ST. PETERSBURG—For the first time in more than two decades, the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will not be held in Tampa.
The festival, which runs from Oct. 2-10, is leaving the downtown Tampa Theatre and crossing the bay to its new home at the Palladium in downtown St. Petersburg.
After years of declining attendance, organizers of the annual event looked for a new location. The festival showcases LGBT films and videos.
“A lot of this came about after meetings with Tampa Theatre,” said Margaret Murray, executive director of the festival. “There was no rift whatsoever. Everyone I’ve spoken to, once I told them the reasons, they’ve understood.”
Murray said the Palladium was chosen because it offers organizers and attendees a nice place to hold screenings and parties. And, most importantly, it gives the festival a new foundation for growth.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has attended the festival every year since he took office in 2011 and has said he is happy to see it expand to other areas.
St. Petersburg’s Pride Parade has become known as the largest gay pride event in Florida. Its relationship with the festival and St. Petersburg’s support for the LGBT community, Murray said, were extra incentives to move.
Mayor Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg said he is happy to have the festival and believes it will fit nicely alongside the parade. But he said people shouldn’t dwell on the festival’s relocation from Tampa.
“This is certainly a regional event,” he said. “They are just moving their home over here.”
Festival attendance at Tampa Theatre has dropped in recent years. At its peak in the late 1990s, about 800 people would attend a big screening on a Friday night. Recently, Murray said, about 400 to 500 people have turned out.
“The festival is not in any danger of going under. But we know we have to take steps now,” Murray said.
Film festivals are being forced to get more creative and add additional entertainment to their programs as more and more people are content to stay at home and rent videos or watch movies online.
“Viewing trends are changing rapidly, and we have to keep pace with that,” Murray said. As a result, the festival will feature new events including book signings, live music and museum visits. The Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg will host an outdoor screening and picnic on Oct. 8.
“The Palladium was created to be the home of non-profit events,” said Paul Wilborn, executive director of the Palladium. “We are excited about it.”
