Grab your official 2024 Festival Design! @ink_and_cotton printed designs will be available in-person for $25 If you’re not in person – order direct from Etsy for $24.99 + shipping.
Two designs are only available through Etsy!
– Student designed shirts available in multiple colors Student Director Genesis Greenlee created both this front and back designs
– Festival “Concert” design Listing all of the films playing the 2024 Our Georgia Peach Film logo rocks this year’s festival!
VALDOSTA, GA – South Georgia Film Festival announces special guest filmmaker, author and Co-Founder of Slamdance, Dan Mirvish will be attending the 2024 SGFF in Valdosta. Along with participating throughout the weekend, Mirvish will be screening his Watergate thriller/dark comedy “18½”, about the missing Nixon tapes, which was an “Oscar Contender” in 2023 according to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and IndieWire.
The best-selling author of “The Cheerful Subversive’s Guide to Independent Filmmaking” has been intertwined between filmmaking and festivals since he co-founded the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, UT after his film “Omaha” was rejected by the institutional festival, Sundance. In the thirty years since, Slamdance has become its own institution showcasing up-and-coming filmmakers, from Christopher Nolan’s first feature film “Following” to the first films from directors of the Avengers (The Russo Brothers), Star Wars (Rian Johnson), Parasite (Bong Joon-ho) Girls (Lena Dunham)and many more.
“I’m honored and thrilled to be coming to Valdosta and looking forward to seeing some of the the amazing talent on display at the South Georgia Film Festival,“ Dan Mirvish said.
Mirvish’s film “18½” features the work of Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice, The Evil Dead) as President Nixon, Jon Cryer (Two & Half Men, Pretty Pink) as Bob Halderman, Richard Kind (Mad About You, The Goldbergs), and Willa Fitzgerald (Reacher). https://vimeo.com/615607900
Promoting the art and industry of filmmaking, the South Georgia Film Festival has been received a record number of submissions from across the globe since April for the 2024 festival. Along with high school, college, and graduate student submissions, the festival showcases professional film submissions in documentary, animation, and narrative. Along with special guest Mirvish, the festival will feature panels featuring film professionals from the Southeast who will be announced over the coming weeks.
“Film is growing across South Georgia and we continue to be proud to be a part of it,” 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.
Winners from last year’s festival include OPAL, the animated feature from France; STAY WITH ME, the narrative feature film from University of Memphis professor Marty Lang; and JACK HAS A PLAN, a documentary feature about assisted suicide from director Bradley Berman and producer Chris Metzler.
To engage with student filmmakers from across the region, host Valdosta State University will be sponsoring a Timed Hour Film competition starting Feb. 16. Completed films will be screened Monday Feb. 19 at VSU, with the winner being invited to this year’s South Georgia Film Festival.
“We are putting on a party for the community,” Jason Brown, Festival Director said. “Showcasing films from across the country and the world, we want to introduce Valdosta to great films, some great filmmakers to Valdosta, and let everyone have a good time. Be a part of party and show the world what you can do.”
Discounted tickets are on-sale now before going full price on Feb. 1.
This year’s festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Georgia Power, Valdosta State University, the Georgia Film Office, the Turner Center for the Arts, Georgia Production Partnership, and Film Impact Georgia.
The South Georgia Film Festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the art and industrial impact of film for local businesses. Panelists and guest speakers will be announced soon. For more information about tickets, visit 24SGFF.Eventive.org
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.
VALDOSTA, GA – The submission deadline for the 8th Annual South Georgia Film Festival is December 18. Professional and amateur filmmakers are encouraged to submit their work through FilmFreeway to participate in the Regional film festival, which includes screenings, networking and educational opportunities, and local entertainment. The 2024 festival will take place March 1, 2, & 3 across Valdosta with a growing number of partner organizations.
Promoting the art and industry of filmmaking here in South Georgia, the festival has been accepting submissions from across the globe since April. The festival has already received a record number of films across all categories. Along with high school, college, and graduate student submissions, the festival continues to receive professional film submissions in documentary, animation, and narrative.
“Film is growing across South Georgia and we continue to be proud to be a part of it,” 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.
Winners from last year’s festival include OPAL, the animated feature from France; STAY WITH ME, the narrative feature film from University of Memphis professor Marty Lang; and JACK HAS A PLAN, a documentary feature about assisted suicide from director Bradley Berman and producer Chris Metzler.
