MIAMI, Fla. — As Florida continues to attract independent filmmakers to the state, Film Florida will be at the IFP Market in New York to tout filming in the state. To celebrate independent filmmakers at the IFP conference, Film Florida is also hosting its annual Florida Wasabi on Tuesday, September 18 at Jellado, located at 115 E. 4th Street. From 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Filmmakers, actors and industry guests will gather to fete the burgeoning indie film market in Florida.
Film Florida members will be sharing the benefits of filming in Florida, including the new state incentives being offered especially for independent filmmakers. This marks the group’s fifth year hosting the Wasabi party.
Some of the recent independent films successes that have come out of Florida include Chops, the toe-tapping and empowering documentary focuses on one Florida band’s journey to the Essentially Ellington competition; My Sexiest Year (Frankie Muniz, Harvey Keitel), Boynton Beach Club and Grace is Gone, John Cusack’s potentially Oscar-nominated turn as a widow of the Gulf War.
Florida consistently ranks among the top states for filmmakers. This year, Florida became one of the first states to tailor incentives to indie filmmakers with budgets starting at $100,000. Last year, Moviemaker Magazine Miami in the annual Top “10 Cities in America to be a Moviemaker” feature. This year’s list again featured Miami, moving up a notch to #7 on the top 10.
“Independent filmmakers are increasingly discovering the advantages of working in Florida – we’re a very indie friendly state in terms of resources,” said Graham Winick, President of Film Florida. “Film Florida has worked tirelessly with the Office of Film and Entertainment to beef up the incentives offered specifically for indie films.”
In Florida, film and entertainment is a $3.9 billion industry, representing 3,885 businesses and employs more than 42,000.
Film Florida is a not-for-profit corporation that provides a leadership role in Florida’s film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations and labor organizations. Its purpose is to offer to businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism.
For more information on Film Florida, please visit http://www.filmflorida.org.
[tags]independent films, Florida film and entertainment industry, Film Florida, IFP Market New York[/tags]
