Category: Presenters

VSU Represents During SGFF ‘25

Jason Brown

March 6, 2025

VALDOSTA, GA – The 2025 South Georgia Film Festival features a strong number of faculty and alumni from Valdosta State University. Along with the annual Alumni Panel, featuring three graduates from the Mass Media program returning to celebrate their achievements, this year you’ll see more VSU faculty throughout the weekend’s events. Passes are still available for all weekend events on North Campus across from the South Georgia Medical Center. The public is invited.

With so many visiting filmmakers, Valdosta State University faculty have stepped up to help moderate some amazing conversations. Festival Director Jason Brown gets things started Thursday night at the Turner Arts Center, discussing PINEVALE HIGH: SEPARATE UNEQUAL … UNDETERRED with filmmakers Mark Patrick George and Willie Housel. You’ll see Professor Brown all weekend talking to filmmakers Ebony Blanding, Joey Travolta, and many more.

Friday, Music Professor David Springfield will lead a conversation with visiting film composer Matthew Cravener. Prof. Springfield is the Director of Jazz Studies and leads the Jazz Ensemble. He has published books on jazz and musical composition. Earlier in the day Friday, Professor Christy Yates leads a panel called “Once You See It, You Can’t Unlearn it – an Academic Panel,” featuring techniques incorporating film to benefit teaching and learning. Professor Yates has returned to the classroom full time after spending the last few years as the Deputy CHRO of VSU’s Office of Human Resources. Instructor Rafiah Jenkins will be leading question and answer sessions Friday with visiting filmmakers, including German Lopez Tirado, James Faucett and Karlyn Hoon.

This year’s returning alumni panel will be held Saturday at 5 pm at the Health Science and Business Administration building. It includes Brandi Moore, Class of 2015; Ray Hannah and Ryan Bryant (both Class of 2019). Moore went got her start in TV News at Fox 5 Atlanta, which she says VSU’s Mass Media program prepared her to work in a Top 10 market. She’s currently a Producer on the Portia Show. Hannah grew up around Atlanta, attended school in Valdosta, and has worked in Jacksonville since graduation. He currently is a Videographer/Editor with the Haskell Company, a global Architecture, Engineering, and Construction company. Bryant graduated Hart County High School on the Audio/Video Technology pathway before attending VSU’s Mass Media program. Ryan’s passion for movies and writing sprung from the 2nd Grade and has continued as he has won Young Georgia Authors’ Writing Competitions, film festival acting awards, and produced his own films. Ryan currently resides in Atlanta where he is still pursuing work both in-front and behind the camera.

Saturday’s schedule is jam packed. Moderating question and answer sessions with visiting filmmakers will be VSU Professors Dennis Conway, Joe Culverhouse, and Jonmichael Siebert, along with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s 2025 Instuctor of the Year John Patten, an alum of VSU’s Mass Media program. Greg Brown, faculty advisor with the award-winning VSU Spectator, will be leading a conversation with Georgia State professor Kate Fortmueller about her book “Below the Stars,” about the impact of labor in Hollywood.

Professor Melissa Pihos will be leading a workshop with Joey Travolta on Sunday at 1 pm at Pound Hall to take a behind-the-scenese look at “Lights Camera Friendship … On the Spectrum.” Pihos was involved both in-front and behind the camera of the production that took place here in 2024.

This year’s festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Georgia Council for the Arts, Valdosta State University, the Walmart Community Grant, Georgia Power, the Georgia Film Office, Wild Adventures Theme Park, the Miracle League of Valdosta, Lowndes-Valdosta Tourism, the City of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Georgia Production Partnership, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Downtown Social, Inclusion Films and Film Impact Georgia. Please support our sponsors.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com , SGFF25.Eventive.org , or contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

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Valdosta State University alumni Brandi Moore, Ray Hannah, and Ryan Bryant.

Cravener Composes for SGFF ’25

Jason Brown

March 3 , 2025

VALDOSTA, GA – Pianist Matthew Cravener will be presenting a panel on Film Composing Friday March 7 during the South Georgia Film Festival. The 30-year-old virtuoso has created the music for numerous films, including a recently Amazon prime mini-series. Cravener will be discussing his work with Valdosta State University professor David Springfield as well as performing during the Friday evening reception for Festival and VIP passholders. Passes are still available for the 2 pm panel and the evening performance.

