2018 South Georgia Film Festival
VALDOSTA – The 2018 South Georgia Film Festival concluded with Kathryne Garrido, high school animator from Gastonia, NC, taking the top prize for her film “Daydreamer.” Garrido joined a crowd of filmmakers recognized for their work.
“We are so proud of the turnout and reception for this year’s festival,” said Jason Brown, festival director and assistant professor of mass media at Valdosta State University. “This year’s event was a tremendous success in terms of local and regional response.”
The 2018 South Georgia Film Festival screened 36 films between March 2, 3 and 4 at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts and the VSU Student Union Theater. Visiting filmmakers presented panels on various topics, including how to grow a film community. Panelists and local celebrities joined these filmmakers to judge the films.
Sonny Shroyer, Audrey King of Georgia Power, filmmaker Kathryne Garrido and festival director Jason Brown celebrate the Best in Fest award.
Garrido, of Gastonia, NC, walked away with Best High School film, Best Direction and Best in Fest at this year’s South Georgia Film Festival.
The three category winners were:
“Daydreamer” by Kathryne Garrido – High School category
Garrido’s film was a stop-animation film which she said took one month to complete for every minute of footage. Garrido is currently a high school junior from Gastonia, NC.
“The First Month” by Laura Holliday – College category
Holliday recently graduated of Idyllwild Arts Academy in California and attends Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, she recently was recognized as a Sundance Ignite Fellow at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Holliday’s film, currently available on FUNNY OR DIE, was an autobiographical story of a young woman going off to an Arts Boarding School.
“Cursed World Problems” by Doug Hawley – Open Category
Hawley is a film professional in Los Angeles. His film is a satirical look at a family dealing with old world curses.
All three films were awarded a lovely trophy from Harmon’s Awards here in Valdosta, and they also received tickets to Wild Adventures theme park for the 2018 season. Both the college and high school winners also received a $2,000 per semester scholarship to attend Valdosta State University.
Thanks to an award from American Youth Film Festival, the runners-up in the High School and College divisions were also recognized. Derek Walker, from Decatur, received the High School runner-up certificate for his film “Global Dynamics: A Robot Doc.” Javad Daraei, from Karaj, Iran, was recognized as the college runner-up for his film “Limit.”
“Daydreamer” was also recognized as the best film in competition overall. This year’s judges, which included filmmakers, panelists and local celebrities, reviewed all of this year’s films and decided to recognize much of the work of filmmakers in other ways as well.
That recognition included:
Best Narrative was awarded to Laura Holliday’s The First Month.
Best Documentary was awarded to David Johnson and Sonja Norris for 19 Year: The Story of Dick Rockey, Tom Odom and Valdosta State University Football.
Best Actress was awarded to Doree Seay from Cursed World Problems.
Best Actor was awarded to Davod Moeini Kiya from the film Limit.
Best Ensemble Cast was awarded to the cast of The First Month
Best Production Design was awarded to Limit.
Best Cinematography was awarded to Dwayne Green for The Butcher.
Best Sound Design was awarded to Colin Guthrie for Western Jubilee.
Best Editing was awarded to Gabby Fiszman for Utforska.
Best Director was awarded to Kathryne Garrido for Daydreamer.
“We would like to thank Georgia Power for their generous contribution to the festival,” said Brown. “Audrey King of Georgia Power was able to present the awards Sunday at the South Georgia Film Festival ceremony along with our own Sonny Shroyer.
“This year’s festival also received a tremendous amount of support from the Valdosta State University College of the Arts and a grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts. We greatly appreciate that.”
Community sponsors such as Valdosta Daily Times, WCTV, the City of Valdosta, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, the Turner Center, Fairway Outdoor, 92.1 Talk, Tipsy Transit and Fusion Marketing were instrumental making this year’s festival a success.