26th Annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival Program 2023

F E S T I V A L L I N E U P

THURSDAY OPENING NIGHT FILMS

MOON SHADOWS | MUSIC VIDEO

Director-HartGinsburg

FREE | MUSIC VIDEO

Director-IuliaPuica

STILL UP THERE | ANIMATion

Director-JoeLoftus

this wild abyss | short

Director-ThomasMendolia

FRIDAY NIGHT FILMS

china in a box | MUSIC VIDEO

Director-JaneGull

algorithmia | MUSIC VIDEO

Director-NateDorr

truck fishing in america | short

Director-ShelleyDelaney

the wheel | short

Director-MetînEWR

love languages | documentary

Director-JasonOsborne

mate | short

Director-Geroge-AlexNagle

the milky way | short

Director-ClintTill

MISS VIBORG | FEATURE PRESENTATION

Director-MarianneBlicher

both ears to the ground | DOCUMENTARY

Director-NaïméPerrette

WRITTEN IN INK | short

Director-CordelaineKline

SPIRICOM | short

Director-RubénPérez,CarmenNogueroles

unpacking | FEATURE PRESENTATION

Director-AlexandraClayton MichalSinnott

SATURDAY FAMILY-FRIENDLY

1979| MUSIC VIDEO - Animation

Director-MikeTaylor

COMPASSIONATE CAREN IN THE BIG, BAD WORLD| SHORT

Director-DeanShortland

MY TINY FRIENDS | ANIMATion

Director-JiyoungPark

#NANAROCKS | short

Director-LeticiaAgudo

FILMS

FRIENDS | ANIMATion

Director-JialanSun

THE TRICK | short

Director-JacksonToddStrickland

A HALLOWEEN TO FORGET | short

Director-SamMorgan

A RELATIONSHIP WITH A CAMERA| SHORTDOCUMENTARY

Director-TonyKing

SATURDAY CLOSING NIGHT FILMS

INSOLITUDE | MUSIC VIDEO

Director-ChaseLee

THE GIFT | SHORT - 48HR COMP

Director-RickNegron

STACHE | short - 48HR COMP

Director-JonTackett,DylanScott,Adam Maddox

THE WIND AND I | short - 48HR COMP

Director-AngelikiEfantis,DavidHintz

THE INTERESTS | short

Director-ErolMars

THE MANAGER POSITION | SHORT

Director-CraigTrow

XIII | DOCUMENTARY

Director-JamesParker

murder tongue | short

Director-AliSohailJaura

d o a | FEATURE PRESENTATION

Director-KurtSt Thomas

Welcome

""Wearesothankfulforthecontinuedsupportofthe Golden Triangle community and their love for independent film. For 26 years, the MAG has continuedtoshowcaseindiefilmmakers'hardwork andpassionandgivethemaplatformthatrespects theirefforts. Weenjoylaughing,crying,andgripping eachother'shandsintensemomentstogether To saythatIamproudofourlineupforthe26thfestival wouldbeanunderstatement. Wediscoveredfilms thatexplorestruggleonsomanylevelsandhowwe can seek to overcome them together, sometimes throughcomedy,drama,horror,andsong.

Thankyouforembarkingonthisemotionaljourney with us and helping keep this dream alive for so manytalentedindividuals"

"TheMAGhasanimmenselyimportantlegacyin thestateofMississippithatcontinuestoinspire filmmakers and visual storytellers, enrich audiences, and introduce Mississippi to filmmakersfromaroundtheworld In2023(our 26thyear),indiefilmisasimportantasever,and theMAGremainsacherishedresourcetoensure thesefilmsareseen.Toyoureadingthis,thank youforsupportingandbeingapartoftheMAG in whatever capacity. Our intimate festival is madepossiblebythepassionanddedicationof asmallgroupofpeopleandtheoverwhelming support of our sponsors, donors, and local advocates. You are a part of the MAG family, andwelookforwardtogrowingwithyou"

