Macon Film Festival: 2016 Award Winners

Seckeita Lewis' "Jerico" was crowned the Audience Award-winning Narrative
Feature at the 2016 Macon Film Festival.

The 2016 Macon Film Festival was a roaring success on all fronts. Kicking off with a Sundance Institute Short Film Master Class and a 30th anniversary screening of "Pretty in Pink" with special guest Andrew McCarthy, the 11th edition of the festival continued the trends of growth in attendance and maturity in programming.

The Jury and Audience Award winners have been released, with no film taking more than one prize. "Jasmine" won the Narrative Feature jury award, while Linda J. Brown's "You See Me" took home the Documentary jury prize. Georgia-lensed documentary "Hotel Clermont" was the audience's choice in the nonfiction lineup. "Jerico" won the Karen Black Audience Choice Award for Narrative Feature.

Check out the full list of winners after the jump.

Georgia Filmmakers Spotlight an Iconic Location and a Quirky Phenomenon in Documentaries "Hotel Clermont" (****) & "Eat White Dirt" (****½)

Tammy Wright, the primary subject of "Eat White Dirt."

One of the greatest appeals of a film festival is its ability to introduce audiences to stories from around the globe. And while I enjoy seeing the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong's nighttime streets and the breathtaking high-altitude views of the Himalayas on the big screen, there's something remarkably special about seeing a film that highlights the stories right in my backyard.

Two Georgia-lensed documentary shorts have been making waves among the southern film festival circuit: "Hotel Clermont" by Heather Hutson and "Eat White Dirt" by Adam Forrester. Both screened earlier this year at the Atlanta Film Festival and both came away with notable awards—"Hotel Clermont" won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short and "Eat White Dirt" won the Seed&Spark Jury Award. Although I missed their screenings in Atlanta back in April, I made sure to catch them this weekend during the Macon Film Festival's "Southern Stories" shorts block, and I'm so glad I did.

Macon Film Festival: Recapping the Sundance Institute Master Class

The Macon Film Festival welcomed us with open arms and kicked off the weekend with a Sundance Institute Short Film Master Class with Mike Plante and James Ponsoldt.

Plante, Sundance Short Films Senior Programmer, wove his tale to an eager crowd. Beginning his festival journey in 1993, he is no stranger to the inner workings of getting films into festivals, and he started with rule number one—'Don’t be a dick.' Simple enough, just treat every single person you meet along the way well. The positivity will read through the work and more people will sign on to help you make a great film.

"Legs: A Big Issue in a Small Town" Review - Macon Film Festival (**)

The titular, controversial sculpture of Sag Harbor, New York.

Four years before Angelina Jolie stunned the world on the 2012 Oscar Red Carpet with her bold, leggy pose, there was another pair of legs that caused quite a flurry of reactions and opinions. In 2008, eccentric art gallerists Janet Lehr and Ruth Vered erected a 16 foot tall, fiberglass sculpture of a pair of stocking-clad legs outside their home in the small, conservative town of Sag Harbor. Cue the controversy.

Macon Film Festival and Sundance Institute Join Forces for Short Film Master Class with James Ponsoldt & Mike Plante

The 11th annual Macon Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, July 21st and runs through Sunday, July 24th. Through a partnership with Sundance Institute, Middle Georgia's largest film organization is kickstarting this year's festivities with a high profile Master Class from acclaimed, Georgia-born filmmaker James Ponsoldt and long-time Sundance Short Film Programmer Mike Plante.

#GAfilm Review: "The 5th Wave" (**)

Editor's note: I'm happy to introduce a new contributor! Jamie Traner's perspective on films is every bit as unique as she is. I know readers will enjoy her articles, and what a better way to start than with a #GAfilm! -CM

Chloe Grace Moretz stars in "The 5th Wave."

Released last weekend, "The 5th Wave" stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson and Liev Schreiber. Filmed in Georgia, including some lovely scenery from the Macon area, "The 5th Wave" is based on the novel of the same name by Rick Yancey. The story revolves around a post-apocalyptic world run by alien-type beings known as 'Others.' The Earth has been attacked in the titled ‘waves’—1. a signal sent to short all electronics, 2. earthquakes and global tidal waves, 3. Avian flu, 4. the 'Others' inhabit human hosts and 5. an impending, unknown plan to eliminate the remaining humans.

