Tampa Theatre event spotlights Black indie filmmaking

Tonight’s Juneteeth Film Festival at the Tampa Theatre, says Cranstan Cumberbatch, is in honor of so much more than the historical end of slavery in the United States. It’s about looking forward, particularly for Black filmmakers.

“It’s a huge celebration for Tampa Bay, and it’s a huge celebration for the city of St. Petersburg,” the actor, writer and producer explains. “Because for once, we’re breaking the chains of the Howard Frankland Bridge in that Tampa is actually representing St. Pete. Because the majority of these films were made in St. Pete.”

Cumberbatch’s production company, in collaboration with Film Tampa Bay, arranged the screening of the feature-length Agent X: Quarantine, along with three short films.

The second in writer/director Jabaar Edmond’s espionage thrillers, Quarantine – with Cumberbatch in the starring role – was filmed during and bookending the pandemic in St. Petersburg, New Orleans, Canada, Las Vegas and other locations.

“It was a really fun project to do, primarily because I get to get my James Bond on,” Cumberbatch laughs. “What guy doesn’t want to have a James Bond experience?”

The third Agent X movie, he reports, is in pre-production.

Cumberbatch, Edmonds and members of the casts will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screenings.

It’s an event, he says, whose time has come.

“With all the film festivals in this area during the first few months of the year, we’re seeing just how big the indie film market is. With people coming from all over the world, to the place with the best weather, to celebrate indie filmmaking.”

The shorts

“Nothing Else Matters is a romantic comedy that I wrote and directed, and I’m the lead actor in. It’s basically about finding love in the workplace. My character falls for an upper-level executive. He’s low-level himself. And normally there’s a great divide. He finds a clever way to gain her attention, and a series of events unfolds as he makes his attempt. This is the pilot episode of the series.

“In Simi, I play a guy that has these supernatural abilities, that he’s never been taught on how to use. He learns how to develop that super power, and learns more about himself, finds out more about his childhood and things of that nature. It really speaks on how we give and take energy to and from each other. It really hits on some high points of life through these episodic series.

“The Mini Lights covers a St. Pete urban legend. If you’re from the south side of St. Pete, and grew up in the community, these urban legends have existed for eons. The ‘mini lights’ is around the Roser Park, Booker Creek area … the urban legend is about these little mini-people, if you called them out they would chase you, and abduct you. They would be around that Booker Creek area at a certain time of night. And of course, with any urban legend that’s told to you as a scary story, it has its versions. For us as natives of St. Petersburg, we’ve heard so many different versions.

“Of course, we believed it was a way for our parents to get us in the house before the streetlights came on. Even to this day, when I’m in that area, I still go through there fast. I don’t waste any time!”

Admission to the 6 p.m. event is free, although reservations (here) are recommended.