John Wildman

Fest Founders Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter Annc Waco’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival FILM Goes All-Virtual with fest set for September

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Once the decision was made to pivot to an all-virtual presentation, Thomas and Hunter immediately began working with the staff to ensure that not only was that essential element not lost, but that they would have fun and use their creative muscles to bring the Deep in the Heart experience to people’s homes. As Programming Director Maverick Moore said, “It’s going to be good old fashioned fun at the movies… but this time it’ll be at your house.”

Dan Wingate’s KAYE BALLARD – THE SHOW GOES ON Launches Oxford Film Fest’s 12th Week of Programming focuses on women and doubles the fun at the drive-in

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington said, “We’ve decided to ramp up in our last 6 weeks of the virtual festival with more Q&As and titles each week while also launching a second drive in location in Water Valley. This year’s big experiment has proven that one thing remains true – people love movies and we feel so lucky to be able to provide safe ways to still enjoy them this year.”

Oliver Mays’ drama BITTER FLOWERS launches CineCina; debuts mobile phone film festival CineCina iFest

By John Wildman 6 years ago

CineCina Film Festival Co-Director of Programming Frank Yan, said, “The last decade has solidified how much we all rely on our mobile devices. For most of us, the small screen of our phones has become the most essential interaction tool. At the same time, film, while being an art form created for the big screen, has found a home on our phones just as it has on big screen televisions, desktop and laptop computers.

Executive Director Melanie Addington of Oxford Film Festival announces 2021 dates and plans, decides to pass on theaters for rest of 2020

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The Oxford Film Festival announced the dates for next year’s edition of the popular and critically-acclaimed film festival, which will take place March 24-28, 2021. The current plans for that upcoming edition of the film festival will feature a hybrid approach including virtual and drive-in presentations, as well as the prospect of returning to theaters. The call for entries on Film Freeway is open with the early bird deadline set for September 30.  

Dawn Porter’s JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE leads Oxford Film Festival’s 11th Weekly Fest delivers politics, activism, and big personalities

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington said, “John Lewis, Ai Weiwei, and Olympia Dukakis would be the guests at one of those dream dinner parties one might imagine having. Well, we can’t make that happen for obvious reasons, but we can feature films about their amazing and entertaining lives and exploits. They also happen to be important voices, which is something we will also highlight with two new shorts packages which shine a light on Mississippi issues in particular. Finally, it’s a great week for families at OFF to the DRIVE IN with RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, PICTURE CHARACTER, and, of course, the launch of our new screen in Water Valley with FROZEN. Load up the mini-van!”

Patricia Velásquez Guzmán’s APEGO Opens Austin’s Cine Las Americas Announces film lineup for CLA2020 Virtual Showcase celebrating Latinx and Indigenous filmmakers

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Executive Director Jean Anne Lauer said, “This presentation of a virtual showcase of films is a testament to the dedication of our staff to find a way forward and continue to foster connections between our Latinx filmmakers as well as those of Indigenous heritage and Texas audiences – even if we can’t do so in person.

Derek Horne curates Film Festival Alliance and Theatrical-At-Home celebrate Pride Month with 3rd Film Festival Day’s RAINBOW RETROSPECTIVE: A DECADE OF QUEER COMEDY

By John Wildman 6 years ago

“Our Film Festival Days have really shown us, our member festivals, and filmmakers alike how we now have the opportunity to shake up what traditional film distribution look like. The last few months have exposed many cracks in the system and now is a time when (if we collaborate and support one another) we can hopefully make changes for the better in support of both independent artists and exhibitors,” said FFA Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner. “We’re thrilled that Derek curated this line-up of some of the funniest queer short films from the last decade, and look forward to hearing him moderate the Q&A with the filmmakers – just like at a film festival!”

Mindy Bledsoe’s THE IN-BETWEEN Opens Oxford Film Festival’s 10th Weekly Virtual Fest ; OFF to the DRIVE IN delivers the scares with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Executive Director Melanie Addington said. “ARMY OF LOVERS IN THE HOLY LAND and ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS are inspiring documentaries that are a vivid reminder of why art can change the world. Between that and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, which is one of the all-time drive-in classics, to the weekly virtual festival continuing with award winning films such as THE IN-BETWEEN, last year’s winners and top finishers from the Memphis and Louisiana Film Prize competitions, and THE EVENING HOUR, which played at Sundance, this is an action-packed week.”