#GAfilm Floods January Box Office

Ice Cube and Kevin Hart return to star in the Georgia-lensed "Ride Along 2."

#GAfilm has flooded the January box office. Two Georgia productions, "Dirty Grandpa" and "The Fifth Wave" made their debut this past weekend, opening in the fourth and sixth positions respectively. They join Atlanta-filmed "Ride Along 2,” which dropped to third place behind "The Revenant" and the record-breaking "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" after its #1 debut the weekend prior.

From downtown Atlanta to Tybee Island, filming for these three #GAfilm productions have taken place all throughout our Camera Ready state. Find out their specific filming locations below and stay tuned to the end for a list of upcoming #GAfilm releases!

10th Annual Macon Film Festival Kicks Off with "Mavis!" (****)

Mavis Staples stars as Mavis Staples in her documentary called "Mavis!" (Staples).

“I’ll stop singing when I have nothing left to say… and that ain’t gonna happen.” That’s our introduction to Mavis Staples in the Jessica Edwards' documentary “Mavis!” Mavis is a wildly compelling and gregarious 76-year-old with a voice that booms like thunder. The exclamation point that end caps the title of the film is so perfectly befitting—it’s a wonder she doesn’t simply spell her name that way; the title is screaming at you with a smile and a buoyancy that floats you through the film. Mavis is without a doubt, the living, breathing, heart-pumping definition of an exclamation point, radiating a charisma and earnestness so vivid and loud that it nearly knocks you out of your chair.

Macon Film Festival: 2015 Award Winners

Sara Casasnovas and Jesús Lloveras star in "Day Release (Tercer Grado),"
winner of Best Narrative Feature and Excellence in Directing awards.

The tenth anniversary of the Macon Film Festival saw its most high profile guest yet (Burt Reynolds), its highest attendance yet and—in the honest opinion of this annual attendee and film critic—its best programming yet. While special screenings of "Deliverance," "Sharky's Machine," "Slow West" and opening night presentation "Mavis!" have garnered the most attention, the entire lineup is glittered with exceptional films across the board.

Several selections won two awards—"Jinxy Jenkins, Lucky Lou" took home the Best Animated Short and Excellence in Editing awards, "Forced Contact" was awarded both Best LGBT Short and Excellence in Cinematography honors, and "Day Release (Tercer Grado)" received awards for Best Narrative Feature and Excellence in Directing.

The festival wraps up today and Audience Award winners will be announced tonight. Check out the complete list of winners after the jump.

Georgia Icon Burt Reynolds Leads a Pack of Filmmakers Heading to 2015 Macon Film Festival

Burt Reynolds in his Academy Award-nominated role in "Boogie Nights."

Georgia-born film legend Burt Reynolds has been announced as a special guest of the 10th annual Macon Film Festival, taking place Thursday July 16 through Sunday July 19. Despite being born in Waycross, Reynolds was raised mostly in Michigan, Missouri and Florida. One of the biggest box office draws of the 1970s and 80s, Reynolds made it a point to return to his home state to film several of his hit films, including "The Cannonball Run," "Deliverance," "Gator," "The Longest Yard," "Sharky's Machine," "Six Pack," "Smokey and the Bandit," "Smokey and the Bandit II" and "Stroker Ace."

2015 Macon Film Festival Complete Lineup Revealed

This year's Macon Film Festival is bound to be the biggest event yet. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Macon announced last year that it would move the four-day event from February to July, coinciding with the city's annual Bragg-Jam Music Festival—creating a ten-day mega event in downtown Macon.

Kicking off our annual coverage of middle Georgia's premiere film event, we are pleased to showcase the entire lineup! Several great films are to be showcased this year, including many Georgia features and shorts, several films that also played the 2015 Atlanta Film Festival ("Divided Time," "Frame by Frame," "Old South," "Wildlike") and some very special presentations to be attended by #GAfilm icon Burt Reynolds.

OPENING NIGHT:

MAVIS!

USA (Director: Jessica Edwards) – Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers inspired millions and helped propel the civil rights movement with their music. After 60 years of performing, legendary singer Mavis Staples' message of love and equality is needed now more than ever.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

Special Screening of DELIVERANCE (1972) 

USA (Director: John Boorman) – Burt Reynolds scheduled to attend a Q&A following the screening of this iconic Georgia film. 