Cravener began playing music at age 4 and learned to compose by ear. After releasing an album of his own gospel music, he moved to Hollywood to make it big. He was an emerging artist in residency at a label in Culver City, CA for a time. Due in part to the growing film industry in Georgia, Cravener was able to move back and lives outside Tallahassee where he continues to perfect his craft.

“The arts are so important to me,” Cravener said. “I have trouble thinking on my feet, but when I’m doing something that involves music, I am totally distracted from logistics and can be creative.”

Cravener’s scores have been included in audio books, documentaries, feature and short films. His joy for music has him performing at local clubs and assisted living facilities. Music is more than a profession for Cravener.

“Music makes me feel very calm and collected,” Cravener said. “I have Asperger’s and Tourette’s syndrome. For a long time in my adolescent years, it was hard for me to function. Playing piano used to calm the tics down. It relieves a lot of tension and makes my mind go to places.”

Professor Springfield will lead the panel in the VSU Health Science and Business Administration Room 1123. Professor Springfield is the Director of Jazz Studies, where he teaches piano and directs the Jazz Ensemble. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by such artists as Brandford Marsalis, Phil Woods, the Count Basie Orchestra and the Boston Pops.

This year’s South Georgia Film Festival will take place March 6, 7, 8, & 9 on the North Campus of Valdosta State University, with films from across the world with an emphasis on the art and industry growing here in the Southeast. College and high school students can register for free day passes, giving them access to all screenings and panels. Festival and VIP Passes provide access to our Friday and Saturday night receptions, along with other benefits.

“The South Georgia Film Festival is about bringing people to our part of the world to share this industry that is growing right in our backyard,” said Jason Brown Festival Director. “Bringing filmmakers from across the country to Valdosta to engage our community has been our driving force for all of these years and we don’t plan to stop now!”

The festival will also provide question and answer sessions after each film block for visiting filmmakers to discuss their work. Along with the film composing panel, look for other visiting artists such as Georgia State professor Kate Fortmueller, UGA professor Marty Lang, Ole Miss professor John Rash, and Allison Hogue with The Salvation Army’s Southern Territory headquarters.

This year’s festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Georgia Council for the Arts, Valdosta State University, the Walmart Community Grant, Georgia Power, the Georgia Film Office, Wild Adventures Theme Park, the Miracle League of Valdosta, Lowndes-Valdosta Tourism, the City of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Georgia Production Partnership, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Downtown Social, Inclusion Films and Film Impact Georgia. Please support our sponsors.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com , SGFF25.Eventive.org , or contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

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Pianist and Film Composer Matthew CravenerValdosta State University Professor David Springfield (provided by VSU)

Marty Lang to Discuss Georgia’s MFA Film Program at VSU Jan 22

Jason Brown

Sign up for news about the 2025 South Georgia Film Festival

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VALDOSTA, GA – Professor Marty Lang will be talking to the Valdosta State students about the University of Georgia’s MFA in Film program this coming Wednesday, January 22, at noon in Mass Media Rm 1001. Everyone is invited to attend.

As the Director of the Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television & Digital Media program at the University of Georgia, Lang will be talking about the difference between the MFA and other graduate degrees and UGA’s program in particular.

Since Lang took over the program, UGA’s MFA program was recently listed among the top 50 film programs in the country. The MFA students are able to take classes at working soundstages in Athens and Trilith, GA.

Lang is an award-winning teacher, filmmaker and writer. His book, The Self-Stustaining Filmmaker, was published in 2024. He has written and directed two feature films, including STAY WITH ME, named best feature film at the 2023 South Georgia Film Festival. Prof. Lang is scheduled to be a visiting judge at this year’s SGFF, March 7-9.

https://www.drama.uga.edu/directory/people/marty-lang

For more information, contact Prof. Jason  Brown by emailing jasonebrown@valdosta.edu

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SGFF Draws Judges From Across the Country

Jason Brown


SouthGeorgiaFilm.com

SGFF Draws Judges From Across the Country

March 1, 2021

VALDOSTA, GA – The fifth Annual South Georgia Film Festival will features judges from across the country this year, including previous winners, feature filmmakers, comedians, Oscar nominees, and much more. With 109 films in this year’s festival, awards will be given for each of the following categories: Feature Film, Short, College, High School, Family Friendly, Poster, and Best in Fest.

