CHIPPED tops Awards for 2023 SGFF

Jason Brown

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.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL . Contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

–  20  –

Film Professionals bring Educational Touch to SGFF

Jason Brown


SouthGeorgiaFilm.com
https://southgeorgiafilm.com/?p=985

February 22, 2023

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.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL . Contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

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Lyndsay Godin
Chase Paris

Frank Amoroso

David Smith
Chuck Thomas
Melissa Simpson
Jeremy ThaoSheandra EvansMallory Huff
Brock DuryLucas Hicks
Ty McDowell

South Georgia Studios Brings Pitchfest to 2023 SGFF

Jason Brown


SouthGeorgiaFilm.com
https://southgeorgiafilm.com/?p=975

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.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL . Contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

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Join the Pitchfest – Buy your ticket today

SGFF Announces 2023 Films

Jason Brown

February 2, 2023

VALDOSTA, GA – The South Georgia Film Festival announces the films selected for the 2023 event – with 95 totally films, with three locally produced films, including The Holiday Dating Guide, which will be screened free to the public at the Valdosta Mall.

Don’t miss THE SIM RACER by Brock Drury, THE HOLIDAY DATING GUIDE w/ Maria Menounos, or THE WINTERING GROUNDS about world class kayakers from Columbus, GA.

“These are some of the best films we’ve ever had in the South Georgia Film Festival,” said Festival Director Jason Brown. “We can’t wait for people to see them.

The festival kicks off March 3 on the campus of Valdosta State University with panels and screening before ending the day 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. Alexander Kane of Workhorse Cinema expects to be producing films regularly across our Region, from Fitzgerald to Valdosta to Tifton and the border. The free Mall screening will also include the films: The Buick Special, from South Georgia Studios 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 evenings party at the mall.

Attendees can spend the entire day attending panels, watching films, and meeting filmmakers. 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 from Chris Paris of Fieldstein | Paris Casting and Melissa Simpson of Film Impact Georgia.

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 kayake 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. 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 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. 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.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL . Contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

For more information about The Wintering Grounds, visit https://www.facebook.com/thewinteringgrounds and https://aziliafilms.com/

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SGFF Extends Deadline, Announces First Film

Jason Brown

December 9, 2022

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.

For more information on the South Georgia Film Festival, visit SouthGeorgiaFilm.com or https://filmfreeway.com/SOUTHGEORGIAFILMFESTIVAL . Contact Prof. Jason Brown at 229-219-1298 or jasonebrown@valdosta.edu.

For more information about The Wintering Grounds, visit https://www.facebook.com/thewinteringgrounds and https://aziliafilms.com/

Downloadable images below

2023 South Georgia Film Festival
The Wintering Grounds director Jeff Springer (photo by Pete Holcombe)

Oscar nominated film, 20+ Presenters Highlight 6th Annual South Georgia Film Festival

Jason Brown

With over 20 invited presenters and numerous attending filmmakers, the 6th Annual South Georgia Film festival is highlighted by an outdoor screening of the film CODA, recently nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and the South Georgia Premiere of AMERICAN SIEGE, starring Bruce Willis and produced in Fitzgerald, GA.

“We’re showcasing the art and industry of filmmaking for our community,” said Festival Director Jason Brown, “But we’re also bringing tons of people to South Georgia to discover what our community has to offer to them.”

This year’s presenters and judges make up some of the most interesting and inspiring filmmakers to come to Valdosta in some time. With 23 invited presenters and judges along with an anticipated 32 screening filmmakers coming to town, the SGFF sees itself as the largest local event for film in the area to showcase what is possible for the industry in our community.

Producer Alexander Kane and Director Edward Drake will be screening AMERICAN SIEGE Saturday March 5 in the Valdosta State University Student Union Theater. The film was produced in Kane’s home of Fitzgerald, GA. Willis made several films in Fitzgerald and Siege is the most recent, having been released nationally in January of 2022. This will be the first public screening of the film in South Georgia.

Actress Emilia Jones and Eugenio Derbez from the Oscar nominated CODA, screening March 5 on the College of the Arts Lawn as part of the 6th Annual South Georgia Film Festival

Also, with the cooperation of Apple and Apple TV, the film CODA will be screened on the College of the Arts lawn on Saturday March 5. CODA, recently nominated for Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards, focuses on a deaf family whose hearing daughter wants to leave to become a singer. While the film won awards at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, it has had limited distribution until being release on Apple TV this past fall. In cooperation with VSU’s ASL/English interpreting program, the SGGF is excited to present this film for the first time in Valdosta. Throughout the festival, ASL Interpreters are available by request for the panels on each day. Requests should be made through the VSU Access Office by February 24th (VP: 229.375.5871). The screening is open to the public, but passholders will have preferred seating. Hot chocolate will be made available through Aramark.

The festival includes numerous other presentations throughout the weekend?

  • Recent recipient of a Southern Documentary Fund grant, Daresha Kyi will be presenting a work-in-progress panel about her upcoming project BLACK VOTERS MATTER. Kyi will be leaving directly from Valdosta for Austin, TX where she will be presenting her film MAMA BEARS at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
  • The 23-year-old Atlanta filmmaker Chatejah George will be speaking on her journey to establish C&C Studio Movie Film Studio. Honnie Korngold of South Georgia Studios & Film Academy will be talking with George in relation to their upcoming construction in Brooks County. The infrastructure necessary for filmmaking is key, but the perseverance of those building it is inspiring.
  • Valdosta State University Theater Alum Myles Grier will be present to discuss his journey as an actor and filmmaker. Moderated by VSU faculty Ian Anderson, Myles will be screening a film he directed during the festival while working with the VSU Theater program throughout the week.
  • Each year, the Valdosta State University Mass Media program hosts a panel recognizing some of our successful alums. This year’s VSU Mass Media Alumni panel includes Frank Amoroso of Marvel Studios, podcaster John Brown, Olivia Gregory of West Networks in Gainesville, FL, and Saige Ashe.
  • After many screenings, visiting filmmakers present for their screenings will be available for question and answer sessions. This year, a handful have also been asked to participate in a panel. Those filmmakers include Jon Matthews, director of ANG MOTEL; Nathan Bach, director of NO SMALL DREAMS; Doug Hawley, returning filmmaker and director of SWEETEST DAY; Ole Miss Professor Jonathan Clayton, director of OXFORD: A PLACE FOR ART; and Brinceton Baum and Maggie Rogers of MONSTER?.
     
