message From our Executive Director

Greetings from the Executive Director,

How can May be nearly over already?   It seems as though it was just yesterday when Christopher Constantinou and I were on stage at the Tampa Theatre on closing night of the 2007 festival – tossing Clip t-shirts out into the audience.  

Since then, we have hosted a fabulous “Clipped from the Vine” wine tasting event at Vintage Wine Cellars in Tampa.  We’ve had two Clip Film Series monthly screenings, “Curiosity of Chance” and “Blueprint” sponsored by BlueCross/BlueSheild of Florida, Macy’s, Alternative Yellow Pages, Gazette and Watermark.    We have launched a new collaboration with the University of South Florida to create a special collection of film festival archives.  We hosted, along  with Florida Southern University in Lakeland a screening of  “Accessory To Murder” the thought-provoking documentary about the life of Ryan Skipper.  We have partnered with Winter Pride Tampa Bay to help present “Pride in the Park”, and we are reinforcing relationships with some of our sister film festivals in Central Florida to forge new and exciting partnerships.

What’s on the horizon?  Well our May film, “The Houseboy” will be held, Wednesday, May 21st in Historic Ybor City's GaYbor District for the first time.  Be sure to check out the trailer on the festival website or our myspace page.   St Pete Pride is just around the corner, and of course the Film Festival will have a sparkling presence in the parade and during the festival.  Our newest venture Clip@GayDayS Film Fest will be held June 7-8 during the annual Gay Days Celebration in Orlando.  Complete details are here on the website or on our myspace page.   As always we are looking for your help to keep our world -class event strong.   Please give Friends of the Festival every consideration when making your membership decisions this year.  We rely heavily on our member and donor support to continue our mission in the community.

I hope to see you at our spring fund raising party at the Lowry Park Zoo.  An Evening With Friends, OUT in the WILD! sold out in 2007.  We're counting on you to help make that event a success again this year. 

Mark your calendar NOW for clip 19 (The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival), October 2-12, 2008 at the beautiful Tampa Theatre and Muvico Baywalk Theatres.   We also have our hotels all set for the fall festival.  Complete information on how to book a room at the discounted rate is available here on the site.

I am here for you.  Please let me know how I can better serve our community.

See you at the movies!

Chuck Henson
Executive Director
Friends Of The Festival, Inc.