The Short Circuit: 2015 GSU Student Film Festival Jury Selections Screen at the High Museum of Art

GSUFF sign outside the Hill Auditorium.

Last Thursday, twelve jury selected student films screened at the annual GSU Student Film Festival (GSUFF) at the renowned High Museum of Art. These films were selected from over sixty submitted works produced in Georgia State University media production courses during the past academic year. Yours truly was in attendance to give you a look into a night of exciting student films.

A wide variety of works were represented throughout the night, with films ranging from documentaries on music and dance to stop motion animation and experimental films. Parents seem to be an inspiration among this year's filmmakers with films such as "Dad," "Mom," and "Emilio" portraying the struggles and lives of caregivers. While some films stood out through breathtaking cinematography and film editing, others got lost in the crowd. But as a whole, I was thoroughly impressed with the programming of the night.

Get Passes to a Free Screening of "Far From the Madding Crowd" in Atlanta!

On Tuesday, April 28th in Atlanta, the Atlanta Film Festival is hosting a free advanced screening of Thomas Vinterberg's "Far From the Madding Crowd," starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen and Tom Sturridge.

Get your free passes below!

Savannah Film Festival Adds Screening of "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me" With Special Guests

The Savannah Film Festival has added a special screening of the documentary "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me." The film aptly premiered at the Nashville Film Festival back in April and played a few other festivals before opening in New York City this past weekend.

The country music legend's struggle with Alzheimer's disease has been no secret. The film centers around his farewell tour throughout the United States, Australia and Europe. Director/producer James Keach will be in attendance alongside Jane Seymour, who also served as a producer. Glen Campbell's wife Kim Campbell will also be present.

"Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me" plays Saturday, November 1st at 4 PM at the SCAD Museum of Art. 

Get free tickets to "A Will for the Woods" at Atlanta's Plaza Theatre!

Telluride's Mountainfilm festival has become a spectacular event, even going as far to franchise out across the country with various Mountainfilm On Tour segments. Last September, the Atlanta Film Festival hosted Mountainfilm On Tour ATL at The Plaza Theatre. This weekend, it returns to Atlanta's 75-year-old movie house. The festival officially kicks off Friday night and runs through Saturday, but Thursday night, ATLFF presents a Best of Fest screening of "A Will for the Woods."

Click here for free tickets to a screening of "A Will for the Woods" this Thursday, August 21 at 7:30 PM at The Plaza Theatre. Select 'Non-Guaranteed Standby Ticket' and get there early enough to make sure you get your seat (after paid ticket-holders).

The documentary, directed by Amy Browne, Jeremy Kaplan, Tony Hale and Brian Wilson played at ATLFF back in April. Musician, folk dancer and psychiatrist Clark Wang battles lymphoma while facing a potentially imminent need for funeral plans. Determined that his last act will not harm the environment -- and, hopefully, help protect it -- Clark has discovered the movement to further sustainable funerals that conserve natural areas. "A Will for the Woods" is an immersive, life-affirming depiction of people coming to terms with mortality by embracing their connection to timeless natural cycles.

Review: "Last Stop, Flamingo" (****½)

A scene from Georg Koszulinski's "Last Stop, Flamingo"

Few American states produce as distinctive an image in the world's collective mind as Florida. Texas, yes. Hawaii, yes. California, yes—but perhaps a few different images correlating to the different regions. Florida, definitely—the sunshine state, palm trees, white sands, beach bodies, South Beach, and so on. It's these exact images that filmmaker Georg Koszulinski steers clear of in "Last Stop, Flamingo"—without making the audience feel as if he has actively avoided them. Of course, plenty of archival footage of decades-old Florida ad campaigns and sweet diary-like vignettes from Koszulinski offer glimpses of the white sands, skylines and beach fun that you expect from anything Florida. Thankfully, though, the film offers a much more unique vantage point—acting as a View-Master to the reel of Florida's most forgotten, most eccentric and most personal histories.

Win free passes to see "Boyhood" in Atlanta!

Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane star in "Boyhood"

Already one of the biggest critical hits of the year, Richard Linklater's latest film, "Boyhood," took him twelve years to film. Essentially following a single boy as he comes of age on screen, the same principle actors are featured aging and progressing in such a way that the film blurs the lines between fiction and non-fiction. This film could be a very big awards player, come Oscar time.

The film opened in limited release on July 11th and has been doing very well. It is scheduled to open in Atlanta on Friday, August 1st, but we have six pairs of tickets to give away for an advance screening held at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema on Tuesday, July 29th at 7:00 PM.

It is easy to enter! Just Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter, then Share and Tweet and you've been entered to win! The contest comes to a close on Friday, July 25th at 12:00 PM. These are physical, paper passes, so if you are selected as one of the winners, we will notify you by email and request a mailing address. Your passes should arrive no later than Monday, July 28th. 