  • Returning judges and presenters include 2021 Best Fest winner Geena Hernandez, filmmaker Thomas Grant from ABAC, VSU Alum Brantly Jackson, Columbia State professor of film David Smith, founders of Film Impact Georgia Melissa Simpson and Molly Coffee, and Chuck Thomas of the AFC Indie Filmmaking Podcast.

Unlike most of the films during the festival which will be available on our Eventive online platform, our presenters and special screenings are only available as live events.

“This year’s festival offers many ways for people to participate,” Brown said.

The majority of films are available on our online platform EVENTIVE, beginning March 1 and ending March 10. Watch any film block from your home for just $5. Attend any day’s films and panels for $15. Enjoy all the panels, films and after parties with our $40 pass. Step backstage to our green room and grab a festival shirt with our exclusive VIP Pass for $100. Check out our schedule and purchase the pass that works for you at http://sgff22.Eventive.org or http://SouthGeorgiaFilm.com/

The 2022 festival could not happen without the support of our community sponsors, including Valdosta State University, Georgia Power, South Georgia Studios and Film Academy, Valdosta-Lowndes County Tourism Authority, the City of Valdosta, the Georgia Film Office, Georgia Beer Company, the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority, the Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta Main Street, Georgia Production Partnership, Fairway, and MUBI.

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

The South Georgia Film Festival Returns For Year 6

Jason Brown

January 21, 2022

VALDOSTA, GA – Back again, the Sixth Annual South Georgia Film Festival returns in-person, online, and outside! Featuring some amazing guests and attending filmmakers, the area’s top event for the film industry is back March 4, 5, & 6 to celebrate the art and industry in South Georgia.

After last year’s hybrid festival, this year expects to incorporate what people liked and bring back what people loved. Films and filmmaker interviews will return on the Eventive platform so that people can enjoy the festival from anywhere. Returning are the in-person screenings on the campus of Valdosta State University, along with panels by top professionals from across the region. We will again be recognizing the best in competition in various award categories.

“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.”

Thursday night will kickoff with our introductory event for passholders and the community at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, introducing a community project from Steven Heddon and Angela Ward. Friday will conclude with our annual kickoff party at Georgia Beer Company. Saturday night will feature an outdoor screening on the lawn behind the VSU College of the Arts. Films will be screened in the Valdosta State University Student Union Friday through Sunday, while the virtual platform will be available March 1 through March 10.

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.

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

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 SGFF22.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.

–  20  –

South Georgia Film Festival Announces 2021 Award Winners

Jason Brown

MARCH 7, 2021
* UPDATE MARCH 14, 2021

VALDOSTA – After a unique year, the South Georgia Film Festival announces its 2021 Winners and extends the virtual window to watch them. Starting Monday, March 8, all of the 2021 winners can be viewed in a Winners Block on the Eventive platform for $5 through March 12. The festival now opens public voting for best poster.

This year’s winners include Best of Fest winner PINE MOUNTAIN OVERNIGHT from Director Geena Marie Hernandez is the adolescent story of camping, puberty, and Big Foot; Best Feature is BLEEDING AUDIO about the band The Matches’ struggle in the music business; Best High School goes to DAVID ISN’T HERE ANYMORE from Director Josh Ceranic about a haunted house and a determined realtor; Best College is WING IT from Jillian Lucia and Brendan Arena about an inspired Dragon; Best Short is ALICE from Laura Scrivano based on the Noel Coward poem; Best Family Friendly is HANGRY by Clint Till about hungry reverend in a retirement home; Best Animation is SOPHIE & JACOB from Max Shoham. This year, the judges also recognize one filmmaker as a Rising Filmmaker – JACOBE LOVE with his documentary A DANGEROUS SILENCE, about domestic violence in Columbus, GA.

Along with the other 106 films of the festival, this year’s winners will be available through Friday March 12 on the Eventive platform at SGFF21.Eventive.org.

The Festival has one more award to announce – Best Poster – which will be chosen by the public. After a week of public voting, the winner of the Best Poster award goes to DOLPHIN ISLAND.

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.

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

Congratulations to all of this years winners
Best High School – DAVID ISN’T HERE ANYMORE
Best College – WING IT
Best Family Friendly- HANGRY
Best Short- ALICE
Best Animation- SOPHIE & JACOB
Best Feature- BLEEDING AUDIO
Rising Filmmaker- JACOBE LOVE
Best of Fest- PINE MOUNTAIN OVERNIGHT

Best Poster – DOLPHIN ISLAND

Vote Best Poster for the 2021 South Georgia Film Festival

Jason Brown

This year, we’re asking YOU to choose the winner of the best poster from the 2021 South Georgia Film Festival.

Check out the survey below and vote for your favorite poster from over 100 films in the 2021 South Georgia Film Festival.
If your favorite didn’t load – please be sure to add it at the bottom!

Some of the posters from the 2021 South Georgia Film Festival


https://forms.gle/dVW4zFkfU3NRyZfp8

Voting / Virtual Screenings end Friday March 12.

The winning film’s poster will receive a trophy created by Harmon Awards in Valdosta.

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