ChrisMisun FestivalDirector

MichaelWilliams BoardPresident

About THEMAG

TheMagnoliaIndependentFilmFestival,affectionatelyknownasTheMag,isa501(c) (3)non-profitorganizationwhosemissionistobringqualityindependentcinemato theGoldenTriangleAreaandtosupportthegrowingfilmindustrywithinthestateof Mississippi.AsMississippi’sfirstandlongest-runningfilmfestival,TheMagisknown for being an intimate, filmmaker-friendly festival that consistently brings unique, edgy,diverse,andinspiringcinematosmall-townMississippiwhilealsosupporting home-grownfilmmakersandstorytellers.

Startedin1997byRonTibbett,TheMagfilledavoidwithinthestateAtthetime,there were no film festivals in Mississippi and no outlets to showcase, inspire and encourage independent filmmakers From its humble beginnings in a cold auditoriuminWestPoint,TheMagquicklygrewandpavedthewayfortherichfilm festival culture currently thriving throughout the state. Thanks to Ron and his enthusiasm for bringing independent film to Mississippi, other prominent film festivalswerebornincludingtheOxfordFilmFestival,CrossroadsFilmFestival,and mostnotablyTupeloFilmFestival.

In celebrating our 26th annual festival, The Mag will continue the tradition of showcasingindependentfilmsandfilmmakersfromaroundtheworldthrougha carefully curated lineup of films that are uniquely moving, hilarious, thoughtprovoking,andinspiring

Poet, journalist, filmmaker, Ron Tibbett, wasborninChicagoin1941.Aftermoving to West Point, MS with his wife Dr. Charlotte Magnussen in the early ’90s, Tibbett made the film “Swept Off My Feet”.Whilelookingforfestivalstosubmit the film, Tibbett found that there were noneinMississippi.In1997hefoundedThe MagnoliaIndependentFilmFestivaland gave rise to what would become a thriving independent film festival community and indie filmmaker scene withinMississippi.

OnefilmsubmissiontoTheMagimpressedTibbettsomuchthatheandthe director,BillBrownsetofftomakeafilmtogether.Thatfilmwas“Buffalo Common.”DirectedbyBrownandproducedbyTibbett,“BuffaloCommon”is asubconsciousroadtripthroughtheforgottenmissilesilosofNorthDakota. Thefilmwasanofficialselectionofthe2003SundanceFilmFestivaland madetheVillageVoice’sTopTenAvant-Gardelist.Later,Rondirectedthe film, “Citizen Shane.” This documentary tells the story of a 22-year-old man’shilariousandtouchingcampaignforsheriffofLowndesCountywho ranonapro-pornography/pro-civillibertiesticket.ToRon,thiswasavery personalstory,andatitsheart,thefilmisabouthowthiskiddealswithhis mother’sdeath.Thefilmslowlybecameanundergroundsuccess.

Sadly,RonTibbettlosthislifeinacaraccidentnotfarfromhomein2004.He leftalegacythatwentbeyondjusthisfilms.Hislegacyis25yearsinthe makingandthrivesthroughanentirefilmcommunitybornoutofhisdesire tobringindependentcinematoMississippiandnurturefilmmakersboth locallyandabroad.

RonTibbett

Founder-MagnoliaIndependentFilm Festival

ASpecialThankYou toourSponsors

ChristiDubois Judge(she,her,hers)

