Category: Filmmakers

Filmmakers Links

Jason Brown

With everyone online during this social distancing, we reached out to the many filmmakers we have been able screen at @SouthGAFilm Festival to find links to their work you can watch while we’re all inside. Here are some links they’ve shared with us:

Kyle Taubken’s 2020 film Soul Man is on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Man-Curtis-C-Jackson/dp/B081S94CVQ

Mariana Gómez’s 2020 film Latino$ + Film + USA at https://vimeo.com/339850322

Also from 2020, Jeff Dolan’s Phase 6 is available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z0Vp89nfgM

Check out this year’s absconde eos from Nicole Potgeiter at: https://youtu.be/7nR6mCeDZfE

Catch Joe Nowland’s 2019 film WAKE UP on Amazon Prime
https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Up-Scott-Broughton/dp/B07Z5FP15T/

Check out Connor Rentz/Kyanite Pictures shorts on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1xiFtQSI6bKusR0dPWo-MA

Sruti Lodhi’s HERMAN
https://vimeo.com/276823208

Kyle Marta’s Can I Play Now
http://rootandbranchfilms.com/films/can-i-play-now

Malik Brice’s 2017 SGFF film If We Had Met
https://vimeo.com/268687160

In 2019, Michael Williams screened the film A Son Inherit http://bit.ly/ASonInheritVOD
His other films available are: Oz Land – http://bit.ly/OzLandonAmazon
& The Atoning – https://www.amazon.com/Atoning-Virginia-Newcomb/dp/B0747GZ8CB/

Patrick Peacock’s 2020 film BACK FOCUS isn’t available yet, but catch the trailer and his shorts (including 2019 festival selection Forever) at http://acondofilms.com

The Bontrager Twins have two films in this year’s 2020 fest. You can see a whole host of things of theirs at
https://www.footprint.tv/channel/bontrager-twins-productions-12859

Radheya Jegatheva is still on the festival circuit, but his other films currently available
The Tyger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUqowAVgZxA
Finding Home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZNhXcKGA1s

Also, Mary Stanton Knight’s 2019 doc Singing Out at https://vimeo.com/303070177
along with her film Dear Hubert Creekmore at 
https://vimeo.com/336614341

Paul Osborne screened #CruelHearts last year – now catch it online @ ITunes & Amazon His previous movie, FAVOR, can be streamed for free on Tubi: Favor (2014)

My personal favorite OFFICIAL REJECTION, is free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Official-Rejection-Kevin-Smith/dp/B01BKWULHS/

This year we screened Marty Lang’s film REDRESS. His other film Protesters is online. Check out his Twitter account – and support his current Crowdfunding campaign. https://twitter.com/marty_lang/

From 2019, Jasmine Jewry’s film Daddy’s Girl is up on https://vimeo.com/269527593

Keep up with Chris Filippo’s films – including his 2019 feature Down And Yonder which recently ran free on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=ymAHRwQJZZs

For everyone that made it out for the final day of this year’s festival got to enjoy #FarmingOnTheFlint from Kit Vinsick & @craigmillertv
https://vimeo.com/314585786

The 2019 winner #Peggy from Justin Miller is a part of @Tribeca films “A Short Keeps the Anxiety Away” series. Enjoy it any time of the year!
https://vimeo.com/238233680

You can check out Jude Timothy Harris’ short film Things Left Unsaid from this year’s festival.
https://youtu.be/N1JyqJg7RuE

As filmmakers send us their links, we will try to add them here!


South Georgia Film Festival … TRADING CARDS

Jason Brown

This year, the South Georgia Film Festival has put together a set of 24 trading cards featuring films from this and previous year’s festival.

This year’s set includes posters from all five of our feature films (Cruel Hearts, Down and Yonder, Wake Up, How They Got Over, My Life With Rosie), 5 films from previous years (19 Years, DayDreamer,The Butcher, Rodents of Unusual Size, and All Skate, Everybody Skate), two checklist cards with our sponsors, and 11 posters of this year’s festival (Space Girls, Magic Play, Peggy, AV Club, An Island, Shifted, Singing Out, Patrick, A Son Inherit, and Portrait of a Superhero).

Random cards will be given out at the Georgia Beer Company event to those in attendance. To get the complete set, you’ll have to get them here or at the festival.

