A USF Student is proudly representing Tampa with an award winning documentary on Florida State Parks. The film, which features animals and interviews with local unsung heroes, premiered at the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) on March 13th.

Alexis Yahre created the short film titled, “Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks” to make people aware of the untapped potential these parks have for eco-tourism and community education. She grew up visiting the parks and wanted to share the excitement they offer to people of any age.

Alexis was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Growing up she enjoyed hiking and Geocaching through many of the local State Parks. Now as an adult with a passion for filmmaking, she enrolled in the University of South Florida’s Broadcast Production program and has released her first documentary. In addition to this, she currently works as a K-12 educator in Hillsborough County, which gives her a unique opportunity to merge educational content and entertainment in an exciting way.

The film has already won several awards on the festival circuit, including a nomination for “Best Student Film” and a win for “Best Young Director” at the Cannes World Film Festival. The first theatrical screening will be at the Gasparilla International Film Festival, with others being held across the country over the next year.

Here is what Alexis had to say about her film – “This film is about my journey through the Florida State Park system. I focus on capturing the animals and connecting their lives with the local heroes who work to preserve them. Along the way, I point out some of the best lesser-known locations in Florida to visit and uncover secrets about their past.”

“My goal with this film is to share some of the beautiful parts of the community I grew up in, so that others can appreciate and help protect them too. I utilized sound design and music to help drive the story forward and make this film stand out. My editing style focuses on creating interest and momentum in a narrative format.”

“These parks are right in our backyards,” Yahre said. “My new documentary tells our story as a community, and reminds us of the connection we all share.”

The film features many beloved local organizations including:

Nature’s Classroom
https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/naturesclassroom

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
https://seasideseabirdsanctuary.org/

Save the Manatee
https://www.savethemanatee.org/

If you would like more information about the film or Alexis Yahre’s upcoming projects, please call her at (813) 504-0635 or email her at alexis@averent.com