BeingbornandraisedinthesmalltownofWestPoint,Mississippi,Christi’s lovefortheartswassparkedataveryyoungage,whenherGrandmother enrolledherindanceclassesattheageofthree.Inthefollowingyears, “Grandmom”alsointroducedhertotheworldoftheatre Formanyyears, Christitaughthighschoolartandwasanassistantbasketballcoachat OakHillAcademy Sheenjoyedsharingherknowledgeoftheartswithher students and introducing them to a world outside of their own. She’s workedcloselywiththelocalcommunitytheaterandartscouncil,bothas anactorandbehindthescenesbuildingsetsandmakingcostumes Her firstbigstepintothefilmindustrywasbeingJulietteBinoche’sstandin andstuntdoubleonParadiseHighway Asastandin,shewasabletosee firsthandhowthedifferentdepartmentsofafilmcrewworked naturally, shewasdrawntotheartdepartment.Christiiscurrentlyworkingfulltime inthefilmindustryprimarilyastheOn-SetDresser.Whilestilloccasionally takingrolesinfrontofthecamera,she’sfoundthatherloveforvisual storytellingthroughsetdecandpropsfarexceedsherdesiretobeinfront ofthecameraandiswhereshethrives.Christilooksforwardtoworkingin the film industry for many years to come and welcomes more productionstoherbelovedhomestate

CarysGlynn Judge(she,her,hers)

CarysGlynneisaStarkville-basedartist,actress,writer,andfilmmaker. SheattendedColumbiaUniversityinNewYorkCity,duringwhichtime sheinternedforFilmNationEntertainment,LovelessProductions,andNYC Indie Film Fest, amongst others. Carys has written and produced four shortfilms,workedintheartdepartmentonfourfeatures(threeofwhich wereMississippi-made),assistedwithCOVIDprotocolonaMarvelseries, andhasperformedindozensofshorts,commercials,andmore.

ChadHathcock Judge(he,himhis)

Iamliterallyamediajunkie.Ilovethefeelingyougetaftersuccessfully planning,creating,andeditinganyformofmediawhetheritbeaudio, video, pictures, or graphics As with most things in life the more of yourselfyouputintoaprojectthebetteritwillbeintheend Igraduated fromMSUwithaBachelor’sinCommunications HavingworkedatMossy Oak Productions, Ole Miss, and MSU; I have had the chance to work in many different forms of media I live in West Point, MS with my wife Amandaand2children(Blakely10andCros4) It’sagreatplacetolive andagreatplacetobecreative

MakelGandy

Judge(he,himhis)

Iama20yearoldmale IattendedICCwhereIstudiedfilm and drama production My career goal is to become a filmmakerandmastereveryjobandskillpossiblewithinthe industry

MoonShadows

Dir.-HartGinsburg

3min

Animageofachildlookingtowardstheeveningmoon visitedmythoughtsonedayormaybeitwasadream, from there an imaginary dialogue or dance emerged betweenthemoonandthechild Butwhoisguidingwho inthisplanetarydance,isitthemoonorthechild?

FREE

7 min

Dir.-IuliaPuica

Iulia is a film director from Moldova currently based in Tokyo In2012graduatedAcademyofMusicTheaterand Fine Arts - specialty film directing. In 2015 made my masterdegreeinAnimation.

StillUpThere

Dir.-JoeLoftus

5 min

A mortally wounded Astronaut awakens in the upper atmosphereafteracatastrophicevent.Hestrugglesto rememberhowhegotthereandlatcheshimselfontothe onlyfamiliarthingtohim,hisownseveredarm

ThisWildAbyss

Dir.-ThomasMendolia

23min

A former cowboy turned janitor with an eighth-grade education,MiltHumasonformsanunlikelyfriendshipwith astronomerEdwinHubbleandassistshimatMt Wilson Observatory,apartnershipthatleadstotheirdiscovery thattheuniverseisexpanding

LoveLanguages

Dir.-JasonOsborne

13min

Afro-Caribbeanbarbershopstendtoprovideasafespaceforthe black male community They are environments charged with boisteroushilarityandtouchinghonestyinequalmeasure.Withthe barber’s chair acting as a makeshift therapist’s couch, Love Languages is a nuanced and intimate portrayal of these conversationsassixblackmensharetheirpersonalexperiencesof love and loss through emotive introspection, whilst challenging perceptionsoftheiridentityandblackmasculinity

30 min

Dir.-Geroge-AlexNagle Mate

Afteralongtimeapart,localdeadbeatJohnmusttake careofreservedschoolboyJackoveraweekendinan insular working-class outpost of Western Sydney However,Jack’sattempttore-establishtheirrelationship isthreatenedasJohn'sself-destructivenatureemerges.