To encourage submissions from local high school students, students who register for the Feb. 12, Valdosta State University Student Experience will receive a fee waiver. Registration is available on the SouthGeorgiaFilm.com website.
“We are putting on a party for the community,” Jason Brown, Festival Director said. “Showcasing films from across the country and the world, we want to introduce Valdosta to great films, some great filmmakers to Valdosta, and let everyone have a good time. Be a part of party and show the world what you can do.”
This year’s festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Georgia Power, Valdosta State University, the Georgia Film Office, the Turner Center for the Arts, Georgia Production Partnership, and Film Impact Georgia.
The South Georgia Film Festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the art and industrial impact of film for local businesses. Panelists and guest speakers will be announced soon. For more information about tickets, visit 24SGFF.Eventive.org
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.
We have a great joy this year that we have more submissions than ever before – just shy of 600! And our deadline isn’t until Dec. 18.
Oh wait – we need people to help watch all of these films!
We would really appreciate your help going through all of these amazing films to get down to the approximately 100 films that will screen at the South Georgia Film Festival.
What does this mean
As a screener, you’ll watch a bunch of films from professional and student filmmakers. You’ll rate them. From there, we’ll make our decisions on which films will get into the festival. Your opinions help us make the final decision – so if you love something tell us! And if you don’t like something – tell us that, too!
We aren’t expecting you to be the Valdosta version of Roger Ebert. Just tell us what you think.
What do you get
For being a screener, we are happy to reward you for your hard work.
I personally will give you:
My undying gratitude
A Day pass to one day during the festival.
If you watch over 8 hours of films
My undying appreciation
A Festival Pass for the whole weekend
If you watch over 20 hours of films
My Undead Gratitude & Appreciation
Uncomfortable fawning on the social platform of your choosing
A Festival Pass and a t-shirt from a previous year’s festival
If you watch over 40 hours of film
This is your present to me for my 50th birthday. Bless you!
Uncomfortable fawning on ALL social platforms that SGFF is currently on – even if you couldn’t get a code to that BluSky thing people are talking about
A VIP Passes for you with a t-shirt from this year’s festival
Keeping Track
As a screener, you’ll create a free account on FilmFreeway.com. It makes it easy for you to see the films from home – and keeps track of all the wonderful work you do for us.
If you’ve done this before, you know the drill.
Go to Film Freeway & Log-in
Watch a film (if you see two other people have watched a film, pick another one)
Rate a film
Note if there is sex, drugs, language or violence
Repeat
Our rules ask for ONLY PG-13 type films.
Very Very FAQ
We screen approximately 100 films every year during the South Georgia Film Festival. And while we received a lot of great films, the difference between the top 25 films that everyone is talking about during the festival and that 250th film that was submitted isn’t as close as you think. We’re not Sundance (which by the way received 10,000 short films this last year – and screened 64).
If you like a film – tell us. In the rating section, there are 10 categories – tell us why you like the film.
And if you don’t know why – you just do …. GREAT! You’ve watched tons of stuff, you know when you like something.
But … and I hate to say this … you’re not going to like them all. Even if you have a heart of gold like my wife, sometimes you’ll know – that’s not what we want.
And don’t worry – if you only kinda like films, the ones folks LOVE will rise to the top. Math is like that.
VALDOSTA, GA – Filmmakers can begin submitting for the 2024 South Georgia Film Festival April 17. In preparation for the 8th Annual event, the festival will begin accepting submission via FilmFreeway for feature films, short films from professionals and students.
“Our festival depends on the amazing films and filmmakers sharing their work,” said Jason Brown, South Georgia Film Festival Director. “As the industry continues to grow here in Georgia, we are working to nurture those native and independent voices along with shining a light on how those in our community can be involved.”
To encourage more early submissions, feature films (anything over 50 minutes) are only $5 until August 4, and all shorts (professional, student, narrative, documentary) are free for the same period. Submission costs go up as the festival approaches, with the Early Deadline being September 30 and Regular Deadline Dec. 18, 2023. The submission page is https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL
The festival has eight defined categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Animated Short, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Graduate Student, Undergraduate Student, and High School Aged Student. Along with awards in all of these categories, the South Georgia Film Festival also distributes other awards to recognize filmmakers’ hard work.
The 2023 festival concluded this past March with Costa Karalis’s film CHIPPED winning the award for Best in Fest. Karalis was part of a large contingent of filmmakers who graduated from Florida State University but now live in the Atlanta area. Filmmakers from as far as Nashville, TN and as near as Bemiss participated in the festival. Attendees discussed enjoying the variety of films, as well as the educational opportunities of the panels and the many networking opportunities.
