News from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County

Independents’ Film Festival Starts TODAY
A Treat for Your Eyes, A Feast for Your Imagination - The Education Channel’s 16th Annual Independents’ Film Festival (IFF) promises the audience a party every night! Each themed screening night begins with a reception, complimentary food, drink and socializing before the films, followed by coffee and dessert – all included in the $15 admission price.

Events include:
November 5th – Gangsters and Groove: documentaries with a Florida focus. Back by popular demand,the award winning Ghosts of Ybor: Charlie Wall explores one of Ybor City’s most famous crime residents and Florida’s first crime boss. Screens with The Tempo of Tampa Bay, exploring Tampa’s rich tradition of jazz and blues.

November 6th – Emerging Directors: sponsored by the University of Tampa. Amazing short films and animations created by college and graduate students. Filmmakers on hand.

November 7th – Junior Showcase: films by students in grades K-12, most from high school students,including Blake High senior Garrett Brown, already a local filmmaking legend. Followed by a Young Producers Panel discussion with current college students. Find out how to make it in film in higher ed.

November 11th – Going to Xtremes: Award winning documentary FRAG, true story of professional videogaming and the young cyber-athletes who dream of stardom in gaming tournaments.

November 12th – Art of Film: An evening of beautiful, inspiring films revealing the artistic vision of the filmmaker, and celebrating IFF special guests Dorothy Fadiman and Todd Thompson, plus a selection of films from the festival.

November 13th – Florida Short Film Showcase: Wonderful films by some of Florida’s best filmmakers. Come early and stay late to meet the creative forces in the local film scene.

November 14th – Educational Seminars at 10 AM & 12 PM: Producing with Passion: Making Films That Change the World presented by Dorothy Fadiman, and Telling Stories with Heart presented by ToddThompson.

November 14th – Best of the Fest: A selection of award winning films, followed by an awards ceremony and wrap party for all attending. Help us wind it up and close it down in style!

The festival dates are: November 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 2009. All events held at The Education Channel, 703 N. Willow Ave, Tampa.

Seating is limited! Tickets available online only at www.indiefilmfest.us
(813) 254-2253, ext. 211lucy@tecc.tv

Last FMOPA Flashback Happy Hour!
Tonight, Thursday, November 5th, don't miss Steve Grant. The man who opened concerts for The Wallflowers, Lonestar and Bo Diddley is said to be able to make one guitar sound like a full band while singing the "lowest notes from the likes of Johnny Cash to the bird-like highs of Led Zepplin's Robert Plant."Playing along with Steve Grant (on guitar and vocals) will be Joe Lala (on congas). Joe graduated from Tampa's Jefferson High School in 1965 and has played with Stephen Stills' Manassas (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young), The Eagles, The Bee Gees, Jackson Browne, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Barbara Streisand, John Couger Mellencamp, Eric Clapton, Dr John, and Herbie Hancock just to name a few. Steve and Joe will be joined by Brent Radamaker on bass and vocals. Brent is Sub-Pop recording artist in a band called Beachwood Sparks.

Saturday, November 7th is the last day to say good-bye to Burk Uzzle's Woodstockand Other Americana. http://www.fmopa.org

More Public Art in Downtown Tampa
Downtown Tampa will be home to yet another unique component of public art, thanks to a collaborative effort led by the Glazer Children’s Museum.

Commissioned by the Glazer Children’s Museum and Voices for Children in conjunction with J.O. DeLotto & Son’s, Inc. and Gould Evans, a wall mosaic will be installed on the south side exterior of the museum.

The mosaic will be composed of mirror, glass and stained glass fashioned by hand into a design that compliments Tampa’s downtown culture, and use vibrant colors to reflect the region’s cultural diversity. This project is slated to be completed in February 2010.

Ferdie Pacheco To Visit History Center
Painter, fight doctor and Tampa native Ferdie Pacheco will be at the Tampa Bay History Center on Friday, November 6th for a reception celebrating the selection of his Mahatma Gandhi portrait by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) for inclusion on a new stamp.
The UNPA released the stamp designed by Pacheco on October 3rd, marking the International Day of Non-Violence, which is also Gandhi's 140th birthday.

The stamp and various other works will be on display in the Museum Store and the Lykes Atrium during the day. An artist's reception for the stamp unveiling will begin at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served at the reception.

UT Department of Speech, Theatre and Dance Announce Spring 2010 Performances
The University of Tampa, College of Arts & Letters, Department of Speech, Theatre and Dance have announced their Spring 2010 Performance Season schedule - be sure to mark your calendars!

Spring Dance Concert: Feb. 18-19 at 8pm and Feb. 20 at 2pm and 8pm in the David Falk Theatre
Play: Debt March 25-27 at 8:00pm and March 28 at 2:00pm in the David Falk Theatre
Musical: Candide April 22-24 at 8:00pm and April 25 at 2:00pm in the David Falk Theatre
Spring Dance Happening April 28-May 1 at 8pm
Cabaret/Revue April 30-May 1 at 8pm in the Reeves Theatre (2nd floor, Vaughn Center)

For Information:Dance Susan Taylor Lennon, (813) 257-3745 or staylor.lennon@ut.edu

Theatre:Michael Staczar, (813) 257-3987 or mstaczar@ut.edu

Attention Poets!
The University of Tampa Press, Tampa, FL, announces its 2010 Tampa Review Prize For Poetry. The annual prize includes hardcover and quality paperback book publication, $2,000 cash (plus royalties on sales of the book) and a portfolio of selected work to be published in the award-winning hardcover literary journal Tampa Review. The 9th annual competition is open to unpublished book length manuscripts from new or established poets. $25 reading fee. Deadline: 12/31/2009.
For guidelines and further information, visit: www.tampareview.ut.edu/tr_prize.html

To Do TODAY:
Poetry Slam finals at HCC tonight - 7:30 p.m. in the HCC Ybor Theatre

Businesses & Individuals in the Arts Awards @ Gala Florida Aquarium

Concert: Brand New, Thrice with Crime in Stereo The RITZ Ybor

The Writers at the University Series: Rhett Iseman Trull @ University of Tampa

FMoPA Woodstock Concerts Steve Grant @ Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

Artist Reception: Student School Exhibit @ South Shore Regional Library