TheMilkyWay

Dir.-ClintTill

12 min

Paige will do whatever it takes to give her newborn daughtertheverybest.

MissViborg-FEATURE

Dir.-MarianneBlicher

1 hr40min

FormerbeautyqueenSolvejlivesinisolationwithherdog, herroutine,andhershattereddreams Whensheforms an unlikely friendship with her neighbor’s daughter, the rebellious17-year-oldKate,MissViborg’shorizonswidens.

ChinainaBox

Dir.-JaneGull

“ChinaInABox”fromIrishsinger/songwriterNiallMcNameeisabout aloving,honest,yetfragilerelationshipandhowtheseconnections withalovedoneshouldbecherished Tuggingatyourheartstrings, thesongisemotionalandsincere,withrawpianosemittingawarmth andcomfort.

Algorithmia

Dir.-NateDorr

With the advent of adversarial learning, digital simulacra have becomemoreandmoreeerilyconvincing:songsextendedthrough extrapolation, faces invented, and so many machine-generated avocadoarmchairdesigns.Especiallyoverthelastsixmonths,the tools for fully AI-created images (based only on generalized knowledge from data sets consisting of millions of captioned pictures) have rapidly evolved, diversified, and improved, allowing moreandmoregenerativeartiststoexploretheform.

TruckFishinginAmerica

Dir.-ShelleyDelaney

TruckFishinginAmericaisthestoryofDannyandJerry,lostwhitemen atoddswiththeirownfailedexpectations Menwhoworkpartofthe yearanddrinktherestMenwhoinotherguisescouldberiotinginthe capitalordyingofanoverdose.Darklycomic,TruckFishinginAmerica paintsanarrestingpictureofasmallvictoryandaterribleloss.

Inthe1990s,somenewspaperswerenotallowedtoentertheDiyarbakir region,underastateofemergencyatthattime,althoughtheywere legal.ChildrenlikeBawerandHebûn,whowerepartofthedistribution group,wouldsecretlycollectthesenewspapersfromoutsidethecityat apreviouslyagreedlocationandtakethemtotheplannedmeeting placeinthecity.

BothEarstotheGround

Dir.-NaïméPerrette

28min

Saltminesarebeingdugmoreandmoreeverydayunderthetown ofBerezniki,intheUrals.Emptiedofitssedimentsfromanotherera, thegroundhascollapsedinplaces.Thesunkenbuildingscaptivate journalists,butnolongerinteresttheinhabitantswholivethanksto theindustry,despiteitsloopholes

WritteninInk

Dir.-CordelaineKline

Amanhangsanoose,feedshiscat,andstartswritinghis suicidenote,buthispenrunsoutofink.

Spiricom

Dir.-RubénPérez,CarmenNogueroles

Violeta,anesotericgeekandunsolvedcrimestories,hasjustlosther husband,aheartattackvictim.Afewdayslater,shediscoversthat perhapshisdeathwasnotnatural.Violetaneedstoknowthetruth andtofindoutshebuysanamazinggadgetontheinternet What willhappenfromtherewillbeanexperiencedifficulttoforget

FEATURESTARTS AT8:15 pm

6min 14 min 1 hr21 min

Unpacking-FEATURE

Dir.-AlexandraClayton,MichalSinnott

Sixwomen,soldonthepromiseofradicaltransformation, traveltoBaliintothehandsofaninfluencerguruandget slappedwithreality:changeismessyAF

START AT 11:00 am

1979 Dir.-MikeTaylor

1979isanostalgiclookatyounglove,followingacoupleastheymeet aschildren,fallinloveasteenagersthendriftapartasyoungadults Thepapercutout,stop-motionanimationisallsettothesongofthe samenamebySweden’sPainofSalvation