HOW SWEET THE SOUND: BLIND BOYS FROM ALABAMA
USA (Director: Leslie McCleave) – Directed and Produced by Leslie McCleave Filmed over the course of ten years, How Sweet the Sound tells the story of The Blind Boys of Alabama. They met as children in the 1930’s at a state-run segregated vocational school and would become one of the last great gospel quartets, traversing the famed “gospel highway” and beyond. As the surviving band members recount their unlikely success story, we see a rare, frank view of life on and off the road with these renowned performers, now in their 70’s and 80’s.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK!
USA (Director: Bao Nguyen) – "Saturday Night Live" has been reflecting and influencing life in the United States for 40 years. Live From New York! goes deep inside this cultural phenomenon exploring the laughter that pulses through American politics, tragedy and popular culture.

Special Screening of SHARKY’S MACHINE (1981) 

USA (Director: Burt Reynolds) – Reynolds scheduled to attend a Q&A following this Closing Night screening. 

SLOW WEST

United Kingdom/New Zealand (Director: John Maclean) – "Slow West" follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by mysterious traveler Silas. The film stars Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

WESTERN
USA (Director: Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross) – For generations, all that distinguished Eagle Pass, TX, from Piedras Negras, MX, was the Rio Grande. But when darkness descends upon these harmonious border towns, a cowboy and lawman face a new reality that threatens their way of life.

Call for Entries Open for Macon Film Festival

Earlier this year, the Macon Film Festival announced it would move from February to July for it's 10th annual festival in 2015. The move is in collaboration with the Bragg Jam Music, Arts and Kids Festival. Together, the two fests will form a 10-day event in downtown Macon, celebrating the best of the city's vibrant arts community.

Along with the new dates, new submissions dates are also in place. The Early Bird deadline closes on Monday, November 17th with the regular deadline closing in two months, on January 12th, 2015. Click here to learn more about submitting your film.

The 2015 Macon Film Festival takes place July 16-19, 2015 and features $13,000 in prize money across several different short film and feature film categories. The Macon Film Festival has quickly made a huge impression on Georgia's film festival circuit. This move to July will only further solidify the festival's unique presence.

Macon Review: "Muscle Shoals" (****)

Keith Richards is featured in "Muscle Shoals"

Recent scientific research has shown that it is impossible to keep still during the first ten minutes of "Muscle Shoals." Moments after Bono's opening lines echo across the stunning colors and textures of northwestern Alabama's verdant riverbanks, Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1,000 Dances" kicks in and you can't help but shake loose. It is immediately clear just how much soul this film possesses, having gleaned character and zeal from its many revered subjects.

"Deep down in your stomach, coming out of your gut. That's that Muscle Shoals sound." —Candi Staton

Having first seen "Muscle Shoals" at the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham last summer—appropriately showcased at the Alabama Theatre—I was excited to hear that the film was also the opening night selection for the 2014 Macon Film Festival. Macon—although much larger of a city and with a less musically synonymous name than Muscle Shoals—has a rich and diverse musical history, even claiming home to Georgia's Music Hall of Fame. I knew the crowd in Macon would love "Muscle Shoals," and I was right. In the Q&A following the film, I can't tell you how many times an audience member (or one of the moderators) tried to cajole director Freddy Camalier into making a follow-up film about Macon. I guess it could work—he already has Gregg Allman's contact information.

Is "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" the most star-studded Georgia production ever?

Will Ferrell on the set of "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" at
Woodruff Park in Atlanta. Photo: Skip Hammerman

Making use of Georgia's incredible settings and fiscal resources for nearly two months now, Adam McKay's sequel to comedy mega-hit "Anchorman" is still filming in Atlanta. "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" sees Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner all return to reprise their roles and welcomes new cast members like Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Harrison Ford and Meagan Good.

