Tampa Film Fan

news and notes:danford, international cinema series, 99, fmpta

• Local filmmaker Rick Danford is staying busy, writing for FearZone and 24/7 Magazine. He’s just finished directing the short film Alarum and is working on securing financing for his next project.
• There are a few more screenings upcoming in this semester’s International Cinema Series at Eckerd College. Screenings are Friday nights (check schedule to verify) at 7 p.m. in the Miller Auditorium of Eckerd College and are free and open to the public.
• Congratulation to filmmakers Paul Guzzo, Pete Guzzo and Jereme Badger on signing a distribution deal with Indie Pictures for their feature comedy 99. A release date has not yet been set. 99 has shown on three continents (North America, Europe and Africa) and has won multiple awards from numerous film festivals, including Best Comedy at the Barebones Film Fest in Oklahoma and Audience Choice Award at the Garden State Film Festival. In his weekly e-newsletter, Guzzo Brother #1 said “We are very excited about this distribution deal and congratulate everyone who made the film with us. It is hard to get distribution for a feature indie film with no star power … throw in no nudity, cursing or violence, and many people told us it was impossible. So this is a giant ‘I told ya so’ to all the naysayers.” (h/t to Guzzo Brother #1)
• The Florida Motion Picture and Television Association Tampa Bay Chapter has a new location for its monthly meeting: American Legion: USS Tampa Post No 5, 3810 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33609 (813) 870-0505, Commander Hamblin. “Our location is a much larger facility that will provide sufficient space for several future fundraisers, premiers and exciting new projects that will benefit the entire Florida Film industry.” I’m sorry to not post this in time for the FMPTA March meeting a week or two ago. Visit www.fmptatampa.org for more info. (h/t to Sherri Lawrence of the FMPTA)