After the festival, public voting determined the winner of the Best Poster competition, which went to Trinity Ansah and her film OVERCOME. Winners from around the world were recognized at the end of the festival. The festival maintains a presence on IMDB where the public can view a list past and present winners. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0026797/2023/1/?ref_=evov_eh
The 2024 South Georgia Film Festival will be held March 1, 2, & 3 in Valdosta, GA. Details will be released regarding participating panelists and filmmakers at www.SouthGeorgiaFilm.com.
The South Georgia Film Festival is proudly sponsored by Georgia Power, Valdosta State University, South Georgia Studios, the Georgia Film Office, the Valdosta Mall, Wild Adventures Theme Park, Workhorse Cinema, VLPRA, VisitValdosta.org, the City of Valdosta, and Film Impact Georgia.
Filmmaker Costa Karalis took home the Best of Fest award for his film CHIPPED at Sunday’s award ceremony for the 2023 South Georgia Film Festival.
Karalis joined numerous Georgia and Florida filmmakers attending the festival. His film CHIPPED was a horror film about a man with a hammer climbing through a window to break teeth.
Zach Breder won for Best of Georgia Film with LEVEL 34, which was made in collaboration with Trilith Studios, Georgia Film Academy, Make-A-Wish, and numerous Atlanta professional filmmakers volunteering. Trinity Ansath was also in attendance to receive her award for Best Georgia Animation with her film OVERCOME. The Decatur filmmaker is a graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design. Through her art, she hopes to put back into the world the same creative energy she received as a child and hopes to inspire the next generation to live life with peace and kindness towards others.
THE BUICK SPECIAL, produced in Quitman, was recognized by the Judges for Excellence in Production Value. Director and VSU alum Levi Johnson wasn’t able to attend the awards ceremony, but producer Honnie Korngold accepted in his absence.
Other winners include:
Best Documentary Feature: JACK HAS A PLAN by director Bradley Berman Best Narrative Feature: STAY WITH ME by director Marty Lang Best Animated Feature: OPAL by Alan Bidard Best Animated Short Film: MIXI by Jyotsna Puthran Best Documentary Short: HEARTBREAK COUNTRY by Edward Tyndall Best Narrative Short: NORDO by Kyle Taubken Best Georgia Narrative Short: COULD THIS HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL by Nicole Kember and Sarah Alison Hodges Best Graduate Student Film: LIGHTS by Adel Palotas (from Budapest Metropolitan University) Best Georgia Graduate Student Film : OUTCAST EVERLASTING by Anna Valdez (from Kennesaw State University) Best Undergraduate Student Film: BLAST OFF by Kelly Mowei Wang (Cal Arts) Best International Student Documentary: LOCKDOWN TALE by Marie Trudolubova and filmmaker Cameron Carr Best High School Student Film: Hayden Grant & Joseph Weber (Thomas Downey High School, Modesto, CA) Judges’ Filmmaker to Watch: Bryn Wright for MOSQUITO FISH Judges’ Award for Production Value: THE BUICK SPECIAL from director Levi Johnson Judges’ Award for Best Child Actor: Jai Ram Srinivasan from ANDY & KALIOPE
The 7th Annual South Georgia Film Festival had crowds all weekend long. Attendees for Friday’s special screening of THE HOLIDAY DATING GUIDE were treated by filmmaker Alexander Kane to dinner from Golden Corrall. Along with those in attendance, Friday’s meal was served to students from VSU’s Honors College and the College Assistance Migrants Program, staff at the Valdosta Mall, along with City of Valdosta Police and Firefighters.
Kane and Korngold hosted Saturday’s incredibly successful Pitchfest, which featured a dozen participants working to make their TV/Film project dreams come true. Producers in attendance were so impressed with the ideas that six people received cash prizes but the big winner of $250 and a producers consultation was Buffy Thomas of Atlanta.
VIP and Festival passholders have access to the festival films all week on the Eventive platform. Festival film blocks can be rented for $5 a piece during that time as well at SGFF23.Eventive.org.
The South Georgia Film Festival is proudly sponsored by Georgia Power, Valdosta State University, South Georgia Studios, the Georgia Film Office, the Valdosta Mall, Wild Adventures Theme Park, Workhorse Cinema, VLPRA, VisitValdosta.org, the City of Valdosta, and Film Impact Georgia.
Submissions for the 2024 South Georgia Film Festival will begin in April.
