Swede Fest Tampa Bay: Zero Budget Films

Swede Fest Tampa Bay, a film festival for movie fans, will be held on Oct. 21^st in Tampa. What makes this film fest different from others is that it isn’t a competition and the films are amateur takes on well-known movies.

“Swede Fest is for fun,” says Will Albritton, organizer of Swede Fest Tampa Bay. “This isn't a competition; it's an opportunity to allow people to show their movies on the big screen. We're talking about people who otherwise wouldn't have that kind of opportunity or even necessarily make a film. ” 

Albritton explains that a “sweded film” is a zero-budget, shortened version of a Hollywood movie. At this year’s Swede Fest, films include shortened versions of "Back to the Future," "2001: A Sweded Odyssey," "Dumbo," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Weekend at Bernies" and "Top Gun," as well as others.

The purpose of the event is to get people out of the audience and behind a camera.

“Average people don’t have millions of dollars at their disposal to hire union lighting and sound people, and a cinematographer and actors if they want to make a film,” Albritton says. “Swede Fest is embracing the amateur nature of fun filmmaking. ”

The fun isn’t just for filmmakers either, movie fans who attend can enjoy watching the amateur movies on the big screen. Movie fans can attend Swede Fest and see all of the films for $5. Swede Fest Tampa Bay will run from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 21^st at the Muvico Ybor movie theater in Tampa.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Will Albritton, Swede Fest Tampa Bay