Tampa Film Fan

a review of last friday’s tampa film review, part 1

The Tampa Film Review last Friday was one helluva night. To celebrate the third-year anniversary of the TFR, Guzzo Brothers #1 and #2 — also known as Paul and Pete — used the time in between films to make special announcements and to share exciting news.

Thank goodness I was a few minutes early for once in my life, because with about 200 people in the International Bazaar for the TFR, it was standing room only. Sitting in the row in front of me was author Eric Sturm, who is truly one of the most generous people I’ve ever met.  A frequent contributor to my blog calendars, Eric knows just about everything there is to know about the social scene in Tampa.  He could write a book with all that he knows.  (Oh wait, he has!  It’s called Access:Tampa Bay and it’s a great resource.)

My first social faux pas of the evening was not remembering that I had already met Kim, who was sitting next to Eric.  She politely reminded me that Eric had introduced us on two previous occasions. (Sorry, guys!)  Just before the first film started, she dropped a hint about an upcoming local film event that left me dying to know more. Eric then introduced me to the editor of Creative Loafing, whom I spoke with at length before and after the screenings. (And to whom I made the less-than-brilliant statement “I was just reading Creative Loafing today.”  Which was true, but still pretty lame to actually say out loud.  I probably slipped up and referred to it as the Weekly Planet, knowing my luck.)

The first film was a delightful short called Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dumpling, written and directed by New Jersey filmmaker David M. Henderson. Henderson filmed his two small sons on the Great Wall of China, complete with costumes and choreography, and made an absolutely adorable, funny short film (with great sound effects).

Then, Guzzo Brother #1 made his first announcement of the evening.  The Tampa Film Review has worked out an exchange with several other film festivals.  In September, the Guzzos and Nolan Canova (from www.crazedfanboy.com) will select the best film (possibly top 2 or 3) that has screened at this year’s TFRs.  The selected film(s) will be accepted into and will screen at the following film fests: Gasparilla Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival, Bare Bones Film Festival, Delray Beach Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival and Wildwood by the Sea Film Festival.

He also announced that every four months, the Tampa Film Review is going to exchange films with the WILDSound Monthly Film Festival in Canada and the Home Brewed International Film Festival in Australia.  This exchange will bring international exposure to the TFR and to local films and filmmakers.

The next movie screened was Full Sail Films’ Not Another Student Film, a short about two idiot stoner roommates who think their neighbor is a terrorist because he’s teaching foreigners about chemistry in his home.  It was ok, with one really funny bit about the heavy-duty stoner selling his soul to the devil for a steak.

Jon Wolding’s short film The Libertines was next.  The Libertines is a very clever take on how sex and violence are sometimes more similar than one might think.  I can’t say anything else about it because I don’t want to give anything away.

Continued in another post…