One of the big stories out of this film isn't the main cast, but the slew of huge stars that have been roped in to shooting cameos for the film. Jim Carrey, Sasha Baron Cohen, Kirsten Dunst, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Nicole Kidman, Amy Poehler, John C. Reilly, Vince Vaughn and Kanye West have all been spotted in Atlanta in recent weeks filming their scenes. Rumor has it that Will Smith will also appear. In their downtime, some of the celebrities have been spotted enjoying the city at spots like Ecco and the Park 75 Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel on 14th Street. Baron Cohen, Fey, Marsden, Neeson, Poehler, Reilly and Rudd were all spotted having a drink together at the Park 75 on Monday night. Most of these cameos have been filmed in Woodruff Park in Downtown Atlanta this past week, but recent shooting has taken place all over town as well as in and around Glynn County on the Georgia coast. Ferrell and company spent a few days filming at the St. Simons Island pier.

"Anchorman: The Legend Continues" promises to be one of the year's biggest hits and will hit cinema screens in December, shortly after another Georgia-lensed future blockbuster, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Before "Anchorman" brought dozens of stars into town, "Catching Fire" might have been the most star-studded Georgia production to date. That film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrellson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Jena Malone, Sam Claflin and Stanley Tucci. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is currently back in Atlanta completing reshoots.

Georgia's television boom also continues. Currently, "The Walking Dead" is shooting in Senoia, "Being Mary Jane" is shooting at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta and "Necessary Roughness" is filming in Atlanta (including shoots at Lenox Mall and the W Midtown).

After her recent arrest, Reese Witherspoon has resumed work on her film "The Good Lie" in Atlanta. The Philippe Falardeau film also stars Corey Stoll and Arnold Oceng. Shooting has taken place all over town, from Marietta Street to Cheshire Bridge Road and Woodland Avenue.

"A Friggin' Christmas Miracle" is also still filming in Atlanta. Robin Williams, Lauren Graham, Joel McHale, Oliver Platt and Candice Bergen star in the holiday themed comedy from director Tristram Shapeero. Some shooting has taken place in Stone Mountain.

Atlanta isn't the only Georgia city seeing stars, however. "Need for Speed" has been filming all over Macon in recent weeks, including many of the city's signature downtown avenues. The Scott Waugh film stars Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Dakota Johnson, Michael Keaton, Imogen Poots, Ramon Rodriguez and Kid Cudi. Shooting will also take place in Rome next month.

So what productions will kick off next in the Empire State of the South? "Solace," starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Abbie Cornish and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as well as "Million Dollar Arm," starring Jon Hamm, Alan Arkin and Suraj Sharma. Both films are set to begin production later this month. Producer Mark Joseph has also been touring Georgia recently, scouting locations for a planned Ronald Reagan biopic. Georgia's lustrous film community is working hard to lure the production away from the original plans to shoot in North Carolina. Two films are set to film at Lake Lanier this summer—Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore will film their new romantic comedy, "Blended," for Warner Brothers and a remake of "Endless Love" is in the works for Universal Studios. More information on those two films to come.

Review: "42" (***½)

Harrison Ford and Nicole Beharie star in "42"

Sharing movie houses with expanding arthouse hits like "The Place Beyond the Pines," "Trance" and "To the Wonder," baseball biopic "42" might not be the most visually striking or thought-provoking film worthy of a Friday night at the cinema this month. The film is exactly what it aims to be, however—a crowd-pleaser with mass appeal. Writer-director Brian Helgeland has a successful past as a screenwriter, winning an Oscar for "L.A. Confidential" and earning a second nomination for "Mystic River." As a director, his most successful film to date is "A Knight's Tale," a lightweight but stylish starring vehicle for the late Heath Ledger. "42" is a handsome film that, while failing to reinvent the inspirational sports film genre, makes for a well spent two hours looking at one of baseball's most important historical figures.

Scott Waugh's "Need for Speed" to film in Macon, Rome

The cast of "Need for Speed" clockwise from top left: Aaron Paul, Dakota Johnson,
Ramon Rodriguez, Michael Keaton, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots

Director Scott Waugh's adaptation of the popular video game franchise "Need for Speed" will begin filming in Macon in mid-April. The project's screenwriter, John Gatins, mentioned the possibility of the film shooting in Georgia last fall when he was in Savannah promoting another Georgia production, "Flight." Gatins accepted the Savannah Film Festival Spotlight Award for his work on "Flight" and had great things to say about working in Georgia. Two hundred cast and crew members are expected to travel to Macon for the production.

Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Dakota Johnson, Michael Keaton, Imogen Poots, Ramon Rodriguez, Kid Cudi and Rami Malek comprise the principal cast of the film. Location scouting has taken place throughout downtown Macon and it is expected that casting calls for extras will occur closer to production kickoff. 

Recent projects to film in Macon include the Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake baseball hit, "Trouble with the Curve," and upcoming Jackie Robinson biopic, "42," which will be released next month.

Filming will also take place in Rome at the Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery in June.

Around town for the 2013 Macon Film Festival

The Cox Capitol Theatre marquee.

The 8th annual Macon Film Festival wrapped up a couple of weeks ago and while I have a few more reviews to go before I wrap up my coverage, I did manage to snap a few iPhone pics. As always, I need to state that I am no photographer, but I hope my photos give you a good sense of the festival and the town during the four-day event. A lot of great eateries and hangouts get pretty lively with the extra folks in town. Check out my pictures after the jump!

Star spotting 03/03: Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, Keke Palmer

"Anchorman: The Legend Continues" is about to begin filming in Atlanta. Director Adam McKay's sequel stars Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, James Marsden, Christina Applegate and David Koechner. The professional funny people have all been spotted eating and enjoying time out on the town. Restaurants like Barcelona Atlanta, Cypress Street Pint & Plate and Two Urban Licks have already been frequented by various cast members and Wiig was spotted at a spa inside the Loews in Midtown. This coming Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (March 5th & 6th), Peachtree Street south of 14th Street will be closed in segments for filming.

"Prisoners" has been filming in Conyers, Atlanta and Tucker for the past several weeks. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo Paul Dano, Maria Bello and Terrence Howard. The stars have been spotted all over town recently. The film, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is slated for a September release.

"The Vampire Diaries" has been a staple of Atlanta's television community for the last several years. In-studio shooting is currently underway in Decatur.

Marc Cherry, creator of "Desperate Housewives," has been in town filming his latest show, "Devious Maids." Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sánchez and Susan Lucci all star in the Lifetime series. Most recently, the show has been shooting on location off of Mt. Paran Road in Atlanta.

Upcoming BET show "Being Mary Jane" has also been filming in Atlanta. Gabrielle Union and Robinne Lee star. Lee recently attended the Macon Film Festival for her film "Miss Dial."

VH1 recently announced plans for a TLC biopic. The movie, currently titled "Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story" will be directed by Charles Stone III and has cast Keke Palmer as Chilli (Rozonda Thomas), Drew Sidora as T-Boz (Tionne Watkins) and Lil Mama as Left Eye (Lisa Lopes). CL  Casting is issuing casting calls as needed. Production begins this month in Atlanta.

What to see at the 2013 Macon Film Festival

The first leg of Georgia's film festival circuit is about to kick off with the always robust Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. But after the AJFF begins and before it ends, another Georgia gem will take place. The 8th annual Macon Film Festival (MaGa) will run from February 14th through the 17th, just three weeks away! I saw some good films, met some fun people, ate some delicious food and took many great walks around town last February and look forward to getting to do it all over again this year.

The Macon Film Festival is similar to the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) in both age and size, although I can see the big dreams and ambitions of the MaGa board propelling the fest into the reach of a broader audience within the next few years. This year, several documentaries and features look promising and the festival always offers a wide variety of short films worth looking into. The special gala presentations (one each night) are still being announced, but they usually bring one or two stars into town. Last year, veteran character actress Beth Grant ("The Artist," "Donnie Darko," "No Country for Old Men") and Macon native Carrie Preston ("Duplicity," "That's What She Said," "True Blood") showcased some of their work.

After the jump, I've highlighted several films worth checking out. A few films have played at other festivals, including both RIFF and the Atlanta Film Festival, while others are fresh out of the editing room.

Review: "Trouble with the Curve" (****)

John Goodman, Amy Adams and Clint Eastwood star in "Trouble with the Curve"

Some of the productions that I report on here may shoot in several different states; some using Georgia to double as wherever else they need it to. I delight in the fact that "Trouble with the Curve" is set in and was shot exclusively in my state. Georgia dutifully plays the part of Western North Carolina for some of the story's elements, but without a doubt, this is a Georgia film. Athens, Atlanta, Dawsonville, Decatur, Dunwoody, Jasper, Macon and Young Harris all serve as backdrops for this charming father-daughter tale set in the world of baseball recruiting.