March 6, 7 & 8, 2020

Submit Your Film by
our Early Deadline – September 20

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Submission

The South Georgia Film Festival is accepting submissions.

https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL

Celebrating the creative spirit, the South Georgia Film Festival will be accepting submissions showcasing the beauty of the region and its people.

We are seeking submissions in four categories:
– High School Aged Students
– College Students
– Shorts
– Features

Preference will be given to filmmakers from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Winners in the high school and college categories have the opportunity to receive scholarships to Valdosta State University.

Submitted films will be screened on the campus of Valdosta State University March 6, 7, 8, 2020, in the Student Union Theater. Films will be judged by experts in the region. Awards for each category will be given by regional sponsors along recognition for other notable achievements, such Best Production Design, Best Documentary or Best Acting.

The total running time (everything) must be under 15 minutes in length for the Shorts, High School and College categories. Feature films are not limited based on length.

All participants will be invited to attend the screenings and discussions at the campus of Valdosta State University. Chosen filmmakers will be notified of their film screening by February 25, 2020.

We accept films on a rolling schedule:

Very Early Deadline – July 1, 2019
Early Deadline – September 20, 2019
Regular Deadline – November 22, 2019
Very Late Deadline – January 10, 2020

We absolutely will notify all filmmakers by February 15, 2020, but intend to do so sooner.

https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL

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Winners chosen in each category as applicable will receive a trophy and prizes from local sponsors. Scholarship opportunities are available for winners in the High School and College categories. Previous prizes have also included trophies from Harmon’s Awards and passes to Wild Adventures theme park.

While participants are encouraged to attend, award winners will only be selected from those in attendance at the screening.

Films will be recognized by our judges in various areas of achievement – such as

best set design,
best cinematography,
best acting

– regardless of attendance. Those recognitions will be submitted to IMDB.com along with all category award recipients.

HOW WILL FILMS BE SUBMITTED?

All films must be submitted online. No other form of submission will be accepted.

If your project included a large group, please designate one (1) person to submit your project … and only one. Each project accepted to screen will receive one (1) festival pass and a discount for additional passes. Should a project win either the High School or College category, only the person who submitted the project will be eligible for the scholarship.
Multiple submissions of the same project will not receive multiple opportunities to participate.

WHAT CATEGORY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?

All submitted films must be less than 15 minutes in length. Films will then be competing in the categories of:
features
shorts
high school aged students
college students

High-school-aged students are any filmmaker between the ages of 14-years-old and 19-years-old who completed their project while not currently enrolled in an institution of higher education. If a filmmaker is currently home schooled, they can compete here. If a student completed a project in May as a high school student but is currently attending college, they can submit that project here.

Any student who completed a project while enrolled in an institution of higher education should compete in the College Student category.

Everyone else should compete in the Shorts or Feature category.

Films must be appropriate to screen for a general audience and refrain from content that might warrant a PG-13 rating, such as foul language, excessive violence and sexual situations.

Filmmakers are responsible for all copyright clearances and releases for actors/performers’ likenesses’

Winners chosen in each category as applicable will receive a trophy and prizes from local sponsors.

Participants are strongly encouraged to attend. Films will be recognized by our judges in various areas of achievement – such as best use of prompts, best cinematography, and best acting – regardless of attendance.

DOES IT MATTER WHEN I MADE MY PROJECT?

Films should be completed after last year’s submission Regular Deadline. Project’s for this year should be completed after Dec. 1, 2018.

DOES IT MATTER WHEN I SUBMIT MY PROJECT?

We have a rolling submission deadline. Projects submitted before July 1 will receive the Very Early submission discount, those before September 20 will receive the Early submission discount. The Regular Deadline is November 22, but our Very Late Submission Deadline is Jan. 10, where fees are greatly increased.

CAN I HAVE A WAIVER?

All high school students in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina should contact us about a waiver for fees. All others eligible for waivers will be contacted directly.

WHAT DO I NEED TO SUBMIT?

Just submit your video link now. If your film is accepted, we will request a digital copy of your film as well as other marketing materials.
Do not submit those materials until requested.

