Seems like the Education Channel's Independents Day Film Festival was just here, but, incredibly, almost two months have passed since that annual Fourth of July weekend event. It's all over now but for the shouting, as well as the inevitable handing out of the awards. And that's exactly what'll take place on Sept. 19, when the Education Channel sets up camp at Tampa Theatre to host a special evening of the Best of the Ninth Annual Independents Film Festival.
Awards will be presented to best films in a variety of categories, including Best Feature Film and the Florida Choice Award winner, both of which won't be officially announced until award night. More than a dozen films will be honored, and (depending on length) will be screened in part or in their entirety. Many of the filmmakers will be on hand as well to talk about their work and chat with the audience.
The evening's award-winning films include: Fun Days with Jake (independent animation by LeAnn Erikson, Pennsylvania); Eviction (student animation by Alejandro of Uruguay); The Wild Heart of Florida (independent Florida documentary by Leslie Gaines and Stephen Robataille); Chroma (student documentary by Carrie Schultz); Friction (experimental short by Robert Ellmann, the Czech Republic); A Dog Story (independent short film by Dina Mande, California); Some Other Time (student short by Jim Lumley, Florida); Other People (independent short by Vickie Gest, Australia); My Body's Revolting (student short by Scott Stanton, Florida); Taste It All (WOW-award film by Richard Liukis, California).
Admission to the screenings and award ceremony is $5.50, and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Tampa Theatre box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 813-287-8844 and charging by phone. For additional information call 813-254-2253.
Lance Goldenberg can be reached at lgoldenb@tampabay.rr.com or 813-248-8888, ext. 157.
This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2002.