The 2013 Gasparilla International Film Festival opened its movie magic with the world premier of “Empire State’’ on March 19 at the classic Tampa Theatre.
For its seventh anniversary, the festival boasted more than 100 screenings, a Rockabilly Review Party and several public education panels.
The sold-out opening night VIP event is featured here in a photo slideshow by 83 Degrees Media Managing Photographer Julie Branaman.
Turn up the volume as you enjoy the slides so you can hear GIFF Board Member Frank Robertson chat about his love of the Tampa Bay region and the many reasons to live and make movies here.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.
Julie Branaman is a Sustainable Environment Video Creator, Editor, and Multimedia Photojournalist pursuing new visual experiences around the nation. Now based in Los Angeles, she and her husband James founded
The Branamans Video Production. Julie is the former Managing Photographer at
83 Degrees and once worked as a photographer at The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com, and News Channel 8. Prior to arriving in the Tampa Bay Area, she freelanced in the Seattle area, working on national and international stories. She's a graduate of Western Kentucky University. When not making images, she and James are likely to be found hiking, kayaking, or snorkeling their way around California, Florida, Maine, the National Park System, and America's unique landscapes in between.