UPDATE: Cast and Reel: Film Tampa Bay's Inaugural Saltwater Premiere to Benefit Local Film Efforts

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

**Update**
Due to the significant impact of Hurricane Irma and because several of Film Tampa Bay's partners and supporters of Cast and Reel are members of Hillsborough county government and Tampa tourism dealing with the storm's aftermath, we have decided to postpone this inaugural event to the Spring. We would like to allow our supporters all the time they need to focus on the recovery after such an unprecedented event. For all of our sponsors, we will keep you notified of a new date in the Spring of 2018 once we can make the necessary logistical confirmations with our vendors. We greatly appreciate all of your support. We have full confidence Tampa Bay will bounce back stronger than ever!

Cast and Reel, Film Tampa Bay's Inaugural Saltwater Premiere on Friday October 6, 2017, is designed to raise funds to generate monies for the Tampa Hillsborough Film and Digital Media Commission through vessel sales, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales.  The proceeds for this event will go toward the operating budget of the Film Tampa Bay.  The captain's dinner will be at Rock Brothers Brewery on Thursday October 5, 2017 and the Tournament is Friday, October 6, 2017 at Hula Bay in Tampa. There will be a silent auction, raffle prizes and giveaways.

The necessity for this effort is due to the lack of financial support from the state of Florida. The goal of the tournament is to generate a pool of discretionary funds outside of the local funding provided by Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.  These funds will be used at the discretion of Film Commissioner Dale Gordon for projects and initiatives including but not limited to:  Student scholarships and grants, creation of a grant program for local film makers and lower budget productions that might not meet the $100,000 threshold required for incentives tied to taxpayer dollars, and the creation of a fund to be used for organizing workshops for workforce development. 

Visit Tampa Bay, Tampa/Hillsborough EDC, Vigo Alessi, Rock Brothers Brewery, Pepin Distributing, Diamond View Studios and Blind Tiger Café are among the sponsors so far. Sponsorships are still available and details for the event can be found on www.castandreel.org.

About Film Tampa Bay:

The Tampa Hillsborough Film & Digital Media Commission markets the Tampa Bay region as a premier filming destination with one of the most culturally-rich and diverse landscapes in the state of Florida. Film Tampa Bay exists within Visit Tampa Bay, the region's tourism bureau, to help boost the overall marketing and economic development impact for Tampa Bay, which is rapidly becoming one of the most attractive destinations in the United States. Visit www.filmtampabay.com for more information. 

For any additional questions on this event, please contact Gina Morales at gina@ginamoralespr.com

Media Contact: Gina Morales, APR 813-530-6521

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SOURCE Film Tampa Bay