MUBI Sponsors Filmmaker Panel at South Georgia Film Festival

Jason Brown

MUBI Sponsors Filmmaker Panel at

South Georgia Film Festival

VALDOSTA – Movie streaming service MUBI is sponsoring a panel of visiting filmmakers at this year’s South Georgia Film Festival. Supporting visiting filmmakers to attend this year, MUBI will also be providing prizes for winning filmmakers all the categories – including Google Chromecasts. The filmmaker panel will take place Saturday March 2 at 5:30 pm in the Valdosta State University Student Union Conference Rooms.

Screening over 100 films this year, the South Georgia Film Festival has attracted numerous filmmakers to Valdosta. The festival includes the Georgia premiere of “My Life With Rosie,” about the preservation of Rosie Park’s legacy, with filmmaker Dr. Angela Williamson. Expanding to include more feature films, all of whom will have someone in attendance. Features films this year include “Cruel Hearts,” a thriller starring Melora Hardin of “The Office;” “How They Got Over,” a documentary about blues musicians in the South; “Wake Up,” a horror film by Tallahassee filmmaker Joe Nowland, and “Down and Yonder,” a coming-of-age film by Georgia filmmaker Christopher Flippo.

MUBI, auteur film streaming services, hosts a new film every day which expires within thirty days. The service, partially funded by subscriptions and the European Union, is available on computers, smart TV’s and gaming systems.

Along with Nowland and Flippo, the panel is expected to include visiting filmmakers Patrick Peacock with “Forever” and Savannah Treena with “The Colored Girls’ Restroom.” Depending time and availability, the panel could include others of the more than 40 visiting filmmakers expected at this year’s festival.

The South Georgia Film Festival kicks off Friday March 1, with a day full of screenings and panels, and concludes with opening night Kickoff at Georgia Beer Company. The festival continues with short and features films on Saturday and Sunday, along with panels with visiting filmmakers and media professionals. Sunday concludes with an awards ceremony at 1 pm and the Georgia premiere of WAKE UP at 3:30 pm in the Valdosta State University Student Union Theater. For more information on tickets, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com

The movie streaming service MUBI uses a curation model, limiting their selection at any one time to thirty films. Unlike the algorithms of other platforms, MUBI presents a collection of arthouse and independent films choosing specifically for its community. Over the past ten years, the service has developed a series of licensing deals from major Hollywood studios and independent filmmakers. For $8.99 a month, MUBI provides the cinema from around the world without all the clutter.

This year’s festival continues to connect with partners in the Valdosta community, including Valdosta State University, Georgia Power, Wild Adventures, the Turner Center for the Arts, WAITR, Valdosta Main Street, the Valdosta Daily Times, the City of Valdosta, Miss Kate’s Tours and Coca-Cola. Promoting entrepreneurship through filmmaking, the festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the craft and industrial impact of film for local businesses. This year’s festival has also includes panelists Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark to discuss Crowdfunding, producer Tara Ansley, actor Ian Anderson, along with many others.

The South Georgia Film Festival received over 450 submissions worldwide in 2018. This year’s festival will include feature and short films over three days at two campus locations. Along with screenings from national and international filmmakers, the festival again will be having high school and college filmmakers competing for scholarships to Valdosta State University, thanks to the support of the University Admissions Office.

Passes to this year’s festival are currently available. The All Access VIP pass, which includes a t-shirt and access to the upcoming Georgia Production Partnership event costs $100. The Festival Pass which offers access to all screenings, panels and daily events are $40. Day Passes are $15. Tickets are available through the SouthGeorgiaFilm.com website.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

Joe Nowland, Director of WAKE UP

Pat Peacock, director of FOREVER

Savannah Treena, director of The Colored Girls Bathroom

Christopher Flippo, director of DOWN & YONDER

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South Georgia Film Festival announces 2019 Film Lineup (113 Films Over 3 Days)

Jason Brown

South Georgia Film Festival Announces 2019 Film Lineup (113 Films Over 3 Days)

VALDOSTA – The third annual South Georgia Film Festival announced its 2019 lineup of films, with 113 total films to be screened over 3 days (March 1, 2, & 3, 2019). The festival has expanded this year with two screening locations on the Valdosta State University campus, as well as more feature films and more international films.

