Redfish Film Fest is a documentary film festival in historic downtown Panama City, Florida, making its debut in April 11-13, 2024. Festival organizers aim to produce the premier event of its kind in the Southeastern U.S. and interest and support from the filmmaking community is strong in its inaugural year, with more than 75 films scheduled for screening.
One of the few film festivals in the country dedicated to documentaries, line-up includes films produced and directed by an impressive list of headliners. The names include Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer Cori Shepherd Stern, whose most recent work, “Shiny Happy People,” is the number one documentary series on Amazon Prime. Florida native and an Emmy and GLAAD Award winning television executive Rebecca Sirmons is the first director of the global streaming platform NASA+. Her previous work includes “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Bill Nye Saves the World” and more.
The festival will include two days of showings at an eclectic collection of downtown venues: Panama City Center for the Arts, Downtown Boxing Club, Mosey’s, Gallery of Art and Bay County Historical Museum. In addition to the screenings, approximately a dozen filmmakers and film industry professionals will be on hand to answer questions after their films are shown. Panels of industry professionals will also assemble to discuss specific industry topics. The schedule also includes an opening night red carpet event, block party, closing night gala, VIP events and more.
The screening venues as well as the slate of social events, according to Redfish organizer and Panama City resident Kevin Elliott, are meant to not only celebrate documentaries but also what he sees as the rebirth of historic downtown Panama City.
“I love the documentary form. I always have. I also love downtown Panama City,” says Elliott, who has been involved in the downtown arts community since 1988. “I want people to fall in love with downtown as much as they fall in love with the festival.”
Elliott is co-founder of Wewa Films, the company producing Redfish Film Fest. Wewa’s resume of film work ranges from documentaries to corporate videos to web series. The company is based in Wewahitchka, Florida, located northeast of Panama City. The festival’s presenting sponsor is Peoples First Insurance.
“Enthusiastically championing the creative spirit of our community, Destination Panama City is honored to support the Redfish Film Fest. We believe in the impactful storytelling that documentaries bring to the forefront, uniting and inspiring audiences. This festival embodies the dynamic energy defining our city and is sure to be enjoyed by our locals and visitors,” said Jennifer Vigil, President and CEO of Destination Panama City.
Fast Facts
- Redfish Film Fest will premiere April 11-13 in Panama City, Florida.
- Panama City is the largest city between Pensacola, less than three hours to the west and Tallahassee, two hours east.
- Redfish is one of a small handful of doc-only fests in the country, and one of only two or three in the Southeast U.S
- The event will feature more than 80 docs screening across five venues in Panama City’s walkable historic arts district.
- Panama City is home to four historical districts: Downtown Panama City, St. Andrews, Glenwood and Millville.
- Originally founded as a fishing village in 1827, Panama City has a strong maritime history of fishing, shipbuilding and salt mining.
- Featured films range from seven-minute shorts to feature documentaries by NatGeo, PBS POV and NASA.
- Headliners who will appear in person at Redfish include Emmy-winning directors like Sarah Moshman and Anthony Hemingway; Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Cori Shepherd Stern, producer of hit docuseries including LulaRich and Shiny Happy People; and Tamra Simmons, creator of the Surviving R. Kelly docuseries, among others.
- Panama City and Panama City Beach are two separate municipalities and uniquely different cities separated by St. Andrews Bay and connected by the Hathaway Bridge. Different from the beachside city, Panama City is a community surrounded by St. Andrews Bay, with thriving historic districts, two full service public marinas, diverse dining establishments, eclectic shops, galleries, live music, historic walking tours, farmers markets, dolphin tours, fishing charters and sailing excursions.
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