Subject:
Title
Marketing Sponsorship Agreement with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Society Inc. for the Sunscreen Film Festival.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Marketing Sponsorship Agreement with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Society Inc. (Film Society) for the Sunscreen Film Festival.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.6 Support a vibrant community with recreation, arts, and culture to attract residents and visitors.
Summary:
This Agreement will provide the opportunity for the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission to be the Headline Marketing Sponsor of the 2016 Sunscreen Film Festival. This festival is scheduled to take place on April 28 - May 1, 2016, in St. Petersburg.
Background/Explanation:
The Film Commission, a department of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), is tasked with promoting the County as a filmmaking destination. The production of commercials, film, TV programs and other media results in millions of dollars spent in the County each year in hotels, crew wages, retail purchases, and equipment rentals. These activities also generate publicity and public relations for the destination. Attendance at film festivals is one approach the Film Commission uses to increase brand exposure and take advantage of networking opportunities with filmmakers, producers, distribution companies, agents, and production companies.
This festival is an internationally recognized event. According to a report by Research Data Services, Inc., in 2015 this festival had 14,210 attendees of which 45.8% were from out-of-county and included countries such as, the United Kingdom, Central and South America, Canada, Germany, Italy, Korea, Japan and others. As a direct result of their attendance at this festival, two producers shot films in the St. Pete Clearwater area during 2015, which resulted in an estimated $750,000 in direct spending. The opportunity exists to grow this festival into an event that is similar in size to South by Southwest, Cannes, Tribeca or Sundance for the local area.
In exchange for this monetary support, the CVB will receive tourism promotional benefits, which are detailed in the Agreement.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding to support the Marketing Sponsorship Agreement in the amount of $40,000 is provided through the CVB’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Marketing Sponsorship Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
David Downing, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Marketing Sponsorship Agreement