The festival received over of 450 submissions from feature films, short films, high school and college filmmakers. In its third year, the festival has grown to include more feature films this year with a representative from each agreeing to be in attendance. This year’s feature films include the coming-of-age film “Down and Yonder” by UGA graduate Christopher Flippo, psychological horror film “Wake Up” by Florida filmmaker and former Combat Specialist Joe Nowland, “My Life With Rosie” about the preservation of civil rights icon Rosa Parks legacy by Dr. Angela Williamson, “How They Got Over” about the impact of gospel and blues music on Rock and Roll, and the noir thriller “Cruel Hearts” by director Paul Osborne.

“Our number one goal is to bring people to Valdosta,” said Jason Brown, South Georgia Film Festival director. “We want to provide a venue where filmmakers want to show their work here. While they’re here, we want to show them why they should make their next film here.”

This year’s event also include a dozen different films blocks of short films from professional, college and high school filmmakers. The festival made an extra effort this year to attract films from around the world and were able to programming over three hours of films from France, Spain, and Brazil among others. With the growth of film across Georgia, the festival was able to program many good films from Savannah College of Art & Design, Florida State University, Valdosta State, the University of North Georgia and many more. The festival programmed two blocks of films by high schoolers. Both the college and high school winners are eligible for scholarships to Valdosta State University offered by the Admissions Office.

“We began receiving films almost immediately after last year’s festival and have been watching submissions right up through our deadline,” Brown said. “When we realized the number of great films we received, we had to find a way to show as many as we could.”

Festival screenings will take place at the VSU Student Union Theater at the corner of Baytree and North Oak Street. The festival added the use of the Mass Media Screening room, on the corner of Patterson and Brookwood. Over the three days, visitors can park at both the Oak Street Parking Deck and the University Center parking lot. With over a dozen panels and workshops across both locations, attendees will find plenty to do.

This year’s festival continues to connect with partners in the Valdosta community, including Valdosta State University, Georgia Power, Wild Adventures, the Turner Center for the Arts, WAITR, Valdosta Main Street, the Valdosta Daily Times, the City of Valdosta, Miss Kate’s Tours and Coca-Cola. Promoting entrepreneurship through filmmaking, the festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the craft and industrial impact of film for local businesses. This year’s festival has also includes panelists Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark to discuss Crowdfunding, producer Tara Ansley, actor Ian Anderson, along with many others.

Passes to this year’s festival are currently available. The All Access VIP pass, which includes a t-shirt and access to the upcoming Georgia Production Partnership event costs $100. The Festival Pass which offers access to all screenings, panels and daily events are $40. Day Passes are $15. Tickets are available through the SouthGeorgiaFilm.com website.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

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SGFF2019-Program

Alphabetical Listing of Films in the 2019 South Georgia Film Festival

#FAFATL                               Director: Sean Osorio

4-11 Willows Road              Director: Noah Wong

A Fistful of Fangs               Director: Turner Ivey

A Letter for Skylar               Director Patrick Albright

A Son Inherit                          Director: Michael Williams

A Silent Morning                 Director: Christina Liu

Adam                                     Director: Alyce Rogers

After Ashes                            Director: Jesse McAnally

An Island                              Director: Rory Bryne

And Then We’ll Be Happy Director: Jesse Aultman

AV Club                                 Director: Nicholas Markart

Back to Nowhere (De Vuelta A Ninguna Parte) Director: Julio Antonio Espinosa Pena