CompassionateCarenintheBig, BadWorldDir.-DeanShortland

Carenisamiddle-agedcontrolfreakwhoisn’tfeelingacceptedin theworldaroundheranymoreTofeelrelevantanduseful orforthat matter,tosurvive eithershewilleitherhavetochangeherwaysor societywillhavetounderstandherbetter

MyTinyFriendsDir.-JiyoungPark

“MyTinyFriends”isa3Danimationaboutanartistwhodoesnotlike herwork.Thevideoshowsherinnerspaceduringherjourneyofartistic creation Themaincharacter,Sasha,meetscuteimaginarycreatures thatpopoutfromherimagination Butshedestroysthembecause shedoesn'tlikethem.Eventually,sherealizesthatitisself-hatredthat madeherdestroyherselfandherworld.Attheend,Sashalearnsthat sheshouldbehappybyembracingherimaginationandherself The video unleashes the message of "loving ourselves" in a sense of wonder.

#NANAROCKS Dir.-LeticiaAgudo

13min 2 min 10 min

A woman celebrates her 78th birthday, accompanied by her two granddaughters.Theeldest,Rachel,regalesherwithloudattention,gifts, andphotossheincessantlypostsonline.Theyoungest,Rosie,quietly worksawaycleaning,cooking,andsortingNana’smeds

Alittlegirlmovesintoanewplace Shemissesheroldfriendsbut afraidofmakingnewfriends.However,latersheisencouragedbya spritetotakethefirststep.

3min

A Magician invites an Audience Member to perform a silentpieceon-stage

AHalloweentoForget Dir.-SamMorgan

A couple’s plans to have their first kiss with one another on Halloweenarecontinuallyfoiledbytrick-or-treatersandunwelcome guests.

ARelationshipwithaCamera Dir.-TonyKing

min 6min

AnintrospectivedocumentaryaboutTonyKing'sjourney grievinghisfather'sdeathwithphotography.

"INSOLITUDE"-SOULSTAINLESS Dir.-ChaseLee

Twofriendsfindeachotheronoppositesidesofbeinglonelyand needingtobealone Beinglonely,andconverselynotbeinglonely canbothbedesirableandundesirable

TheGift

7 min

Dir.-RickNegron

Akillerissurprisedtomeetsomeonewiththesamemotivation

Stache

8min

Dir.-JonTackett,DylanScott,AdamMaddox

Adetectiveaccusesayoungmanofamurderhedidnotcommitdue tohisphysicalsimilaritiestothetruekiller TheWindandI

7 min

Dir.-AngelikiEfantis,DavidHintz

Ayoungmanjoinsanexperimentingcoupleforacampingtrip.Feeling thathedoesn'tfitinwiththem,hefindsandunexpectedconnection withinthewoods

TheInterests Dir.-ErolMars

UnemployedSteveseeksadvicefromhissuccessfulfriend,Rick,to helphimaceajobinterview.

TheManagerPosition

Dir.-CraigTrow

Monthsafterlosinghisjob,amanisstillunabletotellhis wife.

XIII

Dir.-JamesParker

When the Apollo XIII spacecraft experiences a critical equipment failure, three astronauts’ lives hang in the balance A concerted national effort is undertaken to return the crew safely, and two MississippiStateUniversityalumniondifferentcoastsareamong thosesolvingtheengineeringproblemsthatstandintheway

MurderTongue

Dir.-AliSohailJaura

ItisMayof1992.Thestatesanctioned“Operation”hasputthecityof Karachiatconstantunrest AbdulAzizAnsariwakesupatnightandis informedbyhisdaughterinlaw,Naseemathathissonhasn’treturned home.Asaknockontheirdoorlateratnightsummonsthemtothe hospital,whattheywitnessalongthewayisknowntodayasthemost brutalchapterofthecity’shistory,asentimentofhatredtowardstheir race,deeprootedbeneaththesystem.

