113 films part of South Georgia Film Festival

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

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

“Our No. 1 goal is to bring people to Valdosta,” Jason Brown, the South Georgia Film Festival’s director, said in a news release. “We want to provide a venue where filmmakers want to show their work here. While they’re here, we want to show them why they should make their next film here.”

This year’s event also includes a dozen different films blocks of short films from professional, college and high school filmmakers. Festival officials made an extra effort this year to attract films from around the world and were able to program more than three hours of films from France, Spain and Brazil, among others. With the growth of film across Georgia, the festival was able to program many films from the Savannah College of Art & Design, Florida State University, Valdosta State, the University of North Georgia and many more. The festival programmed two blocks of films by high schoolers.

Both the college and high school winners are eligible for scholarships to Valdosta State University offered by the university’s admissions office.

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

Festival screenings will take place at the VSU Student Union Theater at the corner of Baytree and North Oak Street. The festival added the use of the mass media screening room, on the corner of Patterson and Brookwood. Over the three days, visitors can park at both the Oak Street Parking Deck and the University Center parking lot. With more than a dozen panels and workshops across both locations, 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 also includes panelists Brandi Nicole Payne of Seed & Spark to discuss Crowdfunding, producer Tara Ansley, actor Ian Anderson, along with many others.

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