The Sunscreen Film Festival, hosted annually by the non-profit St. Pete-Clearwater Film Society, is popular every year with locals and tourists alike. The purpose of the festival is to encourage independent filmmaking in Florida by providing an event for artists’ work to be shown as well as provide resources like celebrity lectures at the festival’s workshops.

Due to the success the festival has had with being an excellent resource for independent filmmaking, Sunscreen is launching a Film Institute in mid-July. The Institute will offer a full college curriculum but will be open to ages 14 and up.

"Over the years we’ve seen a great demand for top flight film education. The response to our ongoing educational programming has always been great and people in the community have been asking for us to do more,” said Executive Director Tony Armer.

The Institute will be housed at Indie Studio, a fully equipped soundstage and studio in St. Pete. Classes will meet once a week from 6-9pm in eight week blocks. Though schedule isn’t officially complete, courses will include Film History and Theory, Cinematography, Directing, Screenwriting, Editing, Producing, Acting and more.

The teaching staff will consist of current film professors from the area and across the state. Just like the Sunscreen Film Festival, the classes will have celebrity guest lecturers. Not only will the Institute teach excellence in filmmaking but Film Crew classes will train students how to work as grips, gaffers, sound, in the art department, prop department and many other necessary skilled labor positions. 

An open house will be held on July 19 from 6-9pm for anyone interested in the program. Cash bar, (beer and wine) plus light hors d’oeuvres will be available. The public is welcome to check out the studio and learn more about the program. Students under the age of 18 must have a guardian’s consent and undergo an evaluation interview prior to enrolling. 

Indie Studio is located at 1776 11th Ave. N. 

Photos via Indie Studio and Sunscreen Film Festival

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