Subject:
Title
Marketing Sponsorship Agreement with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Society Inc. for the Sunscreen Film Festival.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Marketing Sponsorship Agreement with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Society Inc. for the Sunscreen Film Festival.
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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 (Film Commission) to be the Headline Marketing Sponsor of the 2017 Sunscreen Film Festival. This festival is scheduled to take place on April 27 - 30, 2017, 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 will be the second year the CVB will be designated as the Headline Marketing Sponsor for this internationally recognized film festival. In exchange for this monetary support, the CVB will receive tourism promotional benefits, which are detailed in the Agreement.
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, multiple producers actively scouted the St. Pete/Clearwater Area during 2016 to film in 2017. These films will result in an estimated $2,000,000.00 in direct economic impact to the County. 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.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding to support the Marketing Sponsorship Agreement in the amount of $40,000.00 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