Tampa Theatre was packed Thursday night when the third annual Gasparilla International Film Festival began its 10-day run. Attendance was announced at 1,200. At times it felt like all of them were crammed inside the Mediterranean-deco lobby, noshing sushi, ribs, Cuban sandwiches and cupcakes, washing it down with Stella Artois. If you've never visited this historic movie palace, you're missing half of the show.

Armand Assante, star of the festival entry The Steam Experiment, really is a nice guy with a great smile. For photos, he just prefers to put on the tough guy visage that has served him so well. Assante (Private Benjamin, The Mambo Kings, American Gangster) will receive a career achievement award Sunday.

Terry Moore (right) is a marvel of nature; 80 years young, still running 26.2-mile marathons and showing everyone what Hollywood class used to be. Her close friend Anne Jeffreys - whose credits could fill a season's lineup on TV Land - presented Moore with the festival's lifetime achievement award. When Moore learned I was the guy who wrote the Weekend story about her, she was so graciously appreciative that I felt a bit embarrassed.

You know I had to sneak a Princess Di photo in here. She and our great friend Marion Rich mug for the camera while stuffing a couple of the tastiest cupcakes you can imagine into their maws. Classy. The evening continued with a screening of Nothing But the Truth and a Q&A with writer-director Rod Lurie before the party shifted to Spain restaurant, where it spilled onto Tampa Street until early Friday. The festival moves to Channelside Cinemas today through March 7.