Entries selected to the 2020 Festival will be asked to submit an exhibition video of the film in the proper file format (H.264). Failure to comply with technical specifications or by the requested date may result in the removal of the film from Festival competition.

CAN I SUBMIT A ROUGH DRAFT?

We will only look at your film one time. If you submit a Rough Draft, that is the version that we review to include in our festival.

WHO ARE YOUR SCREENERS?

Our primary screeners are Valdosta State University students in the student organization. They will be the first eyes for the Feature, Shorts, and High School categories. To avoid conflicts of interest, the VSU faculty will be the initial screeners for the College category, along with other faculty for institutions in the region. We will also have members of the community helping screening potential films as well.

HOW MANY FILMS CAN I SUBMIT?

You can submit one film per submission fee, but you can submit as many films as you wish as long as you pay the fee.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I AM ACCEPTED?

We will notify filmmakers through FilmFreeway. We will also post accepted films on our Facebook page. While we will attempt to alert filmmakers by late January, we guarantee to alert all filmmakers by February 15 if they are accepted.

WHAT GENRES DO YOU ACCEPT?

You can submit any type of film you can make. Depending on the submissions we receive, we may program more animation or documentary one year and more horror and thriller another year. If you can make it, we would love to see it.

DO YOU TAKE AWAY MY RIGHTS AS A FILMMAKER?

Absolutely not. Filmmakers own all rights to submitted films. However, by submitting you agree to allow Valdosta State University to use your film in its entirety both for educational and promotional purposes.

By completing the online entry form, Exhibitor constitutes his/her full and complete acceptance of the terms hereof and that Exhibitor has read and complies with the Terms of Entry.

About

The 2019 South Georgia Film Festival again looks to celebrate the art and industry of film across the region. Along with three days of films and panels, we are hosting a celebration of the creative spirit here in Valdosta.

We are proud to have continuing sponsor Georgia Power, along with Georgia Beer Company and Valdosta’s local Coca-Cola bottler, to support the hard work and contribution of film to our community. Along with our host institution, Valdosta State University, their contribution allows us to be able to host a series of educational and informative panels during the festival.

Download this year’s Program

Thursday Feb. 28

Student Union Theater

The Georgia Production Partnership has re-scheduled their South Region meeting for Feb. 28 to coincide with the South Georgia Film Festival. While GPP works hard to lobby for film in the state of Georgia, they actively educate both filmmakers and communities. Starting with private meetings in the morning with members of the Camera Ready programs across South Georgia, GPP will be hosting a public event to discuss how our communities can attract and support film business.

Along with Craig Dominey, manager of the Camera Ready program, the presentation will include noted Savannah producer, Stratton Leopold, and Jeffrey Stepakoff, Executive Director of the Georgia Film Academy. Tickets are $10 for the general public. Admission is free for GPP members and those with an All-Access VIP Pass. For more information, visit GeorgiaProduction.org

Turner Center for the Arts

That evening, the Turner Center for the Arts is hosting a VIP Event for members of GPP, attending filmmakers, and All-Access passholders to preview the weekend’s films.

Friday, March 1

We’ve expanded this year to include two separate screening locations – the Valdosta State University Student Union Theater and the VSU Mass Media Building. We will have panels and workshops in both locations as well. College and High School students can show their ID to pick a complimentary student pass for screenings and panels that begin before 5:30 pm. Day passes are available for all events on any particular day.

Student Union Theater

The day starts off at 11 am with our first block of Foreign Films
Followed at 1 pm with a block of High School Films.
At 3 pm, we have a block of short films submitted from around the world.
At 5 pm, we will be hosting the Georgia Premiere of the feature documentary “MY LIFE WITH ROSIE,” about the fight to preserve the legacy of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks.

Student Union Conference Room 1 & 2

At Noon, we will be hosting a conversation with filmmaker Dr. Angela Williamson, to discuss her film MY LIFE WITH ROSIE. The presentation will be moderated by Dr. Leah Hunter from Florida A&M University. The session is sponsored by the VSU AFAM program as part of their celebration of Black History Month.

