Founder

Tony Armer

Tony Armer is a seasoned film industry industry executive. As Dallas Film Commissioner (2023-2024), he secured major investments and developed new programs.

Previously, he led the St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission (2014-2023) to record success. Tony co-founded the Sunscreen Film Festival in 2005. His production work includes films distributed by Lionsgate, an Amazon Prime series and award-winning feature films and documentaries.

His graphic novel Terminal Kill based on his awards finalist screenplay was completed in 2024. He works with finance, sales, and distribution companies. He co-founded Film USA, the national film commission association. Tony holds an MFA in Film and Television and has taught film as an adjunct professor.

You can email Tony at tony@sunscreenfilmfestival.com

Creative Director

Declan Flynn

Declan Flynn is a veteran 2D graphic and 3D artist with over twenty years of experience in the creative and film industries. Formally trained in the fine arts and 3D modeling, Declan’s transition to film earned him multiple awards for his producing, directing, and editing.

One less known fact about Declan is that he’s the creator of Sunscreen’s original brand identity just after Sunscreen’s first Video and Film Festival in 2006, and helped shape Sunscreen's brand into what it is today. Between 2006 to 2010, Declan served as the festival’s Director of Operations and the Board’s Vice President. In 2015, Declan returned to Sunscreen to create the 10th anniversary key art, and in 2018, retained his original title as Creative Director and Brand Ambassador for the 2019 festival year. Today, Declan remains a creative force behind Sunscreen’s year-round marketing efforts along with an amazing team of creative professionals.

You can email Declan at declan@sunscreenfilmfestival.com

Education Director

Dave DeBorde

Filmmaker and educator Dave DeBorde was a producer on the romantic feature, Old Fashioned, which enjoyed a theatrical release for Valentine’s Day 2015’ and won multiple awards after its initial festival run.

In June of 2012’, DeBorde directed the feature film romantic comedy, Marriage Material. Dave completed a full season as the showrunner for the reality TV show, Soccer Moms of Tampa Bay(2015), which has received critical praise in the industry.

DeBorde wrote the script for the family film, Camp Hideout, which enjoyed a wide theatrical domestic release in the Fall of 2023 through Roadside, and a worldwide release through Sony. Dave was also hired to write and direct, Merry Christmas…Oy Vey!

DeBorde, is a popular lecturer and moderator on the Film/TV industry and regularly speaks at the biggest festivals in the world: Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, and Sunscreen FF.

Operations Director

Julie Chalhoub

Julie Chalhoub joined the Sunscreen Film Festival Board of Directors in 2020, and serves as the Director of Operations, Volunteer Coordinator, and is a key part of Sunscreen's Programming Team. Julie is an award-winning Producer/Director and Editor with over 35 years of experience. Her passions include creating quality programming and helping others.

Through her production company, Guise Only - founded in 1999 - Julie was the Editor and Post Production Supervisor of the award winning film, Surviving Pulse: Life After A Mass Shooting. She also serves on the Telly Awards Judging Council and has joined multiple film festivals like the Telluride Film Festival in 1999, Dunedin Film Festival in 2020, Tampa Bay Latin International Film Festival in 2021, and Mountain Film since 2022.

Julie loves storytelling and being part of the process. When not making movies or working festivals, Julie is dedicated to the Fluff Animal Rescue, helping to save lives.

You can email Julie at julie@sunscreenfilmfestival.com

Programming Director

Doug Tschirhart

With over two decades of diverse experience in the video and film industry, Doug has evolved into a Creative Producer, actively involved in developing, directing, and producing a wide array of projects, including feature films, short films, commercials, music videos, and events.

In 2014, he co-founded Scatter Brothers Productions, a venture that has contributed to the production of over five hundred commercials, films, and television projects.

His portfolio includes the production of feature films such as "Hot Mess in a Wedding Dress" (2019), "The Pet Detectives" (starring Sean Astin, 2022), "I feel fine" (starring Corin Nemec and Dean Cain), and "Saint Nick of Bethlehem" (starring Cathy Moriarty and Daniel Roebuck) in 2023. Currently, Doug has four films in various stages of development or pre-production.