D.O.A.-Feature Dir.-KurtSt.Thomas

FrankBigelowisaprivatedetectivehiredtofollowthehusbandofa St. Augustine socialite. It’s a routine assignment until he discovers thathe’sbeensecretlypoisonedandhasonlydaystolive Withthe clockticking,Bigelowdescendsintoaworldofcrooksanddoubledealers, treacherous women and violent men, slashing through a tangleofconspiraciestofigureoutwho“killed”himandwhy.Along hetoxiceffectsofhisownisolation hisrevenge,andsavehisownsoul

Best Short Narrative

Best Feature Ron Tibbett Award for Excellence in Film

NOMINEESAward

BestFeature

Miss Viborg

Unpacking

D.O.A.

BestShort(Narrative)

Mate

Murder Tongue

Spriricom

The Interests

The Manager Position

The Milky Way

The Wheel

This Wild Abyss

Truck Fishing in America

Written in Ink

BestDocumentary

A Relationship with a Camera

Both Ears to the Ground

Love Languages

XIII^

BestFamily-Friendly

#NANAROCKS

1979

A Halloween to Forget

A Relationship with a Camera

Compassionate Caren in the Big, Bad World Friends

My Tiny Friends

The Trick

48HrFilmCompetition

Stache*^

The Gift*^

The Wind and I*^

BestHomegrown(MSFILMS)

InSolitude - Soul Stainless ^*

Stache*^

The Gift*^

The Wind and I*^

XIII^

BestMusicVideo

Algorithmia

China in a Box

FREE

InSolitude - Soul Stainless^*

Moon Shadows

BestAnimation

1979 Friends

My Tiny Friends

Still Up There

AWARDCATEGORIES

Best Feature

Best Short Narrative

Best Short Documentary

Best Cinematography

Best Home Grown

Best Student Film

Best Animation

Best Music Video

Best Family-Friendly Film

Best 48 Hr Film Competition Film

Audience Choice

Elena Zastawnik Award for Best Written Film

Ron Tibbett Award for Excellence in Film

*StudentFilm

^HomeGrown

Workshop&Panel

JoinTheMagnoliaIndependentFilmFestivalforourFREEworkshopandpaneldiscussion sponsoredbytheMississippiFilmOfficeandtheMississippiFilmAlliance

TheProductionValueofCollaborative

ScreenwritingWorkshop:Feb25th@1pm

WorkshopPresenter: JeremyBurgess(he/him/his)

Mostscreenwritersstartwithlittlemorethanalaptopand an idea But the value of your screenplay and the likelihood that it'll ever be produced increases dramatically when you write with future collaborating in mind Fromincorporatingexistingresourcesintoyourstory toworkshoppinglineswithactorsonset,thisworkshopwill giveyouacrashcourseonhowtowriteascriptthatcould actuallygetmadeThisintimateworkshopwillbehostedby writer/producerJeremyBurgess

“JeremyBurgessisanaward-winningscreenwriterandfilmproducerbasedinBirmingham,AL Hisfilms andmusicvideoshavebeenfeaturedatdozensoffilmfestivalsincludingtheIndieMemphisFilmFestival, theSidewalkFilmFestival,thePortlandFilmFestival,andtheNashvilleFilmFestival,wherehisfirstfeature script(WeTakesCareOfOurOwn)wasafinalistforBestHorror/ThrillerFeatureScreenplayin2016 His latestfeaturefilm(Don'tDie)starsTheodusCrane(TheWalkingDead),VirginiaNewcomb(TheDeathof DickLong),JoshuaBurge(Relaxer),andFrankMosley(Freeland)andiscurrentlyinpost-production”

