Festival 2019 - First About Page - South Georgia Film Festival

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 this year 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.

This year, Seed & Spark’s Brandi Nicole Payne will present about crowdfunding and how to develop your brand as a filmmaker. Brandi is an actor, writer and artivist, as well as Crowdfunding Specialist at Seed&Spark, who splits her time between Atlanta and Los Angeles. As one of three filmmakers chosen for the inaugural Emergence Program (a camera and equipment grant for female filmmakers), Brandi recently made her directorial debut with her short film ALOHA, which was crowdfunded on Seed&Spark and supported by a grant from Grant Larson Productions. Most recently she completed the HBO Access Writing Fellowship and was featured on CW’s Dynasty. She can next be seen in the indie feature The Mentor.

Receiving submissions from across the Southeast and the World since April, we are celebrating our Official Early Selections of films that have stood out amongst the early submissions. These films represent the four categories we are featuring in the festival. As we approach our submission deadline, we look forward to announcing many more great films and filmmakers a part of this year’s festival.

	CRUEL HEARTS (IMDB) FEATURE Young man discovers the woman he’s been sleeping is married to a notorious crime boss. When he confesses, the two form an unlikely, dangerous friendship.Thriller – 1 hr 30 min Language, violence, sexual situations.Director/Writer: Paul Osborne Producers: Jonathan Brown, Joe Pezzula, Leslie Osborne, Robert Hornack, Bill Eikost Cast: Patrick Day, Alev Aydin, Melora Hardin, Eddie Jemison, Bonnie Root, Marion Kerr, Dawn Brodey
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	SPACE GIRLS (IMDB) SHORT During a sleepover, four space obsessed 9-year-old girls embark on a secret mission in their cardboard rocket. ‘Space Girls’ is a film that celebrates the power of the imagination, the importance of STEM education & girl power. Narrative – 10 min Director/Writer/Producer: Carys Watford Cast: Bella Padden, Anika Selvarajah, Helena Albright, Emily Albright, Sophia Capasso, Laurence Pears, Evan Cregan
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	MAGIC PLAY COLLEGE A shy boy wizard-in-training is forced into a play date with a witch girl who is unpredictable with her magic. From SCAD student Natasha Cánepa. Animation – 3 1/2 min Director/Writer/Animator: Nathasha Cánepa (SCAD)
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	PEGGY (IMDB) SHORT Everything seems to work out perfectly for Peggy, but her social graces are put to the test when she is surrounded by admiring and covetous parents at a birthday party for her eight-year-old son. From Georgia Filmmaker Justin Miller. Narrative – 12 min Director/Writer: Justin Miller (Georgia Tech) Producer: J Christopher Campbell Cast: Sarah Blackman, Josh Warren, Jason MacDonald, Muretta Moss, Kristen Shawn, Kurt Yue, Mindy Sparks, Stephanie Campbell, Bonny Breuer
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	SOLITUDE HIGH SCHOOL In 1944 one woman is forced to face the harsh realities of war and experience the true meaning of solitude. High School – 7 1/2 min Director/Writer: Julia Bhansali Producers: Julia Bhansali, Maddie Gall Cast: Maddie Gall, Spencer Mercier
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	HEAVENS (IMDB) SHORT A Colonel returns home from a long mission, but faces the same problems he knew from the military. A golf ball hits him in the head, putting him in an even bigger bureaucratic agency, called Heaven. Narrative – 14 min Director/Writer/Producer: Jonas Schubach (Florida State) Cast: Gordon Ginsberg, Meredith Melville, Charisse Norment, Pamela Williams