“Celebrating the hard work of filmmakers is important to us,” Jason Brown, Festival Director said. “Along with showcasing films from across the country and the world, we strive to work with recognizable film professionals to judge our work.”

Previous South Georgia Film Festival winners top the list of judges for this year’s festival. Liz Manshil’s SPEED OF LIFE won Best in Fest at the 2020 South Georgia Film Festival. The feature film starring Ann Dowd and Allison Tolman about a woman being ripped through time when dealing with the death of David Bowie currently is available on Showtime.

Along with winning the College award in 2018 for FIRST MONTH, Laura Holliday has had her film GIRLFRIEND play the 2019 festival. Holliday’s work has appeared at many festivals and on Funny or Die. Along with being a director and actress, Holliday has been working recently as a musician. This will be her first year as a judge at the festival.

Professor Dave Brock joins the South Georgia Film Festival for the first time this year. His short film THE ROAD VIRUS HEADS NORTH, adapted from a Stephen King short story, was nominated for a Student Academy Award. Brock currently teaches at WV State University, where he made THE WOMAN IN THE ROOM, another King adaptation.

Another Student Academy Award nominee is cinematographer Justin Litton. Litton, COO of Mountain Craft Productions, proudly creates content all over Appalachia. His work on BORDER PATROL was nominated in 2013 for a Student Academy Award. Mountain Craft continues to produce quality industrials, shorts, and PSAs for business and civic groups.

Stand-up comedian and podcaster Michael Shea joins as a judge this year. Hailing from Dayton, OH, Shea has performed as a stand-up for over 15 years. His podcast, The Ultimate Schmoedown Aftershow can be heard nationwide through The Outlaw Nation podcasting network.

J.T. Arbogast is a Los Angeles-based writer/producer and actor. Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, J.T. spent four years as the Associate Director of the critically acclaimed National Comedy Theatre in New York. He produced the films Angel’s Perch and Auld Lang Syne while successfully crowdfunding both of them. He might be best known as an actor in the film WHEN IN ROME or the TV show 30 ROCK. He holds a B.A. from Penn State University and an M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. 

AFC Indie Filmmaking podcast Chuck Thomas will participate as a judge for this year’s festival along recording his podcast on Saturday March 6. Returning as festival judges this year include Community Board President and Channel 17 host Marcus McConico, Turner Center for the Art’s Jessica Ganas, University of Findlay professor Chris Medjesky, and former SGFF Student Director, Jennifer Rainer. Due to COVID all of our judges will participate virtually to view the films and discuss the eventual winners.

Along with our nightly open-air screenings, over 100 films will be available virtually through our partnership with Eventive. Like hundreds of other festival around the country, the South Georgia Film Festival will be available through your computer and over your smart TV. Passes for $40 includes all the virtual films, virtual panels and preferred seating to the in-person events. Students of all ages can get a discounted pass for $25. You can get a ticket to any screening (in-person or virtual) for only $5.

This year’s festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Georgia Power, Valdosta State University, the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority, Wild Adventures, the Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta Main Street, the Valdosta Daily Times, the City of Valdosta, Georgia Production Partnership, Fairway Outdoor, the Georgia Film Office, Georgia Beer Company, and MUBI.

The South Georgia Film Festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the craft and industrial impact of film for local businesses. For more information about tickets, visit SGFF21.Eventive.org. Passes for all open-air and virtual events are $40, $25 for students. You can purchase a ticket for any single screening for $5.

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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Director Liz Manshil
Filmmaker/Actress/Musician Laura Holliday
Writer/Producer J.T. Arbogast
Cinematographer Justin Litton
Podcaster Chuck Thomas
Comedian/Podcaster Mike Shea

SGFF Welcomes Atlanta Film Podcast for 2021

Jason Brown


SouthGeorgiaFilm.com

SGFF Welcomes Atlanta Film Podcast for 2021

Feb 19, 2021

VALDOSTA, GA – Along with over 100 films, the fifth annual South Georgia Film Festival will feature a live podcast recording from the nationally recognized AFC Indie Filmmaking Podcast. Interviewing filmmakers visiting for the 2021 festival, the live recording will take place on the Valdosta State University College of the Arts lawn, March 6 at 3 pm.

