23rd annual Oxford Film Festival shares stories from Mississippi and beyond

The Oxford Film Festival returns for its 23^rd installment Feb. 26-28 at the Malco Oxford Commons, continuing its mission to support films from Mississippi and (far) beyond.

“We showcase impactful storytelling from around the globe,” said artistic director Becca Finley. “As we do this, we also acknowledge our state, its stories, its people, its history and its resources by placing a film that has a tie to Mississippi in every block of programming.”

Opening night is headlined by the premiere of Cole: Bridge to Justice (Feb. 26, 6 p.m.), a feature documentary about current University of Mississippi professor Dr. Donald Cole, who was one of the Ole Miss Eight expelled from the school in 1970. The film was directed by Bruce native, filmmaker Antonio Tarrell.

“We knew it was time to tell and preserve Dr. Cole’s story,” Tarrell said. “I myself lived in Oxford for nearly 20 years and knew little of his story or about the Ole Miss Eight. Late last year they placed a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker outside Fulton Chapel to honor their courage.”

The film is preceded by live music from Oxford-based band Afrissippi paired with a curated selection of music videos at 4:30 p.m.

Friday’s offerings kick off early with a special educational programming event featuring the Mississippi-made episodic documentary Citizens Revival (Feb. 27, 9:20 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.). Described as “an impact film for civic participation and civic education” that was filmed during the 2024 presidential election season, it was produced and directed by Finley.

“This is a film about curiosity and truly learning about what is our civic duty,” Finley said. “120 different voices from our country are featured – our crew intentionally represented many cultures, ages, socio-economic levels, and varying political leanings.”

Some of Friday’s other highlights include:

The Joys and Blues of East Biloxi (Feb. 27, 1 p.m.), a documentary portrait of the African American community of the gulf coast city prior to 1970, was directed by Biloxi filmmaker John Lestrade.

The Inquisitor (Feb 27, 3:15 p.m.) is a feature documentary about Barbara Jordan, the first southern black woman to join congress in 1972. It was produced and directed by Angela Lynn Tucker, an Emmy-winning filmmaker and assistant professor of documentary expression for Ole Miss’ MFA film program.

Beyond (Feb. 27, 4 p.m.) is a prison reform documentary that was afforded unprecedented access to Sing Sing prison executive produced by two of the stars of the Oscar-nominated 2023 feature Sing Sing, Clarence Maclin and J.J. Velazquez. It was co-produced and -directed by Asia Johnson and Michael Kleiman, the latter of which is known for 2010’s The Last Survivor, which won Best Documentary at that year’s Oxford Film Festival.

“As a formerly incarcerated Black woman who has carried deep sadness and longing, I have found triumph in Beyond, a work that reshapes how our participants are seen – through empathy, complexity, and possibility,” Johnson said. “Michael and I have managed to create a world on screen where these men can breathe, be witnessed, and share their gifts.”

Lay Lefty Down (Feb. 27, 6 p.m.) is a narrative comedy short starring Broadway, TV and film veteran Tovah Feldshuh, who will be in attendance and presented with the festival’s inaugural ICON Award.

I couldn’t be happier for Tovah to receive this award,” said director Traven Rice. “We first connected because of our shared commitment to supporting women’s health.  She’s a real legend of stage and screen — and she brought her passion, humor and wisdom to the table the moment we started rehearsing.”

Friday also serves up two late-night blocks led by narrative features. You can choose between Meta Take One (Feb. 27, 8:30 p.m.), a buzzed-about experimental thriller from Atlanta about how far a director will go to complete his film, and I’ve Seen All I Need to See (Feb. 27, 8:45 p.m.), a thriller by California filmmaker Zeshaan Younus that has been racking up awards on the festival circuit.

“As filmmakers, we wanted to explore how ambition can eclipse reason, exposing the fragile boundary between creating art and losing yourself in the process,” said Meta Take One co-director John Dierre.

Filmmakers will want to get up bright and early Saturday morning for the Filmmakers Breakfast and Creative Workshops sponsored by Film Mississippi and the Mississippi Film Society starting at 9:30 a.m. for a $10 ticket. Topics covered will include mental health practices, distribution, statewide resources, activism/advocacy and giving back through creativity.

“What better way to start the final day of the festival than by networking over coffee with visiting and local filmmakers?” said Film Mississippi Director Nina Parikh. “And then we’ll dive headfirst into some topics like distribution and resources that are vital to every project.”

Also, for those who purchase a ticket to the workshops, Director of Strategic Partnerships for PBS Nashville Sarah Childress will be on hand to offer one-on-one “speed dating” sessions throughout the morning and afternoon to offer insights and advice on film projects.

As for Saturday’s film offerings in the afternoon, here are some highlights:

The Color of Conservation (Feb. 28, 12:30 p.m.) is a short documentary about how Clinton native artist Robin Whitfield helped establish the Lee Tartt Nature Preserve in her homebase of Grenada.

Documentary feature Possum Town (Feb. 28, 1 p.m.) looks at the City of Columbus past and future through the lens of the 100-year-old archive of prolific photographer O.N. Pruitt.

Of particular interest to longtime Oxonians is Ronzo (Feb. 28, 3 p.m.), a feature documentary about the college town’s late cultural icon, Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro. He was the owner-operator of the long-running Hoka Theatre off the square and was an all-around art community luminary since his arrival to Oxford in the ‘70s until his death in 2019.

And the festival closes out with a bang with an exclusive screening of the documentary feature It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (Feb. 28, 6:15 p.m.) Gene Bowen, tour manager for the legendary Memphis singer-songwriter, will be in attendance along with Buckley’s former bandmate Michael Tighe for a post-screening Q&A.

“A new generation is discovering Jeff’s music while longtime fans are revisiting his work with fresh eyes,” Bowen said. “We’ll offer our perspective beyond the mythology: what he was actually like, what drove him, why his influence continues to resurface decades later, and how his inspiration and support helped spark the launch of my music industry-driven charity Road Recovery.”

For tickets, a full schedule and more information, visit ox-film.com.