At 2 pm, we are hosting a panel discussion entitled WOMEN IN MEDIA, moderated by VSU’s own Dr. Nicole Cox. She will be talking with film producer Tara Ansley, animator Molly Coffee, media maker Tris Sicigano, and VSU alum Brantly Jackson Watts.

At 4 pm, we have returning VSU alums attending to discuss what they’ve been doing in the media world since they graduated. This year’s alums include Beth Tate, Reed Burkett, and Damian Grey.

Mass Media Building Room 1204

This year, we are excited to include a number of hands-on workshops. While the seating is limited, the experience will be worthwhile. At 2 pm, Dr. Colin Walker and Damian Grey will be presenting a workshop on video editing using Adobe Premiere Pro. Seating is limited to the first 20 participants.

Mass Media Building Room 1001

Our second screening location this year is in the Mass Media Building.
Beginning at 2:30 pm, we will be presenting a block of foreign films.
At 4:30 pm, we will be screening the feature film DOWN AND YONDER.

Mass Media Building Room

Throughout the Mass Media Building, we will be holding our second annual Networking event for students, filmmakers and local businesses beginning at 3 pm.

Georgia Beer Company

The South Georgia Film Festival’s Kickoff Event begins at 6 pm behind the newly opened Georgia Beer Company. Passholders will receive a commemorative glass (while supplies last) and a free drink, either beer or soft drink. Food trucks will be available as well. Sponsors have also created a VIP section for All-Access pass holders.

Saturday, March 2

Student Union Theater

The VSU Admissions Ambassadors will be hosting tours of campus for prospective students at 9 am.
At 11:30 am, we begin with our block of High School films.
Followed at 1:30 pm with the feature documentary film, HOW THEY GOT OVER.
At 3:30 pm, we have a block of short college films.
At 5:30 pm, we will have another block of short films including animation.
At 7:30 pm, we will host a screening of the feature film CRUEL HEARTS.

Student Union Conference Room 1 & 2

Beginning at 11 am, we have a panel on Crowdfunding with Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark.
At 1 pm, we have a panel entitled “What’s Next? Film School, Grad School or the Industry?” featuring VSU’s Dr. Nicole Cox, University of North Georgia’s Dr. Jeff Marker, and VSU alum Frank Amorosa.
At 3:30 pm, the City of Valdosta has sponsored a panel looking at the impact of film production on local communities. Kathy Oxford and Niki Sappington from Barnesville, GA discuss their experience with the recent HBO production, SHARP OBJECTS.
At 5:30 pm, we will host a panel featuring attending filmmakers to discuss their experience making their films.

Mass Media Building Room 1204/1104

Starting off in Studio B, VSU Professor Ian Anderson will be holding our second workshop. This one is Acting for the Camera. Seating is limited to the first 20 participants.
At 2:30 pm back in room 1204, Producer Tara Ansley will discuss what you need to get your movie made.
At 4:30 pm, the team of Brad Kennedy and Luke Pilgrim at Sozo Bear Films will talk about how they make an industrial in Deconstructing a Media Project. Seating is limited to the first 20 participants.

Mass Media Building Room 1001

The day begins at 11 am with a block of films from all over the world.
At 1 pm, we present another block of college films.
At 3 pm, we have a block of films including animation and documentary.
Ending the day here, we will host a panel with the filmmakers from HOW THEY GOT OVER to discuss the history and impact of Southern music.

Holiday Inn & Conference Center

The South Georgia Film Festival’s After-Pary event at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center will begin at 9 pm following the final screening of the day. All festival and VIP pass holders are invited.

Sunday, March 3

We wrap up the weekends events on Sunday.

Student Union Conference Room 1 & 2

Beginning at 11:30 am, filmmaker Brantly Jackson Watts will discuss shooting on 16 mm film instead of digital for her upcoming short SPOON.

Student Union Theater

At 11 am, we have a block of college films including those from Valdosta State University.
The Awards Ceremony will begin at 1 pm with announcement of winners, award of prizes and screening of some of the films.

At 3:30 pm, we will be screening the Valdosta premiere of the local horror film WAKE UP.
At 5:30 pm, we have our film block of short films.

Ashley Street Station

At 7 pm, we hold be hosting our Closing Party at Ashley Street Stations, with some highlights and clips of films.

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