Belief                                         Director: Kim Soleau

B*TCHBOY                              Director: Mans Bethas

Blood and Iron                       Director: Max Steele and Taren Pineset

CAMINS                                Director: Sara Gracia Jimenez

Cacti & Other Succulents Director: Emma Moore

Cloudboy                              Director: Jacob Javor

Compatible                          Director: Pau Bacardit

Congenita (Congenital)     Director: Polo Menarguez

Culpable                               Director: Julio Antonio Espinosa Pena

Common Unity                    Director: Joshua Devaughn

Cracks                                  Director: Molly Coffee

Cruel Hearts                          Director: Paul Osborne

Cruisin’                                 Director: Brandon Knack

Daddy’s Girl                           Director: Jasmine Jewet

Des3ngano                         Director: Aniez Atlas

Dirty Money                          Director: Jonas Schubach

Down and Yonder               Director: Christopher Flippo

Dreamwisher                     Director: Eric Handler

Emotional Disease            Director: Marieta Caballero

Ethereal (Etereo)               Director: Carlos Cobos Aroca

Evstronger                          Director: Silvia Conesa

Fighting Alone                    Director: Kaleb Smith

Forever                                 Director: Patrick Peacock

Full Circle                             Director: Raymond Knudsen

Glass Wall (Muro De Vidro) Director: Tomas Fleck

Harmony                               Director: Tyler Kula

Hashtag Perfect Life           Director: Michael Paulucci

Heavens                                Director: Jonas Schubach

Heavy Rain                           Director: Motaz Ezzat Elbahaey

Herman                                 Director: Sruti Lodha

Hindsight                              Director: Oisin Reilly

How Much I Love You         Director: Ashley Kramer

How They Got Over             Director: Robert Clem

HUMAN                                    Director: Issam Taachit

I Don’t Know                        Director: Molly Smith

“I Love You”                         Director: Sarah Flores

If                                             Director: Gabriel Vulbuena

If We Had Met                      Director: Malik Brice

Imitations.                            Director: Connor Dolby

June                                       Director: Arantza Ibarra Basanez

Landmine                                 Director: Max Steele

Last Call                                Director: RockHill Studios

Little Darling.                       Director: Argya Sadan

Magic Play                            Director: Natasha Canepa

Mates                                     Director: Max Price

Miranda and The Sea (Miranda Y El Mar)  Director: Giovanna Torres

Missed Ceiling (Techo De Menos)   Director: Txema Liron De Robles

More Time                            Director: Osniel Rives

Mothers and Daughters    Director: Gabriella Marsh

Mr. Goody                             Director: Jason MacDonald

My Life With Rosie              Director: Angela Sadler Williamson

My End of the World (Ma Fin Du Monde)   Director: Yurok Jang

My First Jump (Mi Primer Salto)    Director: Jose Ruiz Montalvan

Once Upon A Time…The Return (ll etait une fois…le retour)   Director: Sapin Alban

Patrick                                  Director: Kyle Taubken

Pea Pod                                Director: Rosser Goodman

Peggy                                   Director: Justin Miller

Portrait of a Superhero     Director: Tony Armer

Proximity                             Director: Kyle Marra

PVRIS (Paris in the Rain)  Director: Ronin Media

R o m a n c e                        Director: Giorgi Tkemaladze

Rachel’s Pitch                     Director: Julia Fulmer

Samuel                                 Director: Hayden Church

SHIFTED                              Director: Nathan Ragland

Singing Out                         Director: Mary Knight

Smoked                                   Director: Jonas Schubach

So, How Did You and Dad Meet?  Director: Zara Plessard

SOFT-MORE                        Director: Dante Downey

Solitude                                Director: Julia Bhansali

Something Here                 Director: Ashley Kramer

Space Girls                          Director: Carys Watford

Sundown                              Director: Ryan Hendrick

Sur-vi                                    Director: Stephen Wise

Sweeter Than Isolation     Director: Allysa Cole

Telltale Signs                      Director: Jeff Vande- Zande

The Application                  Director: Andrew Bourne

The Art of Foley                  Director: Sara Karimipour

The Boy That Listened To The Earth (El Chico Que Escuchaba La Tierra)   Director: Javier Ideami

The Colored Girl’s Restroom   Director: Savannah Treena

The Devil’s Elbow               Director: Madeleine Pearson

The Filmmaking Fireman  Director: Justin Pauley

The Grounded Astronaut  Director: Monimar Mancillas

The Last Appointment (La Ultima Cita)   Director: David Baquero

The Replacement                Director: Sean Miller

The SkipJack Shack           Director: Bobby Goddard

The Waiting Room              Director: Debra Markowitz

The Welcome (La Benvinguda)   Director: Carme Puche

Time Capsule                      Director: McKinley Benson

To No One                            Director: Ashley Kramer

Trees                                    Director: Zaire Love

Tribu                                     Director: Sergi Merchan

Tungrus                               Director: Rishi Chandna

Under The Weather          Director: Julia Walker

Waiting                                Director: Alexey Ram

Wake Up                              Director: Joe Nowland

Wendy                                 Director Michael Oshins

What She’ll Never Know  Director: David Smith

When the New Day Comes   Director: James Hutton, Black Spade Society

Why Are you Leaving? (Por Que Te Vas)   Director: Fabio Vallarelli

With My Own Two Hands (Deux Mains)    Director: Michael Barocas

You, Girl                              Director: Hayden Church

SGFF Hosts Georgia Premiere of Rosie Parks Film

Jason Brown

SGFF Hosts Georgia Premiere of Rosa Parks Film

Dr. Angela Williamson, Director of MY LIFE WITH ROSIE, about the efforts to preserve the life and history of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks.