Formerly Atlanta Film Chat, the AFC Indie Filmmaking Podcast hosted by Chuck Thomas has interviewed industry professionals since 2014. As a member of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast Network, Thomas’ interviews have been heard by thousands of listeners nationwide. Along with Chuck Thomas, AFC features the talents of Joshua Gohlke, Michael Jones, Rob Shimer, and Molly Coffee. Thomas and Coffee are both originally from South Georgia.

While much of the fifth annual South Georgia Film Festival will be virtually available through the Eventive platform on computers and TVs March 5-7, the podcast recording will be a part of the limited open-air events this year taking place behind the VSU Fine Arts Building. Passes and individual tickets for the events will provide preferred seating or space to bring a lawn chair. Feature film screenings will be held each night, with the podcast recording taking place Saturday, March 6 at 3 pm.

During this year’s event, Chuck will be interviewing visiting filmmakers including: Carter Adkins, director of Jenna Bums the Loveseat; Jacobe Love, director of A Dangerous Silence and VSU Alum; Thomas Grant, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College professor and director of Blood, Bone & Stone; and Philip Brubaker, renowned video essayist and director of Stranger/Things. The recorded podcast will be available later online and over WVVS radio 90.9.

This year’s festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Georgia Power, Valdosta State University, the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority, Wild Adventures, the Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta Main Street, the Valdosta Daily Times, the City of Valdosta, Georgia Production Partnership, Fairway Outdoor, the Georgia Film Office, Georgia Beer Company, and MUBI.

The South Georgia Film Festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the craft and industrial impact of film for local businesses. For more information about tickets, visit SGFF21.Eventive.org. Passes for all open-air and virtual events are $40, $25 for students. You can purchase a ticket for any single screening for $5.

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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Photo Provided by Chuck Thomas

AFC Indie Filmmaking Podcast Logo

South Georgia Film Festival Announces Judges for 2019 Competition

Jason Brown

South Georgia Film Festival Announces Judges for 2019 Competition

February 25, 2018

VALDOSTA, GA – Filled with local and regional media professionals, the South Georgia Film Festival announces the judges for this year’s 2019 expanded competition – including feature films and best in fest awards. This year’s judges include filmmakers Tara Ansley, Luke Pilgrim and Brad Kennedy of Sozo Bear Films, Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark, and many more.

This year’s South Georgia Film Festival judges will be looking at films in the categories of – Feature (movies over 45 minutes in length), High School (films made by filmmakers attending secondary schools or under the age of 18), College (films made by students attending a college or university), and Shorts (movies under 15 minutes made by professionals). Due to the influences of previous judges, this year a trophy will be awarded for Best in Fest, to the best film regardless of category.

Winners in each category will receive a trophy created by Harmon Awards in Valdosta, along with a day pass to Wild Adventures theme park and a Chromecast provided by streaming service MUBI. Winners in the High School and College categories will also be eligible for scholarships to Valdosta State University thanks to the University Admissions office.

Partially due to the increase in the number of films screened and attention to the festival, this year there will be thirteen judges. Along with the trophies, every year the judges have the freedom to recognize films with other awards, such as best actress, best production design, or best editing.

“We bring together a strong collection of professionals to survey our festival’s films,” Jason Brown, South Georgia Film Festival director said. “They find what’s exciting and worthy of recognition and we want to support that.”

This year’s judges run the gamut of professional experiences.  Filmmakers Brad Kennedy and Luke Pilgrim of Sozo Bear Films in Dahlonega, GA return to the South Georgia Film Festival for a second year to talk about how they use storytelling in their production work for business clients. Actress and filmmaker Brandi Nicole Payne will be serving as a judge this year. Payne works with the streaming platform Seed & Spark and will be giving a presentation on Crowdfunding, Saturday March 2. Tris Sicignano returns for a second year to the South Georgia Film Festival and will be on the Women in Media panel Friday, March 1. Tris’s work as the co-founder of SurgeTV has brought her in touch with thousands of media makers across the Southeast.

