Tag: Valdosta State

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)

SGFF Gives Preview of Black Barbie documentary

Jason Brown

March 3, 2020

VALDOSTA, GA – The South Georgia Film Festival presents a special work-in-progress screening of the definitive history of black dolls, Black Barbie, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the dolls introduction in 1980. Filmmaker Lagueria Davis’ film about her aunt Beluah Mae Mitchell, who helped introduce the first black version of Mattel’s Barbie, explores the struggle for representation.

“It took a Black woman in the design and leadership position to get a Black Barbie,” Davis said. “That very first doll really is validation that my aunt and Kitty Black Perkins were seen and heard.”

Along with the support of the Valdosta State University African-American Studies Department, this screening of Black Barbie is part of the project’s development process. Having participated in several prestigious work-in-progress retreats and labs over the last year to fully fund the documentary, Davis is continue to rework the project looking for feedback and conversation on the topic.

“Unlike Hollywood blockbusters, independent films need community support,” said Jason Brown, South Georgia Film Festival director. “They need feedback to tell the best story and funding to make the best film.”

Davis has found success with Black Barbie as she continues to grow in her career. Graduaing from the University of Oklahoma, Davis feature screenplay Maid of Honor was a Quarter-Finalist for the highly acclaimed Nicholls Fellowship. After Black Barbie allowed Davis to be chosen as a BAVC Mediamaker fellow, a 2019 Logan Nonfiction Fellow, and to be a finalist for the Screencraft Film Fund, she was hired to write for an upcoming network television program.

Moderated by Alicia Pryor, of the Valdosta State University Mass Media program, the work-in-progress screening will include portions of the film, along with time for feedback from those in attendance. Davis, currently working as a writer on an upcoming cable television program, plans to be Skyping into the presention.

Along with the support of the African-American studies department, the South Georgia Film Festival includes sponsorships from Georgia Power, Georgia Beer Company, the Georgia Council for the Arts, Valdosta State University, the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority, Wild Adventures, the Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta Main Street, the Valdosta Daily Times, Ashley Street Station, the City of Valdosta, the Williams Hotel Group, MUBI, and the Criterion Channel.

Festival screenings will take place at the VSU Student Union Theater at the corner of Baytree and North Oak Street. Over the three days, visitors can park at both the Oak Street Parking Deck and the University Center parking lot. With numerous panels and screenings, attendees will find plenty to do.

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 Richard Baxter to discuss Columbus, GA new tax incentives for film, Brent Simond of Illinois State University to discuss crowdfunding his documentary on country music, the Georgia Production Partnership’s South Regional meeting, and much more.

Passes to this year’s festival are currently available. The All Access VIP pass, which includes a t-shirt and access to the VIP areas 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 to all screenings and panels.

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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WCTV Joins South Georgia Film Festival as TV Sponsor

Jason Brown

WCTV and Gray Television announce they are proud supporters of the South Georgia Film Festival which encourages and promotes filmmakers and supportive cast to bring Film to the Public as art and entertainment. The South Georgia Film Festival plans to bridge the film industry and South Georgia with the help of such great media partners.

As the CBS affiliate for the Bend Bend of Florida and South Georgia, WCTC was the regions first television station, signing on September 15, 1955. Owned by Gray Television, WCTV broadcasts from Thomas County with its studios in Tallahassee, Florida reaching more than a quarter-million homes and families.

Keep watching your local CBS station to see this great announcement from Valdosta State University President Richard Carvajal.