Now in its fifth year, the Sunscreen Film Festival opens Wednesday, April 14, with five days of screenings, classes, workshops and panels that are sure to both entertain and educate. 

The annual event encourages the creation, production and exhibition of independent films throughout Florida and is hosted by the not-for-profit St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society.

“The two-track film schedule is top-notch, and everyone will find films and documentaries to their liking,” said Jennifer Parramore, film commissioner, with the St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission. “However, the workshops and panels will appeal to serious film professionals.”

The Film Commission is partnering with festival organizers on a unique marketplace that will bring sales agents, buyers, distributors and filmmakers together to discuss the sale of films and distribution rights---something no other festival in the Southeastern US currently has in place.

Sunscreen’s opening night film, Black Dynamite, begins at 7:30pm, setting the stage for the festival’s bevy of showings. A collection of narrative features, documentaries and shorts---including foreign and animated---will appear on Muvico screens through Sunday.

But the festival doesn’t just strike a chord with film enthusiasts.

Workshops like Thursday’s ‘Indie Film Producing 101’ and Sunday’s ‘Marketing Your Movie’ are a hit with independent and small-budget filmmakers. Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) and Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl) highlight a long list of talented actors scheduled to take part in interactive sessions.

Wilson, a St. Petersburg native, will also field questions, along with the legendary Billy Dee Williams, after the Saturday screening of his latest flick, Barry Munday.

Tickets for individual movies ($8), one-day tickets ($35) or a special VIP pass allowing access to all Sunscreen movies and events ($125) can be purchased online.

For more information on the Sunscreen Film Festival, visit http://sunscreenfilmfestival.com/.