VALDOSTA, GA – Film professional will be providing educational opportunities again this year during the South Georgia Film Festival. With seven different panels and one live podcast, attendees will have the opportunity to learn new ideas and techniques from visiting filmmakers and industry experts. The festival, running March 3, 4, & 5, attempts to celebrate the art of filmmaking as well as educating the community about the industry as well.
“Bringing these film professionals to our community provides an opportunity for students of all ages to learn how to participate in this growing industry,” said Jason Brown, Director of the South Georgia Film Festival. “Making the most of these educational opportunities is a goal for all of us.”
This year’s panels kickoff March 3 at 11 am with Assistant Professor Lindsay Godin of the Valdosta State University Art Department discussing Documentary Photography alongside students Phylisicia Lundy, Kaitlyn Murphy and alum Lindsay Sebastian. At 1 pm, Casting Director Chase Paris of of Fieldstein | Paris Casting will be discussing the casting process and how to put your best foot forward. At 3:30 pm, VSU Alum and Marvel Studios Environmental Steward, Frank Amoroso will be holding a panel on the growing need for environmental production assistants on sets.
Saturday, March 4 at 11:30 am, Professor David Smith of Columbia State University in Nashville, TN, will discuss Color Grading using the DaVinci software. At 1pm, a panel of visiting filmmakers will discuss their work and future projects. At 2:30 pm, Chuck Thomas hosts a live podcast recording of Atlanta Film Chat Indie Filmmaking with attending filmmakers. At 4 pm, Melissa Simpson of Film Impact Georgia will host filmmakers Jeremy Thao and Sheandra Evans and discuss what they’ve been able to do with the grants they’ve received from the organization. At 5 pm, Valdosta State University alumni, former WGXA Executive Producer Mallory Huff, media professional Ty McDowell, and filmmakers Brock Drury and Lucas Hicks, will be part of a panel discussing the impact of their education, their paths to current professional success, and suggestions for others success.
The festival kicks off March 3 on the campus of Valdosta State University with screenings and panels before concluding at the Valdosta Mall plaza with the screening of The Holiday Dating Guide, produced by Workhorse Cinema, The event is free to the public. The free Mall screening will also include the films: The Buick Special, from PhilanthroFilms and director Levi Johnson; the animated film A King I Once Knew from Joshua Myers and Grayson Durham of Thomasville; and The Curse directed by Jae Yoo from Ringling College. Festival and VIP passholders will also be able to participate in the evening’s party at the mall.
Saturday, attendees can spend the entire day attending panels, watching films, meeting filmmakers and attending the Pitchfest. Saturday March 4 will be bursting at the seams with feature films, shorts, student films, and animated films, along with amazing panels from visiting filmmakers.
After starting their day at the Mayor & Chairman’s Paddle, attendees can end the evening with The Wintering Grounds, about the world class kayakers who spend their time in Columbus, GA when it’s too cold to be anywhere else. The freestyle kayak world championships will be taking place this spring in Columbus. After screening the feature documentary Jack Has a Plan, festival and VIP passholders can join us at the Rainwater Conference Center for our Saturday night party.
Sunday March 5 will wrap up with our awards ceremony at the VSU Mass Media building followed by a few remaining blocks and a re-cap of the winners from the weekend back in the Student Union. Our family friendly block on Sunday showcases the feature film RINGO, along with a group of other animal friendly documentaries.
Celebrating the art and industry of film, the South Georgia Film Festival is hosting its seventh annual event March 3, 4 & 5, 2023. On the campus of Valdosta State University, the festival has received thousands of entries and brought hundreds of filmmakers and filmgoers to town over the last decade.
“We are putting on a party for the community,” Brown said. “Showcasing films from across the country and the world, we want to introduce Valdosta to great films, some great filmmakers to Valdosta, and let everyone have a good time.”
The three-day South Georgia Film Festival includes screenings of 95 films from around the world, the country and the region. Along with categories for high school, college and graduate students, the festival features shorts and feature length films. Films are screened in the VSU Student Union, at the corner of Oak St and Baytree, an outdoor screening at the Valdosta Mall, along with being available online through the Eventive platform. The festival presents filmgoers with the opportunities to see documentaries, animation and much more that they would not be able to see anywhere else.
Visit http://SGFF23.Eventive.Org to purchase your Pitchfest ticket, your festival pass and see the full film guide.