VALDOSTA – The South Georgia Film Festival will host the Georgia premiere of “My Life With Rosie,” a documentary about the preservation of Rosa Park’s legacy, by filmmaker Dr. Angela Sadler Williamson, who will be in attendance. The feature length documentary showcases a glimpse at the stoic civil rights icon through the eyes Carolyn Williams Green, her personal caretaker, and Dr. Jeanne Theoharris, noted historian and civil rights researcher.

Along with screening the film at 5 pm March 1 at the Valdosta State University Student Union Theater, Dr. Williamson will sit down with Dr. Leah Hunter, of Florida A&M, for a panel entitled “Preserving a Family’s Legacy: Unveiling the Real Story Behind Rosa Parks.” The panel will take place at noon March 1 in the Student Union Conference Rooms and is sponsored by the VSU African American Studies program as part of their Black History Month celebration.

The South Georgia Film Festival kicks off Friday March 1, with a day full of screenings and panels, and concludes with opening night Kickoff at Georgia Beer Company. The festival continues with short and features films on Saturday and Sunday, along with panels with visiting filmmakers and media professionals. Sunday concludes with an awards ceremony at 1 pm and the Georgia premiere of WAKE UP at 3:30 pm in the Valdosta State University Student Union Theater. For more information on tickets, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com

This year’s festival continues to connect with partners in the Valdosta community, including Valdosta State University, Georgia Power, Wild Adventures, the Turner Center for the Arts, WAITR, Valdosta Main Street, the Valdosta Daily Times, the City of Valdosta, Miss Kate’s Tours and Coca-Cola. Promoting entrepreneurship through filmmaking, the festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the craft and industrial impact of film for local businesses. This year’s festival has also includes panelists Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark to discuss Crowdfunding, producer Tara Ansley, actor Ian Anderson, along with many others.

The South Georgia Film Festival received over 450 submissions worldwide in 2018. This year’s festival will include feature and short films over three days at two campus locations. Along with screenings from national and international filmmakers, the festival again will be having high school and college filmmakers competing for scholarships to Valdosta State University, thanks to the support of the University Admissions Office.

Passes to this year’s festival are currently available. The All Access VIP pass, which includes a t-shirt and access to the upcoming Georgia Production Partnership event costs $100. The Festival Pass which offers access to all screenings, panels and daily events are $40. Day Passes are $15 and only include screenings and panels on the VSU campus. Tickets are available through the SouthGeorgiaFilm.com website.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

–  20  –

Trailer for the film – http://bit.ly/MyLifeWithRosieTrailer

 

Official Early Selections

Jason Brown

As we began receiving submissions in April of this year, a handful of films rose to the top. While we continue to receive submissions, these films deserved extra recognition. This year have six Official Early Selections, which cover all of our categories.

These films will screen at this year’s festival and most will have someone from the film in attendance. We thank these filmmakers for screening with us and look forward to sharing these films with our community!

 

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
—

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
—

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)
—

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
—

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
—

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

The regular submission deadline for the South Georgia Film Festival is December 8. This year’s festival will be held March 1, 2, & 3 on the campus of Valdosta State University. Winners of the High School and College categories are eligible for scholarships to Valdosta State University thanks to the University Admissions office.

Passes to this year’s festival are currently available and discounted through the end of 2018. The All Access VIP pass, which includes a t-shirt and access to the upcoming Georgia Production Partnership event costs $75. The Festival Pass which offers access to all screenings, panels and daily events are $35. Tickets are available through the SouthGeorgiaFilm.com website.

For more information about the festival, contact Jason Brown, Festival Director at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu

South Georgia Film Festival announces 2018 Winners

Jason Brown

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.

 

 

Films Selected for 2018 South Georgia Film Festival

Jason Brown

With a great group of submissions this year, the South Georgia Film Festival has selected the following films for this year’s 2018 festival.

