Weekend: Gasparilla film fest back on the screen

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Gasparilla film fest back on the screen

By STEVE PERSALL
Published March 1, 2007

The inaugural Gasparilla Film Festival resumes today with four features and a pair of short film compilations at Channelside 10 in Tampa.

Today's highlight is Motherland Afghanistan (4 p.m.), a documentary edited by Roger Schulte, who previously made Gibtown, profiling the nearby carnival community of Gibsonton. Schulte will introduce his new work, detailing a women's hospital revived during wartime.

The festival continues through Sunday, primarily at Channelside, with a few screenings slated for Ybor City's Cuban Club. Visit the festival Web site (www. gasparillafilmfestival.com) for each day's lineup and location. Tickets are $8 for most screenings with discounts for seniors and students.

Friday's schedule includes free filmmaking seminars at the Cuban Club on distribution (noon) and screenwriting (2 p.m.). Channelside 10 will host an 8 p.m. showcase of collegiate films recently created through the nationwide Campus Film Fest program.

Each day includes a party ranging in price from tonight's free shindig at Splitsville bowling bar and grill at Channelside to Friday's $50 floating gala aboard the SS American Victory ship docked behind the Florida Aquarium. Sunday's closing night festivities at the Cuban Club are $50 per person.