Passes for the festival are $40, which includes access to all the virtual films, the in-person screenings, and the parties. VIP Passes, $100, include all-access to the green room for filmmakers and a festival t-shirt. If you’re not able to attend all weekend, you will be able to purchase a Daily Pass for $15, which gives you access to all the in-person screenings and panels for that day. Pitchfest tickets are $25 and guarantee a three-minute opportunity in front of professional movie producers and distributors. The Eventive platform allows you to rent any individual film for only $5. All college and high school students can get in to the screenings and panels for free by providing their school ID.
South Georgia Studios Brings Pitchfest to 2023 SGFF
February 15, 2023
VALDOSTA, GA – South Georgia Studios is looking for your best movie pitches. Saturday March 4, during this year’s South Georgia Film Festival, participants will be able to spend 3 minutes pitching their film and television ideas to producers who can help turn their films into reality as part of the 2023 SGFF Pitchfest.
“As we grow the film industry in South Georgia, we are thrilled to be able to support local filmmakers in telling their own unique and inspiring stories,” Honnie Korngold of South Georgia Studios said. “This is only the beginning and we want South Georgians interested in working in film to know just what is possible for them here in their own backyard.”
The Pitchfest will be limited to 20 participants who will buy their spot for $25. A winner will receive a $250 cash prize and a one-hour consulting session with the panel of judges with advice on strategy to move their project forward. Participants will be contacted by Feb. 25 to give them enough time to put together their three-minute pitch. Festival passholders will be able to sit-in on the pitches. At the beginning of the two-and-a-half hour event, producers will give the audience some quick pointers on how to present their ideas. After each pitch the producers will be giving participants feedback.
Along with Korngold, Alexander Kane of Workhorse Cinema and Tamara Bell of the distribution company Koan will be evaluating the participants’ ideas for the best project within narrative film, television, and documentary.
Korngold and South Georgia Studios are in the process of building a film production campus with soundstages and an educational program in partnership with PhilanthroFilms in Quitman, GA. She’s currently producing NORTHERN LIGHTS, the story of how Valdosta’s Cathy Parker was instrumental in transforming a small Alaskan town with football. The movie is proposed to film in South Georgia in 2023.
Along with working as an actor, Kane has produced $61 million dollars worth of films in South Georgia during the last four years.
“At Workhorse Cinema, we have a big slate of films planned for 2023 that continues to prove to the film industry is not only viable but thriving here in South Georgia. Our company and team is largely built on a foundation of local talent from the area and our door is always open as we constantly survey the community to find passionate and talented locals that want to join the film industry, pursue their dreams, goals, or just find a more fulfilling career.”
Koan has 30 years experience in entertainment distribution, reaching every corner of the world. Founded in 1990, it continues to be one of the longest running worldwide sales, film finance and production companies. Their diverse catalog of award winning projects have broad appeal to worldwide audiences.
The festival kicks off March 3 on the campus of Valdosta State University with screenings and panels on documentary photography and with casting director Chase Paris of Fieldstein | Paris Casting before concluding at the Valdosta Mall plaza watching The Holiday Dating Guide for a touch of the holidays. The event is free to the public. Produced by Workhorse Cinema, the film starring Maria Menounos premiered on Lifetime television in December 2022. The free Mall screening will also include the films: The Buick Special, from PhilanthroFilms and director Levi Johnson; the animated film A King I Once Knew from Joshua Myers and Grayson Durham of Thomasville; and The Curse directed by Jae Yoo from Ringling College. Festival and VIP passholders will also be able to participate in the evening’s party at the mall.
Saturday, attendees can spend the entire day attending panels, watching films, meeting filmmakers and attending the Pitchfest. Saturday March 4 will be bursting at the seams with feature films, shorts, student films, and animated films, along with amazing panels from visiting filmmakers. Two Georgia made feature films, The Lost Cause and The Long Way Up will screen, along with panels with visiting filmmakers, VSU alums, and Melissa Simpson of Film Impact Georgia with grant recipients Jeremy Thao and Shandrea Evans.
After starting their day at the Mayor & Chairman’s Paddle, attendees can end the evening with The Wintering Grounds, about the world class kayakers who spend their time in Columbus, GA when it’s too cold to be anywhere else. Because the freestyle kayak world championships will be taking place this spring in Columbus, we hope to have some of these professionals visiting us as well. After screening the feature documentary Jack Has a Plan, festival and VIP passholders can join us at the Rainwater Conference Center for our Saturday night party.
