Review: "Welcome to Pine Hill" (****)

Shannon Harper stars in "Welcome to Pine Hill"

From the first moment we hear the crickets chirp in the overgrown shrubs of a Brooklyn neighborhood, to the last moment, as the camera fades out on the singing birds in the Catskill wilderness– "Welcome to Pine Hill" exhibits a simplistic, measured humility. Keith Miller's debut feature is a focused portrayal of a man moving beyond his drug dealing past, caught off guard by an unexpected illness. Possessing an authenticity few films can boast, the project was born out of the real life stories of both Miller and star Shannon Harper, and the encounter between the two that created an unlikely friendship. "Welcome to Pine Hill" burned up the independent festival circuit last year, taking home top honors in Slamdance, Atlanta, Nashville, Sarasota and Seattle.

The Best Films of 2012

Instead of going with the usual speech about the subjective nature of film criticism and how one might see this as a weak year, another as a strong year– I'll just say that it was a great year. Perhaps me getting into the swing of life as a critic helped me feel this way. Perhaps we just lucked out with a lot of great films being released in 2012. I can't say, really, but I'm thankful to have seen so many good motion pictures. 

I'm particularly grateful that so many of them featured at festivals in Georgia. "Rabies" and "Restoration" were screened at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. "Welcome to Pine Hill" showed at the Atlanta Film Festival. "Amour," "Rust and Bone" and "Silver Linings Playbook" all featured in Savannah. If you aren't checking out your local film festivals, you are missing out! Sure, you caught plenty of these at your local cinema at some point. But an energy is present at festivals that you can't find elsewhere. You never know when a film is going to come out of nowhere and slap you in the face.

Atlanta Film Festival: 2012 Grand Jury winners

Shannon Harper stars in Narrative Grand Jury winner "Welcome to Pine Hill"

In a splendid feat of film justice, Keith Miller's poignant film "Welcome to Pine Hill" was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature at this year's Atlanta Film Festival. The film was easily my favorite of the fest and as you will read in an upcoming review, Shannon Harper carries the film with an unforgettable presence. I would kill to see this film continue to burn up the festival circuit and gain a distribution deal by the end of the year.

Check out the full list of winners after the jump.

Wrapping up the 2012 Atlanta Film Festival and looking ahead

Seeing and speaking with actress Nicole Beharie was a highlight of the festival

The 36th Atlanta Film Festival came to a close Sunday and I can proudly say that of the six years I've attended, this was the best fest yet. The films were strong and diverse. The venues, especially the new Atlanta Gem Series locations, were fun and accommodating. The staff was warm and helpful. The stars were bright and plenty. Sure, there were delays, technical problems, long waits, etc. If you find a festival without any of those, please let me know, so I can avoid what is undoubtedly a boring and lifeless event.

The Atlanta Film Festival is full of life. Thanks to a new Executive Director, Chris Escobar, and longtime festival veteran, Charles Judson, now the Festival Director and Head of Programming; the festival has made great leaps in organization, cohesion and over-all cool factor. For years, the event felt like a film festival that was in Atlanta, now it feels, as it should, like Atlanta's film festival. With new partnerships with Georgia State University, the Plaza Theatre and Atlanta Magazine, the festival's future looks aglow.

What to see at the 2012 Atlanta Film Festival

The Atlanta Film Festival starts in just four days! Kicking off Friday, March 23 with opening night film "L!fe Happens," this years festival will be the 36th (can you believe it?) and promises to be the best yet. While I love all of Georgia's festivals, the Atlanta Film Festival has the biggest piece of my heart. I've attended and supported this festival for over half a decade now and I've found that there is an energy present at the ATLFF that can't be found elsewhere.

I am so excited about this year's lineup. Whether it be upcoming commercial releases like "L!fe Happens" and "The Cabin in the Woods," new indie festival slow-burners like "Welcome to Pine Hill," "V/H/S" and "My Last Day Without You," foreign imports "Boy," "Monsieur Lazhar" and "Generation P" or special screenings such as recent French cult hit "OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies;" there is something for everyone.

Check out the films that caught our eye (listed in order of screen date) after the jump!