VSU’s own Terrell Sandefur returns after a year where he has expanded his presence in Georgia Film. As the Managing Director of FilmGeorgia.com, Terrell hosted the tremendously successful Georgie Film Industry party at the Sundance Film Festival for a second year in a row. Another returning Georgia filmmaker, Brantly Jackson continues to work as the Program and Outreach Manager for Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta and will be taking her latest film “Spoon” to festivals this Spring.

New to the South Georgia Film Festival is Melissa Simpson, the Executive Director of Film Impact Georgia, a non-profit designed to promote native filmmakers here in Georgia. Simpson is a graduate of the University of North Georgia and works with both the Atlanta Film Festival and Rome Film Festivals.

This year’s other judges include Professor Jeff Marker of the University of North Georgia, Prof. Chris Medjesky of University of Findlay, Event Coordinator and Film Programmer Charles Judson, along with local media personality Marcus McConico of Channel 17 and Jessica Ganas formerly of Red Door Records. The majority of judges will be attending the festival screening films or participating on panels.

Along with the judges able to attend the festival, numerous volunteer screeners helped choose which films appeared at this year’s event. This year’s screeners included TV Producer/Editor Robert Huntley, VSU’s Director of New Media Center Kyle Culpepper, local filmmaker Zane Ally, Alan Hancock College Associate Professor Chris Hite, PA Indie Shorts Film Festival Director Samantha Kolesnik, and filmmaker Justin Litton. Along with these professionals, the VSU student film festival organization run by Jennifer Rainer made their recommendations in the high school and short categories as well.

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, access to the VIP areas, and a ticket to Thursday’s 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 for all screenings and panels. Both High School and College students can get a free Day Pass with their school id. 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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Luke Pilgrim (left) and Brad Kennedy (right) of Sozo Bear Films

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brandi Nicole Payne, filmmaker/Seed & Spark

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrell Sandefur, FilmGeorgia.com

 

 

 

 

Brantly Jackson Watts, Filmmaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marcus McConico, host of City Focus on Channel 17

 

 

 

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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City of Valdosta Sponsors Film Panel on Production in Georgia

Jason Brown

CITY OF VALDOSTA SPONSORS FILM PANEL ON PRODUCTION IN GEORGIA

Niki Sappington, with the City of Barnesville, and Kathy Oxford, Executive Director of the Barnesville-Lamar Industrial Development Authority, posing with photos and books from the HBO Series SHARP OBJECTS that shot in Barnesville.

VALDOSTA – As part of the third Annual South Georgia Film Festival, the City of Valdosta is sponsoring a panel on the production of the TV Series “SHARP OBJECTS”, with Niki Sappington of the City of Barnesville and Kathy Oxford ofBarnesville-Lamar Industrial Authority. The panel will take place Saturday, March 2, at 3:30 pm in the Valdosta State University Student Union Conference Room as part of the festival’s day long screenings and panels.

The HBO Series used Barnesville in place of the book’s location of Wind Gap, Missouri. The production, starring Amy Adams, was shot in Georgia in 2017 thanks in part to the state’s tax incentives, available infrastructure, and beautiful scenery. Oxford and Sappington will discuss how their community worked with the production and benefited from their presence. The two have discussed their experiences with other Georgia communities as part of the Georgia Production Partnership.

The City of Valdosta supports the growth of entrepreneurship in the South Georgia economy. Named one of six America’s Friendliest Cities by Rand McNalley and USA Today’s Best of the Road contest in 2011, Valdosta is proud to be a part of the Georgia Camera Ready Community. The Georgia Camera Ready Community helps connect film and TV productions with skilled liaisons across the Valdosta area to provide local expertise and support The Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center & Tourism Authority continues to work to bring film production to our area of South Georgia.

“On Behalf of the City of Valdosta, we are honored to sponsor a panel that highlights a production filmed here in our great state. Barnesville is an example of what good can come from community organizations coming together. The State of Georgia is often listed as a top state for overall production of film and TV in the U.S. As the film industry continues to grow, we as a community continue to support it. The City of Valdosta is always looking for new ways to promote the art and film industry in our community,” said Mayor Gayle. “I am excited to welcome the South Georgia Film Festival to our community. This event adds distinct value to our community. ”

“Sharp Objects” was nominated for multiple awards, including Golden Globes for Best Limited Series or Television movie, Best Supporting Actress for Patricia Clarkson, and Best Actress for Amy Adams. Ms Clarkson took home the award for Best Supporting Actress. The eight-episode show is currently airing on HBO On Demand.