Sunday March 5 will wrap up with our awards ceremony followed by a few remaining blocks and a re-cap of the winners from the weekend. Our family friendly block on Sunday showcases the feature film RINGO, along with a group of animal friendly documentaries.
Don’t miss our two other out-of-competition screenings – The Sim Racer from VSU’s Brock Drury and The Middle Child: The Story of Tevin King by Wiregrass’s Demiven Knighton. Both are local graduates telling very different but uniquely local stories.
You don’t want to miss this!
Celebrating the art and industry of film, the South Georgia Film Festival is celebrating its seventh annual event March 3, 4 & 5, 2023. Hosted on the campus of Valdosta State University, the festival has received thousands of entries and brought hundreds of filmmakers and filmgoers to town over the last decade.
“We are putting on a party for the community,” Brown said. “Showcasing films from across the country and the world, we want to introduce Valdosta to great films, some great filmmakers to Valdosta, and let everyone have a good time.”
The three day South Georgia Film Festival includes screenings of 95 films from around the world, the country and the region. Along with categories for high school, college and graduate students, the festival features shorts and feature length films. Films are screened in the VSU Student Union, at the corner of Oak St and Baytree, an outdoor screening at the Valdosta Mall, along with being available online through the Eventive platform. The festival presents filmgoers with the opportunities to see documentaries, animation and much more that they would not be able to see anywhere else.
Visit http://SGFF23.Eventive.Org to purchase your Pitchfest ticket, your festival pass and see the full film guide.
Pitchfest tickets are $25 and guarantee a three-minute opportunity in front of professional movie producers and distributors. Passes for the festival are $40, which includes access to all the virtual films, the in-person screenings, and the parties. If you’re not able to attend all weekend, you will be able to purchase a Daily Pass for $15, which gives you access to all the in-person screenings and panels for that day. The Eventive platform allows you to rent any individual film for only $5. All college and high school students can get in to the screenings and panels for free by providing their school ID.
VALDOSTA, GA – The South Georgia Film Festival is extending its Regular Submission deadline until Dec. 16 to better accommodate filmmakers. Along with announcing this extension, the festival is announcing the first selected film of this year’s festival “The Wintering Grounds.”
“We are excited for our seventh annual festival coming back this Spring. We have received so many more films this year as people have returned from COVID,” said Festival Director Jason Brown. “But we know everyone could use a little more time at the last minute.”
Celebrating the art and industry of film, the South Georgia Film Festival will be celebrating its seventh annual festival this March 3, 4 & 5, 2023. Hosted on the campus of Valdosta State University, the festival has received thousands of entries and brought hundreds of filmmakers and filmgoers to town over the last decade.
“We are putting on a party for the community,” Brown said. “Showcasing films from across the country and the world, we want to introduce Valdosta to great films, some great filmmakers to Valdosta, and let everyone have a good time.”
“The Wintering Grounds,” a short documentary about the growing international significance of freestyle kayakers from Columbus, GA, will be screening at the South Georgia Film Festival. Producer Paige Swift, along with kayakers from the film, will be participating in Mayor Scott Matheson’s annual “Mayor’s Row” on March 4. “Wintering Grounds” director Jeff Springer is an alum of the festival, having attended and screened the film “Rodents of Unusual Size” previously. The film has previously screened at the 2022 Sidewalk Film Festival. The 2023 ICF World Championship Freestyle Canoe event will be held June 27 – July 2 in Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL with over 300 participants from more than 20 countries.
The three day South Georgia Film Festival includes screenings of films from around the world, the country and the region. Along with categories for high school, college and graduate students, the festival features shorts and feature length films. Films are screened in the VSU Student Union, at the corner of Oak St and Baytree, an outdoor screening, along with being available online through the Eventive platform. With over 100 films on display, the festival presents filmgoers with the opportunities to see documentaries, animation and much more that they would not be able to see anywhere else.
Submissions can only be made through FilmFreeway.com. Students from VSU, Wiregrass, VHS, and Lowndes are eligible for discounted rates. Passes to the festival will be available beginning February 1.
Passes for the festival are $40, which includes access to all the virtual films, the in-person screenings, and the parties. If you’re not able to attend all weekend, you can purchase a Daily Pass for $15, which gives you access to all the in-person screenings and panels for that day. The Eventive platform allows you to rent any individual film for only $5. All college and high school students can get in to the screenings and panels for free by providing their school ID.
The South Georgia Film Festival continues to promote the regional film industry with panelists discussing both the art and industrial impact of film for local businesses. Panelists and guest speakers will be announced in February.