        High School
Beach Renourishment by Philip Ignatoff
Daydreamer by Kat Garrido
Enough is Enough by Michelle Espinoza
Global Dynamics: A Robot Doc by Derek Walker
One Year by Ashley Kramer
Operation Omega by Michaela Smoak
Straight Out of Money by Joshua Miller
Urban Lightning by Casey Boone
Utforska by Gabby Fiszman
Wrecked by Savanna Barrett

College
19 Years – The Story of Dick Rockey, Tom Odom and Valdosta State Football by David Johnson
Anime Weekend Atlanta 2017 by Jeska Bald
The First Month by Laura Holliday
The Glove by Levi Johnson
Headlock by John Dierre
Limit by Javad Daraei
The Prisoner’s Session by Max Steele
Rickey’s Story by Trey Leonard
Shut-In by Ryan Bryant

Open
Alamo Downs by Chris Gierowski
All Skate, Everybody Skate by Nicole Triche
The Apology Service by Luke Pilgrim & Brad Kennedy
Birthday Cake by Brantly Jackson Watts
The Butcher by Kyle Taubken
Cursed World Problems by Chris Gierowski
Elvis and the Golden Ticket by Palmer Edward
Good Hair by Fray Forde & Catherine D Holly
Harm by Christian Argamasilla
Hide by Jason Kock
The Little Chapel by Richard Schertzer
Matthew’s Gift by Jon Watts
Sunnyside Drive by Luke Pilgrim & Brad Kennedy
Western Jubilee by Donna Guthrie

 

Feature Films

The 12 Lives of Sissy Carlyle by Fran Burst Terranella
Rodents of Unusual Size by Quinn Costello, Chris Metzler & Jeff Springer

 

Look for more information about panels and times in the coming days.

South Georgia Film Festival announces 2018 Schedule

Jason Brown

VALDOSTA, GA – The South Georgia Film Festival announced the schedule for the 2018 event, including three days of events and nearly a dozen speakers.

Celebrating the creative spirit, the South Georgia Film Festival will be showcasing the beauty of the region and its people with film screenings, panels and networking events.

Friday March 2 kicks off at the Valdosta State University Mass Media building with a media networking event organized with local partners Valdosta Daily Times and WCTV-TV. Students and pass holders will be encouraged to meet and talk with media professionals amongst the university’s recently renovated television studios. Beginning at 5:30 pm at the Annette Howell Turner for the Arts, Filmmaker Brantly Jackson Watts will screen her acclaimed film BIRTHDAY CAKE, along with her husband Jon Watts and his film MATTHEW’S GIFT. Both recently served as Filmmakers-In-Residence with the Atlanta Film Festival and will be discussing growing a filmmaking economy locally.

The documentary Rodents of Unusual Size depicts the devastation of coastal wetlands, particular around New Orleans, Louisiana – and how the community has adapted.

Saturday March 3 at the Valdosta State University Student Union Theater, day filled with regional high school and college films, along with professional films. Valdosta State University is offering substantial scholarship opportunities to the high school and college winners should they choose to attend VSU. At 1 pm, the Georgia premiere of the feature length documentary RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE, about the infestation of Nutria along the Gulf Coast and how Louisiana communities are adapting to these creatures.  Directors Chris Metzler, Jeff Springer & Quinn Costello premiered the film at DOCS NYC in November and will be screening at the Oxford Film Festival this February.

Simultaneously, on the third floor, a collection of great presenters thanks in part to the Georgia Council for the Arts Vibrant Community grant. Panel presentations include the likes of composer Mark Anthony Chubb, comedians and filmmakers Fray Forde and Catherine Dee Holly,  and VSU alum and Macon Film Commissioner Terrell Sandefur.

Fran Burst Terranella, the director of The 12 Lives of Sissy Carlyle

The screenings will conclude with the Georgia produced film THE 12 LIVES OF SISSY CARLYLE from writer/director Fran Burst Terranella. As a former president of the Georgia Production Partnership, Terranella will discuss how important the tax incentive has been to statewide industry and why she kept her film crew local. The evening will cap off with an after-party at the festival hotel, Holiday Inn & Conference Center on Hill Ave.

Sunday March 4 begins with a series of curated short films and idiosyncratic documentaries from regional filmmakers before the presentation of the awards to the winning films as they are re-screened. Last years winning films came from right here in Valdosta and Birmingham, AL. Where will the winners come from this year?

 

High school and college students can attend all of the day’s events by showing a valid ID.  All events after 5 pm will require a pass.

Passes are currently available through the South Georgia Film website for $35. Participants can also purchase a Day Pass for $15, and get access to all screenings, panels or events for any single day of the festival. Pick-up a VIP Pass and receive a festival t-shirt and a special thank you from our staff.

https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL/tickets

Thank you for supporting the film industry in Georgia and particularly the South Georgia Film Festival.