Tampa Theatre to host film, concert benefit for nonprofit Watoto

Gasparilla International Film Festival is joining Watoto, a nonprofit rescue agency for African orphans and widows, for a film and concert benefit Feb. 17 at Tampa Theatre. The event includes the U.S. premiere of the documentary Restore Gulu: Child Soldier No More and a performance by the Watoto Children's Choir. The movie focuses on the Gulu community, where half the population is under age 15 and regularly pressed into military service. After the screening, the Watoto Children's Choir will sing and dance Beautiful Africa: A New Generation. The choir comprised of African orphans previously performed at the White House and Buckingham Palace. A meet-and-greet reception with the choir will be held at 4 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include wine and appetizers. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for general admission ticket holders ($25, or $20 for students and military personnel with IDs). The screening of Restore Gulu: Child Soldier No More will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at Tampa Theatre's box office, and online at GIFFWatoto.Eventbrite.com and tampatheatre.org, with proceeds benefitting Watoto and the Tampa Bay film community. — Steve Persall, Times movie critic