July in Macon, Georgia is gonna be Hotter Than Hell.
BE COOL: go to the 2016 Macon Film Festival. Four days of movies, celebrity guests, special screenings, filmmaking workshops and legendary after parties throughout the festival weekend, July 21-24. The AC will be pumping in all the venues. So chill out and enjoy the show.
Named one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals by Moviemaker Magazine, Macon Film Festival is known as the “Friendliest Film Festival” by filmmakers far and wide. The festival screens independent films that you can’t see in theatres, including narrative shorts, narrative feature, documentary, Southern documentary, music documentary, LGBT & student shorts.
61 films in competition, 5 spotlight films, 4 special screenings, 3 after parties, and 4 free workshops including a master class in short films will be held at 8 venues located within 3 walkable blocks in downtown Macon at this year’s festival.
The 2016 festival opens with a FREE Short Film Master Class presented by the Sundance Institute on Thursday, July 21. This educational workshop features real world advice from Sundance Short Film Programmer, Mike Plante, and acclaimed film director, James Ponsoldt. The discussion will guide attendees on how to get the most out of resources to make a successful short film within development and production, and how to navigate the film festival world after its finished. This is an AMAZING opportunity for filmmakers. It’s free, but registration is required. Space is limited so register today. Click HERE to register.
Location: Theatre Macon, 483 Cherry Street, Macon, Georgia 31201
Event Times:
11:30am – Check in
12pm – Sundance Film Festival Short Program Overview
1:45pm – Short Film Screening
2:30pm – Discussion with filmmaker, James Ponsoldt
4pm – Reception
Three other filmmaking workshops throughout the weekend are free and open to the public. Filmmaking in Georgia is now a $6.1 billion industry. Attend the workshops and learn how you can get involved. I will be moderating one of the workshops “Billion Dollar Baby: Georgia Film Industry” sponsored by the Macon Film Commission. This panel will focus on the current Georgia Film Industry and how you can get involved. The discussion will include film education, the current film & TV tax incentive, how communities can benefit from the film industry, in-demand industry jobs and the importance of film festivals.
Panelists are: Alison Fibben – Project Manager at Georgia Film Office, Clark Cofer – Co-President of Georgia Production Partnership, Elliott Dunwody – Owner of Bright Blue Sky Productions & Macon Film Commissioner, Jeffrey Stepakoff – Executive Director of Georgia Film Academy, Jeremiah Bennett – Film & TV Producer at Glass Door Studios & President of Milledgeville Film Festival, LaRonda Sutton – Owner/Principal at Film City; Former Director of the Mayor’s Office of Entertainment for the City of Atlanta, and Shelbia Jackson – Project Coordinator & Georgia Film Liaison for Dekalb County. This panel is Friday, July 22. 1pm at The Tubman Museum, 310 Cherry Street, Macon Georgia 31201.
The Opening Night special screening on Thursday, July 21, is the 80s Brat Pack classic PRETTY IN PINK with special guest Andrew McCarthy. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the film which written and produced by the high priest of ’80s teen movies, the late John Hughes. A Q&A with Mr. McCarthy, who is currently directing the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black” as well as being a celebrated travel writer, will begin at 6:00pm precedes the screening.
Friday, July 22, is THE END OF THE TOUR, directed by James Ponsoldt, is the story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel). Before the screening, Mr. Ponsoldt will be conducting the Sundance Master Class.
Saturday, July 23, is MY BLIND BROTHER, with special guest Charlie Hewson, is a relationship comedy, written and directed by Sophie Goodhart, starring Adam Scott, Nick Kroll & Jenny Slate. Mr. Hewson will conduct a Q&A following the screening.
Sunday, July 24, is MORRIS FROM AMERICA, written and directed by Chad Hartigan, is a delightfully original take on growing up, following your dreams, and finding your voice. Starring Markees Christmas and Craig Robinson, the film won two prizes at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
This year’s hip & historic party venues are Travis Jean, The SoChi Gallery and 419 Cherry Street. Entrance requires an All-Access Pass or the Opening Night Pass.
Festival HQ, located at , will be open July 18-25. Come by and say hey, ask questions or buy some merch.