Presented by:
Wachovia

December 19 , 2007

Gasparilla Film Festival Announces an Exclusive, International Film Partnership

The Gasparilla Film Festival and its parent organization the Tampa Film Institute are proud to announce:
an exclusive partnership with the Global Film Initiative (GFI) in the Greater Tampa Bay area.

GFI (www.globalfilm.org) promotes cross-cultural understanding and diversity by presenting developing world feature films in major US cities, through their series entitled "Global Lens 2008 Film Series." GFI is considered one of the foremost leaders in developing and executing world film initiatives and boasts a board, comprised of well known, accomplished international filmmakers, such as Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier, Mira Nair & Lucy Barreto, to name a few.

Films from Argentina, China, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Philippines and South Africa that will headline the Global Lens 2008 film series include:

ALL FOR FREE (SVE DZABA), Croatia
THE BET COLLECTOR (KUBRADOR), Philippines
BUNNY CHOW, South Africa
THE CUSTODIAN (EL CUSTODIO), Argentina
THE FISH FALL IN LOVE, Iran
KEPT & DREAMLESS (LAS MANTENIDAS SIN SUEÑOS), Argentina
THE KITE (LE CERF-VOLANT), Lebanon
LET THE WIND BLOW (HAVA ANEY DEY), India
LUXURY CAR (JIANG CHENG XIA RI), China
OPERA JAWA, Indonesia

"We are very excited about our new partnership with the Global Film Initiative," says John Rosser, Executive Director of the Gasparilla Film Festival. "The 'Global Lens' series strengthens our yearly programming schedule and will not only provide extraordinary value for our current members, but will also allow us to feature these exclusive, 'best of breed' international films to the Greater Tampa Bay community during 2008."

Rosser adds that he will work closely with local educational and government organizations to provide screening opportunities to the general public throughout 2008. Film schedules and venues will be announced in March 2008, following the conclusion of the Gasparilla Film Festival, which runs from Wednesday, February 27th - Sunday, March 2, 2008.

Past and present partners of the Global Lens Series include:

The Museum of Modern Art in New York
The American Film Institute
The Chicago International Film Festival
Gene Siskel Film Center
Miami International Film Festival
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
San Francisco Art Institute
Sarasota Film Society &
The Seattle International Film Festival

Any local educational, cultural or government organization wishing to work with Mr. Rosser on should contact him directly at (813) 514-9962.