Happy 75th birthday to Atlanta's Plaza Theatre!

With many ups-and-downs, The Plaza has had an interesting 75 years.

Atlanta's oldest continually operating movie theater, The Plaza, is now synonymous with quality programing, the local indie film scene and the Atlanta Film Festival. However, three-quarters-of-a-century ago, it was one of many movie houses in a city full of beautiful marquees. Having outlasted all the others—going through many different transformations in the process—The Plaza turns 75 years-old this coming week and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate!

Recently named one of the 20 best movie theaters in the world by Men's Journal, The Plaza is celebrating in style with a 10-day film series. Kicking off the festivities is an extremely rare presentation of "Star Wars" on Friday, July 18th at 8:00 PM. Other classic films playing throughout the week include "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Ninotchka," "Stagecoach" and more.

Don't miss your chance to celebrate! Check out the full schedule after the jump.

Atlanta's Homespun Series— Striking local docs to screen at The Plaza tonight

Back in November, Atlanta filmmakers Jon Watts and Brantly Watts launched Homespun Series—a curated local documentary collection that focuses on the most interesting individuals in Metro Atlanta. The first crop of films highlighted a local artist, a local father-son clockmaking duo and a local female boxer.

In March, Lucy had a conversation with co-founder Brantly Watts, breaking down the basics about Homespun—from its conception, to the first response and their future goals. Homespun aims to be not only of artistic value to the city, but also a resource for local filmmaking talent.

Tonight, the series returns to The Plaza with three new films from local filmmakers. One of the films, Nathan Honnold's "Thomas Bennett," won the Documentary Short Jury Prize at this year's Atlanta Film Festival. The other two films, "Adrian" and "Tommy," were directed by John Merizalde and focus on people on the outskirts of Atlanta's mainstream society.

Get passes to a free screening of "I Origins" in Atlanta!

The Atlanta Film Festival is giving away first come, first serve passes to a free screening of Sundance hit "I Origins" on Tuesday, July 15th at 7:30 PM at Atlanta's famed Plaza Theatre. You better have fast fingers! Click here to learn more and RSVP!

"I Origins,"  the second feature film from writer and director Mike Cahill, tells the story of Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt), a molecular biologist studying the evolution of the eye. He finds his work permeating his life after a brief encounter with an exotic young woman (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) who slips away from him. As his research continues years later with his lab partner Karen (Brit Marling), they make a stunning scientific discovery that has far reaching implications and complicates both his scientific and spiritual beliefs. Traveling half way around the world, he risks everything he has every known to validate his theory.

Cahill and Marling's last outing, "Another Earth," went on to receive several Georgia Film Critics nominations.

Get passes to a free screening of "Draft Day" in Atlanta

Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner star in "Draft Day"

How about a free night out at the movies this Thursday, March 6th? The Atlanta Film Festival is giving away free passes to see "Draft Day" at The Plaza Theatre, along with special previews of 2014 ATLFF films, pass giveaways and more!

The film starts at 7:30 PM, but come early to see trailers, win MovieHopper cards for this year's festival and hear from festival programmers about what to look forward to.

Directed by Ivan Reitman, "Draft Day" stars an all-star cast of Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Frank Langella, Tom Welling, Joe Manganiello, Chadwick Boseman, Rosanna Arquette, Sam Elliott, Terry Crews, Denis Leary, Chi McBride, Sean Combs, Josh Pence and Ellen Burstyn. The film follows the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns as he struggles to acquire the number one draft pick for his team.

The film opens April 11th nationwide, just in time for audiences to get amped up for the NFL's real draft day which begins on May 8th. See the Gofobo code and get your passes after the jump!

The V.H.S. Film Festival is open for submissions!

Short for "Videographer's Hella-Big Short," the V.H.S. Film Festival has been giving amateur, aspiring and professional filmmakers a chance to showcase their original work on the big screen in Athens for several years.

Submissions are now open! You must submit your film by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 14th to be eligible. The next festival will be held March 27th at Ciné Athens. 

Atlanta's Homespun Series— Local docs to screen at The Plaza this Friday

This Friday night, November 15th, the Homespun Series kicks off with its first ever screening event at The Plaza Theatre in Atlanta. Launched by "AKA Blondie" filmmakers Jon and Brantly Watts, Homespun is a documentary series spotlighting 'local characters, resonating stories' in and around Metro Atlanta.

Atlanta's film boom can be credited to the Georgia's geographic diversity, ease of production resources and tax credits—but also the fact that Atlanta can easily be masked to double as wherever filmmakers need it to. In an effort to showcase Atlanta's unique citizens and distinctive culture, Homespun will allow audiences to get closer to some of the city's most compelling individuals and eccentric neighborhoods. As more films and filmmakers become involved in this series, more and more of Atlanta's true character will be revealed.