You can email Doug at doug@sunscreenfilmfestival.com

Hospitality Director

Agathe Daskalides

Meet Agathe Daskalides, who infuses her role as Hospitality Director with sunshine and a passion for celebrating the magic of creative energy. Agathe’s international journey began in the entertainment industry in Belgium, and then continued in PR, before embarking on a truth-seeking path.

Inspired by her grandfather, a renowned Belgian filmmaker, Agathe’s commitment to the arts is deeply rooted. Each interaction resonates with her love for community building and artistic expression.

Agathe contributes to the vibrancy of her community, having served on multiple boards such as Leadership St. Pete and Empowerment Beyond Scars.

Co-Marketing Director

Zach Moore

Zach Moore is the Founder of Coastal Creative, a production studio and event space based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Since launching the company in 2018, Moore has helped transform Coastal Creative into a hub for filmmakers, photographers, and artists across the Tampa Bay region.

A filmmaker and creative entrepreneur, Moore’s work focuses on building infrastructure for independent storytellers. Through Coastal Creative, he has produced and supported a wide range of projects including narrative films, commercials, music videos, and branded content.

Zach is also actively involved in the regional film community through his work with the Sunscreen Film Festival, where he supports programming, partnerships, and filmmaker engagement. Through his work in both production and community development, Moore continues to advocate for independent film and the growth of Florida’s creative economy.

Co-Marketing Director

Chris Preston

Chris Preston is a graphic designer, illustrator and digital markerter with over 18 years of experience. He attended the prestigious Harrison Center for the Arts in Lakeland, Florida as well as Tampa Technical Institute and graduated with a degree in the Graphic Arts.

Chris has worked side-by-side with brands sich as Tidal Ginger Beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Converse, Nike, Skatepark of Tampa, Monster Energy, The Sunshine Comedy Festival, and most recently, assisted with a rebrand for the newly renovated South Side Studios in Dallas, Texas.

He is currently working with Coastal Creative Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida.

You can email Chris at chris@coastalcreativetv.com

Co-Media Director

Ryan Watson

Ryan Watson is an award-winning videographer and filmmaker, working in the Tampa Bay area since 2006. His areas of expertise include documentary production, cinematography, videography, and drone videography. He has been a post-secondary educator since 2012, teaching various aspects of TV and film production.

Currently, Ryan is an instructor at the University of South Florida's (USF) Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications. Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida in 2006 and obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree in Digital Cinematography from National University in Los Angeles in 2015.

In 2015, his film, Florida State’s 1st Seminole, won the Audience Choice Award at the Gasparilla International Film Festival graduate student showcase. He has since directed two award winning films; The Ivory League: Confessions of a Black Faculty (2021) & Paper Line (2022).

Co-Media Director

Ryan Kern

Ryan Kern is a seasoned professional photographer with over three decades of experience, specializing in aviation photography and capturing iconic moments. Since the 1990s, Ryan has built a distinguished career, photographing world-renowned figures such as rock legend Mick Jagger and former President Barack Obama.

His unique ability to tell stories through the lens sets him apart, whether he's documenting the raw energy of a rock concert or the elegance of an aircraft in flight. Ryan’s work reflects his deep passion for photography, a craft he has honed with precision and creativity over the years.

His portfolio is a testament to his versatility, capturing the essence of both his subjects and their environments with striking clarity and emotional depth.

Technical Director

Ash Hyla

Ash Hyla is a filmmaker, photographer, and virtual production supervisor and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Film in 2024. He has been an active member of the St. Petersburg film community for six years and works as a freelance videographer and photographer throughout Central Florida.

A young filmmaker with a passion for genre-bending comedy, Hyla enjoys making films that combine humor with unexpected twists. He has co-written and directed multiple short films, three of which were official selections at past Sunscreen Film Festival events.

While at the University of Central Florida, he served as Technical Supervisor for six student film festivals. At the Sunscreen Film Festival, Hyla serves as Technical Director, managing Digital Cinema Package (DCP) ingestion and coordinating playback to ensure each screening runs smoothly.