MakingaLivingintheFilmIndustry

PanelDiscussion:Feb25that2:30pm

ApaneldiscussionwillfeatureadiscussionwithRickMoore(EyevoxStudios),Casey Heflin (Makeup artist/Actress), Ben Powell (Filmmaker), and Antonio Tarrell (Director/Cinematography) Moderated by MAG president and filmmaker Michael Williams,thisdiscussionwillcoverwhatitisliketomakealivinginthefilmindustry bothinMSandbeyond,succeedingasacreative,andtheimportanceofpursuing youraspirations

Admissionisfreetoboththeworkshopandpaneldiscussion,butwerequestyouto RSVPtohelpusanticipateheadcountandnotifyyouofanypotentialupdatesonthe time/locationleadinguptotheworkshop

When:February25th,2023at1:00pm-4:00pm

Where:Hobie'sonMain(akaStateTheatre)

Address:217EMainSt,Starkville,MS39759

Sponsoredby:

Meetourpanelists

“BenPowell’sassignmentsasacinematographerhavetaken himtocommunitiesallovertheworld,whilehisdocumentary filmsasdirectorhavefocusedonlandscapesnearanddear His documentary BARGE focuses on the culture of towboat workers on the Mississippi River. After premiering at SXSW, BARGEwonBestDocumentaryFeatureprizesatIndieMemphis andtheDallasInternationalFilmFestival.PowellholdsaBFAin Film,Animation,andVideo

fromtheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesignandreceivedartistgrantsfromtheAustinFilm Society and the Mississippi Arts Commission. In 2020, Powell moved back to the MississippiDeltaandformedacreativeconsultancycalledBrokenArmStudio”

“BorninBruceMS,AntonioTarrellhasachievedrecognitionas aProducer,Director,andDirectorofPhotographyinfeature films, commercials, music videos and documentaries. Regardlessofthetypeofprojecthisgoalasafilmmakeristo createpowerfulimagesthatadvancethestoryandaffectthe vieweronasubliminalemotionallevel.

Currently, he is based in Oxford, MS and Little Rock, AR. His accomplishments include contributions to NHK (Japanese Broadcast: Mississippi Revealed (Mississippi Delta), Fox Business:EarthwithJohnHolden,MississippiPublicBroadcast:MississippiRoads,David Sheffield:TheHeartbreakHenryforTheaterOxford,DiscoveryChannel:Earthhostedby John Holden, PBS: Make America Black hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr, CONDÉ NAST ENTERTAINMENTfeaturingJosephStinchcomb,BlackPrivilege WhitePower WalkAgainst Fear:JamesMeredithforSmithsonianTV,RestaurantImpossible:Revisited-Season2for FoodNetwork,PilotEpisode:BluffCityLawforNBC,WeddingatGracelandforHallmark, DatelineCrimewithTamronHallforInvestigationDiscovery,UnspeakableCrime:TheKilling ofJessicaChambersforOxygenTV,andmuchmore”

“RickMooreisthefounderandownerofEyevoxEntertainment andMadGenius.Withover25yearsworkinginthefilmindustry, Rick'sprimaryroleishelpingproducersthatwanttobringtheir moviestoMississippi”

“Casey Heflin is a Mississippi native from the small town of Pelahatchie.Aftergettinginvolvedintheaterfromtheageof6, herloveoftheartsandfilmledhertopursueacareerinthe entertainmentindustry.SheisagraduateofMississippiState University and has received additional training at London’s GuildhallSchoolofMusicandDrama Thelastthirteenyears, shehasbeenfortunateenoughtoworkinthefilmindustryasa performerandmakeupartist.Herfreetimeisspentexploring theworld,raisingchickens,tryingtogarden,andspoilingher dog,Sushi”

AntonioTarrell(he/him/his)

BenPowell(he/him/his)

RickMoore(he/him/his)

CaseyHeflin(she,her)

Mississippi FilmOffice

The Mississippi Film Office celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2023. Originally created as the Mississippi Film Commission by Governor Bill Waller on January 17, 1973, the Film Office today supports the development of film, television, commercial, video game and virtual reality production in Mississippi.

