Potpourri of film stuff

The Mississippi Film Office has a bunch of info here -- some of it very cool. Thanks to Johnny McPhail for passing it along:



FILMMAKER GRANTS AVAILABLE

The Mississippi Film and Video Alliance announces that it is again offering Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Grants up to $2500 each to support the production of new work by Mississippi film and video artists.

The Mississippi Film and Video Alliance, a 501(C) (3), not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering indigenous Mississippi filmmaking began the Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Program in 2002 with the generous support of the Mississippi Film Office. The purpose of the program is to help develop the next generation in Mississippi’s film/video artists and continue Mississippi’s legacy of great storytelling.

Since 2002, the Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Program has provided $30,000 to fund 14 separate projects by Mississippi filmmakers. Funded films include experimental, narrative and documentary projects in both film and video. The 14 films completed under the Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Program have been screened by the MFVA at public events, which include a reception honoring the filmmakers, and at numerous festivals in Mississippi and elsewhere across the United States.

Filmmakers receiving funding are required to match, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of the grant funds in either cash or in-kind contributions, such as equipment or production services. They must also complete their projects within one year of the grant and provide a copy to MFVA for their archives. MFVA encourages the filmmakers to fill cast and crew positions with Mississippi residents and to produce their project in Mississippi.

Individuals interested in applying may download pdf versions of Application Forms and Grant Instructions from the MFVA web site at: http://msfilmvideoalliance.com or send a stamped self addressed envelope to Mississippi Film and Video Alliance, P.O. Box 17093, Hattiesburg, MS 39404. The applications must be received by November 1, 2006 with the awards to be announced not later than January 1, 2007
For more information contact:


dixon.mcdowell@mac.com

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Millsaps College Southern Circuit Film Series begins on Monday, September 18!
http://www.millsaps.edu/classics/scfs.shtml

Millsaps College hosts the only Mississippi site for the Southern Circuit Film Series.
Join us as six innovative independent filmmakers screen and discuss their films this season.
All films show on Mondays at 7:30 pm in
Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex, room 215 on the Millsaps College campus
with a Q & A session to follow.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Sept. 18 -- Learning to Swallow
Filmmaker Danielle Beverly (in person)
Everyone knows an "It Girl" -- the one who starts the party, doesn't want it to stop, wants it all. This riveting documentary follows Patsy, a charismatic artist with bipolar disorder, as she struggles to rebuild her life after a suicide attempt destroys her digestive system. The film documents her rocky quest for redemption as she tries to come to terms with her family, her condition, herself -- only to rediscover her creative voice along the way.
Film Web Site


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DEADLINE EXTENDED!

CALL TO ARTISTS!!!! 2007 RUMA AWARD ARTWORK for Crossroads Film Festival

The Crossroads Film Festival is going into its 8th year and celebrates filmmaking in all its forms and diversity.

Crossroads Film Festival is seeking submissions from Mississippi artists for the 2007 Ruma Award artwork. The Ruma Award is given to the most promising Mississippi filmmaker each year, in memory of past vice-president, Ruma Haque.

The artwork will be used in the production of tshirts, posters, and other print materials. The winning Mississippi filmmaker will receive the original artwork.

Artists interested in submitting work should send a simple color sketch on 8x11 paper with a brief description of medium to be used and other elements that might not be easily recognized in a sketch. Please use the following idea as a guideline/theme :

Think retro-educational film (**about Crossroads**) meets classic movie poster.

The chosen artist's work will gain wide exposure throughout the south and through the Crossroads website, and the artist will receive $500. To find out more about Crossroads Film Festival, please visit www.crossroadsfilmfest.com

Please send all submissions to: Crossroads Film Festival P.O. Box 22604 Jackson, MS 39225

The deadline for submissions is September 20, 2006.

If you need additional information, please contact Jason Marlow at jason@atlihs.com.



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Save the date for the first REEL SOUTH FILM FESTIVAL in Hattiesburg, MS!

September 28, 29, and 30th!

Visit the website for details: http://www.reelsouthfilmfest.com/index.html



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Also, save the date for the official screening of the Mississippi Film and Video Alliance Emerging Filmmakers 2006 grant films.

The screening will take place in Jackson at New Stage Theatre the evening of Saturday, September 30, 2006.

Details to follow.

If you have immediate questions, please email Eric Glatzer: EGlatzerL@aol.com


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The new Malco Grandview Theatre in Madison will be showing the best of independent and arthouse films this fall. Every Friday, they will open a new film for at least a week-long run. Here's the upcoming schedule:
Sept. 15 STRANGERS WITH CANDY
Sept. 22 WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?
Sept. 29 QUINCEANA
Oct. 6 WORDPLAY
Oct. 13 THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP

For additional information, please email comment@malco.com


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WHAT IS THE NATIONAL FILM CHALLENGE?

It's your chance to stop talking and start filming! The premise? Filmmaking
teams have just one weekend to make a short film. All creativity - writing,
shooting, editing and adding a musical soundtrack - must occur beginning
Friday evening at 7 p.m. on October 20, 2006 and ending Monday October 23,
2006. On Friday, to make things interesting, each team is emailed a genre
for its film, and a character, prop and line of dialogue that must appear in
each team's movie. Then the film must be sent to National Film Challenge
Headquarters with a postmark no later than Monday, October 23. In the
following weeks the top films (determined by a panel of judges) will be
available for viewing (and voting!) on our website (www.filmchallenge.org).
There will be two big winners this year - The Judges Winner and The Audience
Award Winner (determined by the online voting.) Both films will screen with
the 48 Hour Film Project City Winners at this year's 48 Hour Film Project
end of year event (TBD.) In addition there will be cash prizes for the
winning films!

HOW DO I SIGN UP MY TEAM?

Starting SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 you will be able to register your team at
www.filmchallenge.org. This is going to be the largest Film Challenge ever -
250 teams will be selected to compete this year! Registration is on a first
come first served basis. The Early Bird Entry Fee is $110 if you register on
or before September 20, 2006 and $125 if you register between September 21,
2006 and October 29, 2006. Teams can be anywhere from 1 person to 30 or more
people. Read all of the rules of the contest here:
www.filmchallenge.org/rules.htm

The first 50 teams to register will receive a free Best of the 2005 National
Film Challenge DVD!

Do you have any questions about the National Film Challenge? Please check
our FAQ and then use our Bulletin Board to post questions you need answered:
www.filmchallenge.org/faq.htm

The National Film Challenge is produced by KDHX, Community Media for Saint
Louis, MO. www.kdhxtv.org and www.kdhx.org


Jackson, Miss.-based company, Commarts, is looking for someone with Final Cut Pro editing and AfterEffects graphics experience to fill a full-time position. All-around experience in videography is also a plus.

Over the course of 29 years, the Commarts team of designers, writers, producers, researchers, and technical specialists has designed and produced projects for every communications format.

For more information, please contact Jeanne Luckett: 601.982.9820; jluck@commarts.net