Macon Review bundle: "Desires of the Heart" (**½), "Brothers Hypnotic" (****), "A Fragile Trust" (****½)

Val Lauren and Alicia Minshew star in "Desires of the Heart"

"Desires of the Heart"

Shot on location in Savannah and India, this is director James Kicklighter’s first feature length narrative. The story follows Kris Sharma (Val Lauren) as he navigates his identity in family and in love. His encounter with Madeline (Alicia Minshew) challenges what he thought he knew about himself and, ultimately, destiny. The screenplay, which Kicklighter describes as having been 'rewritten every day,' seems like it was; I’d like to think the performances would have been better should the actors been provided a less pliable script. While the photography only ever aids very genuine emotion, the sound editing and film length leave me excited—generously stated—to partake in Kicklighter’s next, new and improved venture.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

Reviews for "Brothers Hypnotic" and "A Fragile Trust" after the jump.

What to see at the 2014 Macon Film Festival

Middle Georgia's premiere film event gets ready to kick off its ninth year of festivities with film screenings, workshops, celebrity guests, after parties—and of course, its signature drink, the Magatini.

The 9th Annual Macon Film Festival happens this week, kicking off Thursday, February 27th and running through Sunday, March 2nd! I'm excited to say this will be my third year in attendance; Macon having become one of my year's biggest highlights.

The Macon Film Festival is an excellent display of community—both in terms of local arts fans and filmmakers alike. This year's events look to be their most high profile yet. Not only are several filmmakers scheduled to attend, but Matthew Modine—award-winning actor of film, television and stage—will be honored Saturday, March 1st with a 30th anniversary screening of "Birdy."

Music documentaries have a bright spotlight at this year's festival, with "Muscle Shoals" opening the fest and a handful of other selections dotting the lineup. Georgia productions are front-and-center as well, with "Brother's Keeper," "Congratulations!," "Desires of the Heart" and "The Space Jockey Pursuit" being just a few of the locally produced selections. As usual, documentaries account for some of the festival's most promising selections. "Brothers Hypnotic" and "A Fragile Trust" were both recently announced as selections for the 2014 Atlanta Film Festival as well, with the former having won the Documentary Jury Prize at the Savannah Film Festival last year.

There are plenty of great films to check out at this year's festival, in addition to some awesome conferences and panels held throughout the long weekend. After the jump, we've highlighted eleven features and four short films worth checking out!

Macon Film Festival releases 2014 Narrative, Student and Music lineup

The 9th Annual Macon Film Festival doesn't start for just under eight weeks, but preparations are well underway in central Georgia. Last week, the festival released the Documentary and Animation lineups. Now, the entire lineup has been revealed, including the Narrative Features, Narrative Shorts, Student Shorts, Music Videos and Music Documentaries.

Several selections are familiar to the Georgia circuit. Mike Brune's "Congratulations!" is one of my favorite Georgia indie films of all time and screened last year at the Atlanta Film Festival and the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham. "Desires of the Heart" comes from frequent MAGA filmmaker James Kicklighter. "Brothers Hypnotic" and "Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin n Cryin" have played to much success at the Savannah Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival, respectively.

MAGA kicks off on February 27th and runs through March 2nd. Georgia Film Critics Association Best Documentary nominee, "Muscle Shoals," will feature as one of the festival's special screenings. The other three (one per night) have yet to be announced.

Check out this year's films after the jump. More information can be found at www.maconfilmfestival.com. Buy your tickets and passes now.