While the South Georgia Film Festival begins March 1, the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) will be in town February 28 educating members of the Camera Ready program across South Georgia before holding a public event for anyone wanting to learn about how film production can impact the community and how your location can benefit from it. The GPP event will include Craig Dominey, Manager of the Camera Ready Georgia program; Jeffrey Stepakoff, Executive Director of the Georgia Film Academy; and Stratton Leopold, Hollywood Producer and owner of Savannah’s Leopold’s Ice Cream. The event is ten dollars for non-GPP members but is included in a South Georgia Film Festival VIP Pass.

The South Georgia Film Festival kicks off Friday March 1, with a day full of screenings and panels, and concludes with the 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

Along with the City of Valdosta, 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, 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 already secured panelists Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark to discuss Crowdfunding, producer Tara Ansley, actor Ian Anderson, along with many others not yet announced.

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.

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HBO Promotion Video regarding shooting SHARP OBJECTS in Barnesville, GA

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.

 

 

South Georgia Film Festival Announces Judges for 2018 Competition

Jason Brown

South Georgia Film Festival Announces Judges for 2018 Competition

February 26, 2018

VALDOSTA, GA – With local and regional professionals, the South Georgia Film Festival announces the judges for this year’s 2018 competition. This year’s judges include Sonny Shroyer, Terrell Sandefur, Dean Poling, Brantly Jackson Watts, and many more.

Judges will be looking at three categories – Open, High School and College. Winners in each category will receive a trophy created by Harmon Awards in Valdosta, along with a day pass to Wild Adventures them park.

Winners in the High School and College categories will be eligible for scholarships to Valdosta State University.

This year’s judges run the gamut of professional experiences. Actor Sonny Shroyer made the role of Enos on “The Dukes of Hazzard” famous, but has recently been nominated for a Grace Award for his role in “The Way Home” and appeared in the Georgia produced series “Rectify.” Sonny has been very supportive of the arts in Valdosta and students at VSU specifically.

Terrell Sandefur’s work with the Macon Film Festival has led to a successful career in public relations and marketing across the film and arts communities. Currently, Sandefur is working with Veterans of Georgia in Film & Television to support retraining for service members into the state’s growing media industries.

Brantly Jackson Watts just completed shooting her newest film, “Spoon,” and continues to work as the Program and Outreach Manager for Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. She will be screening her film award winning film “Birthday Cake” Friday night at the Turner Center for the Arts, along her husband and fellow judge Jon Watts, who will be screening his film “Matthew’s Gift.”

The majority of judges will be attending the festival screening films or participating on panels, such as Dan A. R. Kelly of Georgia Film Academy, Luke Pilgrim and Brad Kennedy of Sozo Bear Films, and Klarque Garrison of Surge TV. Klarque will be a part of Friday’s 1 pm networking event, while Sozo Bear has a Saturday Filmmaker panel at 5:45 pm. Kelly’s panel will take place Sunday at 11 am before the Awards ceremony.

Judges also include local media personalities Dean Poling of the Valdosta Daily Times and Marcus McConico of Channel 17. Lyndon Burch and Sheba Thomas of the American Youth Film Festival will also be serving as judges. They will present a prize package to each of the winners of discounted submission and attendance to this year’s AYFF in Atlanta.

The 2018 South Georgia Film Festival includes three days of events – screenings, panels and networking events celebrating the expanding creativity and economic development of the film industry. Sponsored by the Georgia Councils of the Arts, Georgia Power and Valdosta State University, the second annual festival looks to bring the growing film industry to South Georgia.

High school and college students can attend all of the day’s events by showing a valid ID.  All events after 5:30 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.

https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL/tickets

For more information, contact Festival Director Jason Brown at 229-219-1298.

Jason Brown
Assistant Professor, Mass Media
Valdosta State University
1500 N Patterson St
Mass Media Bldg 1211
Phone: 229-219-1298
Email: jasonebrown@valdosta.edu
Website: http://www.SouthGeorgiaFilm.com/