com.