Savannah Director's Choice: "About Time"

Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Nighy star in "About Time"

Tonight's mystery Director's Choice screening at the Savannah Film Festival was truly something no one had guessed—Richard Curtis' "About Time." The film stars Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan and Tom Hollander. It's as sweet as can be, but I sort of loved it.

Look for a review to come soon!

What is your guess for the mystery Savannah Film Festival Director's Choice screening?

An annual tradition here at the Savannah Film Festival is a mid-week mystery screening, the Director's Choice. No announcement is made, no clues given; we have to wait until the projector beams the chosen selection onto the screen at the Trustees Theatre.

Last year, "Hyde Park on Hudson" was the selection. In previous years, the world premiere of "The Muppets," the Savannah-filmed "The Conspirator," "Up in the Air," "Persepolis," "Volver" and "Match Point" all held the distinction. What could this year's film be? Considering the festival's past relationship with Focus Features, my guess is "Dallas Buyers Club," which opens in select cities this Friday. Other rumors making their way around town and around the Internet include "Ender's Game," "Out of the Furnace," "Saving Mr. Banks" and "Thor: The Dark World." Some have suggested Georgia's own "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," but let's face it—that ain't happening three weeks before its highly anticipated release.

What are some of your guesses? Leave a comment! Follow us on Twitter to find out the selection as soon as it hits the screen.

Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" to open Savannah Film Festival

Bruce Dern and Will Forte star in "Nebraska"

The 16th annual Savannah Film Festival has announced Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" as its opening night selection on October 26th with both Payne and lead actor Bruce Dern scheduled to attend. The film premiered earlier this year at Cannes, where Dern took home the award for Best Actor and the film was in contention for the Palme d'Or. Dern, who was honored by the Savannah Film Festival in 2006, will present Payne with an Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award on behalf of the festival.

10 Days of Woody Allen at Atlanta's Plaza Theatre

Starting today, September 1st, at the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, you can catch twelve different films from Woody Allen over the next ten days. Playing chronologically (except for "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986) playing right after "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989) on the same day), the program starts with 1971's "Bananas" and runs through 2011's "Midnight in Paris" on September 10th.

Tickets are $12 per film, but you can purchase an all access pass for only $45—a good deal since tickets to all twelve films would run you $144 otherwise.

Later this month, similar programs honoring Steven Spielberg, the Coen Brothers and François Truffaut will also run at The Plaza. Check out more on those in the coming weeks and check out the Woody Allen schedule after the jump.

Review: "Still Mine" (****)

Campbell Scott and James Cromwell star in "Still Mine"

"Still Mine" has been on my radar since premiering in Toronto last fall—going so far as for me to incorrectly predict it as part of last year's Savannah Film Festival lineup. Writer-director Michael McGowan's latest film is notable for a number of reasons; the natural beauty of its New Brunswick setting, the articulate depiction of a saintly love story, but most of all for the dynamic leading performances by veterans Geneviève Bujold and James Cromwell—a perennial supporting actor.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival encore screenings set for April 21st

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Audience Award winning films will receive encore screenings on April 21st. Georgia Theatre Company at Merchants Walk in Marietta, one of the festival's most popular venues, will serve as the encore venue. The films will screen in back-to-back presentations– Best Short Film, Best Documentary Feature and finally, Best Narrative Feature. Get your tickets here.

"The Cake Lady" Best Short Film
3:00 PM - A loving tribute to an Atlanta bubbie who embarks on the transition from independence to assisted living.

"Joe Papp in Five Acts" Best Documentary Feature
4:30 PM - Famous faces of the stage and screen pay homage to a transformative figure of American theater.

"Süskind" Best Narrative Feature
7:45 PM - The gripping true story of a Jewish industrialist who saved hundreds of Dutch children from the death camps.

Win free passes to see "Jurassic Park 3D" in Kennesaw!

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's game-changing adventure film "Jurassic Park," Universal Studios is re-releasing the film in a converted 3D format. Despite the obvious cashgrab attempt, I can't recall a film more worthy of a theatrical re-release. Do you really even need to be convinced to see "Jurassic Park" in theaters again? I'm certainly no fan of 3D, but you can count me in for this one.

The film doesn't hit cinemas until April 5th, but a few sneak previews are being lined up across the country this weekend. We have four passes to give away, but to spread the wealth around, we're going to give away two sets of two. The screening takes place this coming Saturday, March 30th at 10:00 AM in Kennesaw at AMC Barrett Commons 24. How do you win? Pick and choose below. The more options you select, the more chances you have to win! The winner will be notified Friday afternoon.

Win free passes to see "Submit the Documentary" at the Atlanta Film Festival!

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