December 4, 2007 

Wendy Ryan to host Gasparilla Film Festival & Closing Night/ Awards Ceremony

Popular Tampa Bay television personality, Wendy Ryan, will be the hostess for the Gasparilla Film Festival Closing Night/Awards Ceremony- taking place on Sunday night, March 2nd, 2008 at the Florida Aquarium.

Ryan is the co-anchor of the 6 and 11 o’clock editions of ABC Action News, as well as being an active leader in the Tampa Bay charitable community. For over a decade, Ms. Ryan has been highly profiled on broadcast news and financial journalism programs in such markets as Los Angeles, Miami, and Tampa Bay.

The Closing Night/Awards Ceremony is the capstone event of the 2008 Gasparilla Film Festival-Tampa Bay’s biggest Film Festival party. In addition to filmmakers, directors, distributors and other industry professionals from around the world, the Closing Night/Awards Ceremony will feature an awards presentation with several cinematic stars, including Tampa’s own Brittany Snow.

Information about Wendy Ryan is available at http://stpetesuperfest.com/personalities/wendy.shtml.

About the Gasparilla Film Festival (GFF):

GFF is Tampa Bay’s largest independent film festival and is operated by the Tampa Film Institute, a 501 © 3 organization dedicated to advancing film education and community involvement in film within the Tampa Bay area.  The 2008 Gasparilla Film Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, February 27th- Sunday, March 2nd at the historic Tampa Theatre, Channelside Theatres, Ybor City, and the Florida Aquarium.  Sponsors of the Gasparilla Film Festival include: Wachovia (Presenting Sponsor), St. Pete Times, tbt*, Navigar Advisors, Marshall Entertainment Insurance, Stella Artois, Bright House Networks, Cigar City, Don Vincente de Ybor, Hilton Garden Inn, State Film Commission, Tampa Bay & Company, Tampa Film Commission, Teco Streetcar Systems, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, WEDU (PBS), The Law Firm of Knopik Varner Moore, IADT, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Kodak, Rover Technologies, MORE-TV 32, Indiewire, Ferman, Throwdown Beverages, Emerge Nutrient Infused Water and Pickett Public Relations Group.