While there have been films made in Mississippi for over 100 years, the Mississippi Film Office began expanding the state’s global reputation with Thieves Like Us in 1973. Those efforts include providing and marketing resources that encourage local filmmakers and international producers to tell their stories in the Magnolia State. Today, The Mississippi Film Office is a bureau of Visit Mississippi within the Mississippi Development Authority, and supports the tourism and economic development missions of those entities.

The Film Office is a key resource for productions seeking information on locations, vendors, crew and talent. They also support local workers by providing information on training, continuing education resources and outreach to connect locals to visiting productions. Filmmakers can also take advantage of The Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Program, a state initiative in the form of a cash rebate that encourages economic investment through filming projects in the state.

“The role of the Mississippi Film Office has always existed to support and encourage filmmakers and storytellers, both as a means of positively impacting the economy in communities across the state and creating jobs for Mississippians while also supporting the arts and culturally relevant storytelling,” said Mississippi Film Office Director Nina Parikh. “From up-and-coming talent to skilled vendors and trade workers, we are excited to continue supporting and connecting Mississippians to the global film community."

Since the first feature film A Gentleman from Mississippi (1914) was produced in Natchez, there have been over 200 feature films, 50 televisions productions and 60 documentaries made in Mississippi. These include highlights like Intruder in the Dust (1949), Baby Doll (1956), The Reivers (1969), Ode to Billy Joe (1976), Crossroads (1985), Mississippi Masala (1991), A Time to Kill (1996), My Dog Skip (2000), O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000), The Help (2011), The Card Counter (2021) and The Inspection (2022). Productions have impacted every corner of the state of Mississippi, most notably Canton, Natchez, the Jackson metro area, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Oxford and Laurel, where the ongoing TV series Home Town is produced.

BoardofDirectors

Michael Williams - President

Charlotte Magnussen - Executive Director

Chris Misun - Festival Director

Angella Baker - Treasurer

Kris Lee - Board Member

Gabe Smith - Board Member

Samuel Lawson - Board Member

Sarah Wadford - Board Member

Thomas Easterling - Board Member

Walker Harris - Board Member

CommitteeMembers andVolunteers

Gina Deason

Jadyn Anthony

Kourtney Henry

Hannah Vandie

Ferrell Baker

Evan Skoog

Dominique Lewis

Lily Grado

Audrey Cmar

Jameson Moyer

Rasheed Tatham

Aaron Lampley

Quincy Campbell

Jonathan Myers

Shamar Hunt

Abigail Brazzeal

MarketingandWeb

Website

Robert Ty Phillips

Graphics/Logo/Layouts

Chris Misun

Social Media Marketing (PRISM)

Lucy Trew

Derrick Lewis

Sydni Vandevender

Anna Wilkinson

SpecialThanks

Amitay Stern

Cindy Hodo

Scott Ferguson

Megan Hodges

Lisa Klutts

Jason McDonald

Michael Williams

Clark Richey

Robbie Fisher

Thomas Easterling

Michelle Easterling

Paisley Hamilton

Seth Parsley

Nina Parikh

Starkville Area Arts Council

City of Starkville

City of West Point

City of Columbus

Malco Theater

UEC Hollywood Premier Cinema

The Pop Porium

Magnolias at the Ritz

Black Prairie Blues Museum

StrangeBrew Coffee House

Mississippi Film Office

Mississippi Arts Commission

Mississippi Film Alliance

Greater Starkville Development Partnership

Cumulus Broadcasting

Holiday Inn Express

Dunkington's

The Grill of Starkville

Scotty's

Clark Beverages

Enterprise Rental

929 Coffee House

Spruill Property Management

TopScreeners

Thomas Easterling

Jonathan Hammond

Joshua Foreman

MAGNOLIAINDEPENDENT FILMFESTIVAL

UECHOLLYWOODPREMIERECINEMAS STARKVILLE,MS