Mississippiâs two longest-running film festivals kick off in late February, both highlighted by work from Mississippi-connected filmmakers as well as selections from out-of-state and international creators.
The 28th annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival (The MAG) runs Feb. 20-22 at the UEC Hollywood Premiere Cinemas in Starkville. The festival offers over 30 short films including narrative, documentary, music videos, animation, family-friendly selections and winners of the MAGâs 48-Hour Film Competition. Each night culminates with a feature film presentation.
The 22nd annual Oxford Film Festival (OFF) will be held Feb. 27-March 2 at the Malco Oxford Commons. It features over 80 films including, narrative and documentary features and shorts, music videos, animation and even experimental works.
Mississippi-connected picks
While half the fun of a film festival is catching unexpected and surprising films you might not have a chance to see anywhere else, it helps to have a game plan. Hereâs some highlights, starting with select films with Mississippi ties, some of which will screen at both festivals:
My Fatherâs Name (The MAG: Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m.)
Directed by Susanna Styron, this film tells the intimate story of one womanâs attempt to uncover the truth about her fatherâs participation in a lynching in Mississippi. âMy film is for anyone, from high school age on, who is interested in the history of race relations in our country,â Styron said. âItâs also for audiences who are open to (or might surprise themselves by opening up to) the truth about and accountability for their family histories.â
Hotaru (Narrative short, The MAG: Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m.; OFF: Feb. 28, 3:30 p.m.)
This story of a young girlâs friendship confronts issues with trauma and mental health. It was written and produced by Jackson native sister Ashley and Amy Gibson and filmed in Jackson with a majority local cast and crew.
James âSuper Chikanâ Johnson: A Life in Blues (Feature documentary, The MAG: Feb. 21, 8:15 p.m.; OFF: Feb. 28, 9 p.m.)
A film about the life of the titular Clarksdale native blues performer and visual artist. âThis film was born out of a passion for telling the story of a musician who is one of the last of his generation,â said co-director Brian Wilson. âAnd on a personal level for co-director Mark Rankin, it was a chance to bring some much-deserved attention to a musician who has been a great influence, both professionally and personally.â
Whenever Youâre Ready (Narrative short, The MAG: Feb. 22, 11 a.m.)
This film is the 2024 project of the Sunflower County Film Academy, an annual summer film workshop in Cleveland, Miss. The film was co-directed by Mississippi filmmakers Glenn Payne and Ben Powell.
Prodigal (Narrative short, The MAG: Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m.)
This thriller is from Tupelo filmmaker Glenn Payne. âItâs a short version of a longer story, but I feel like it has something for fans of both horror and drama,â Payne said. âWe can all relate to someone in our life dropping the ball, maybe itâs even us sometimes, but this story asks us to stop and see if there might be an unexpected reason as to why.â
Chrisman Blues (Documentary short, The MAG: Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m.; OFF: Feb. 28, 9 p.m.)
This doc tells the story of the once-thriving Black business district centered around Chrisman Street in Cleveland, Miss. âFor five years, I lived a few blocks from Chrisman Street, a place at the center of American history but in danger of being forgotten,â said filmmaker Ted Fisher. âMy film is an attempt to preserve the memories of the people who lived there.”
Chasing Rabbits (Narrative short, OFF: Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.)
The directorial debut of Oxford author Michael Farris Smith, the film was filmed in Clinton and produced in part by Anthony Thaxton, who leads Mississippi Collegeâs Institute for Southern Storytelling. “It’s exciting to be premiering at the Oxford Film Festival, and I hope the film resonates with everyone the way it resonates with us,” Smith said.
A House for My Mother (Documentary short, OFF: Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.)
This film was co-directed by Greenwood native Dr. Benjamin Nero, the first Black graduate of the dentistry school at the University of Kentucky and a childhood friend of actor Morgan Freeman. It explores his life within the broader context of African American history and racial progress.
Voices to Inception (Documentary short, OFF: Feb. 28, 6 p.m.)
This film chronicles the creation and design of the Tougaloo Center for Racial Justice and Equity, a partnership between the Episcopal Church and Jackson HBCU Tougaloo College. âHistorical events and varied perspectives resonate with the people who call Jackson, Mississippi, home,â said director-producer Becky Beamer. âOne architectural firm, Duvall Decker, harnesses this energy in a poetic collaboration of voices to help innovate their ideation process.â
Kiwi Cowboy (Animated short, OFF: Feb. 28, 6:20 p.m.)
This animated short is by Hattiesburg-based artist Michael Norris, who has expanded the concept into a weekly webcomic available at kiwicowboycomic.com.
University of Mississippi Student Film Block (OFF: March 1, 1:05 p.m.)
This block features the latest work of the students at the University of Mississippiâs Film and Theatre Program.
Songbirds (Narrative short, OFF: March 1, 3:45 p.m.)
This stark black-and-white drama from filmmaker Lauren Maya Davis was filmed entirely in the Mississippi Delta. âWe spent several months casting more than 400 children at local schools and churches, while scouting every corner of the state,â Davis said. âWhen we landed upon Greenwood, Mississippi, the center of many civil rights movements, we found a texture to the local stories and landscape that were beyond captivating. Through this process, we created some cinema magic.â
Our Movement Starts Here (Feature documentary, OFF: March 1, 3:45 p.m.)
The story of a rural community in the American South that inspired the environmental justice movement in 1982 by fighting the state of North Carolina’s toxic landfill. The film was co-directed and produced by John Rash, Assistant Professor of Film Production & Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi.
Lavender Men (Narrative feature, OFF: March 1, 3:50 p.m.)
Based on a play, this feature follows Taffeta, a contemporary queer person of color. Producer and actress Mia Ellis is a Mississippi native and graduate of Tougaloo College.
Last to Leave (Narrative short, OFF: March 1, 6:45 p.m.)
Last to Leave is the premiere short film by writer-director-actor and Laurel native Mary Elizabeth Ellis, known for her recurring role on TVâs Itâs Always Sunny in Philadelphia as well as feature films such as Paul Thomas Andersonâs Licorice Pizza. âThis is a film about how our deep desires for connection and love can blind us not only to warning flags in relationships, but also to our effects on the wider world,â Ellis said. âIf we can’t take care of ourselves, maybe something else will?â
Stella Stevens: The Last Starlet (Feature documentary, OFF: March 1, 6:45 p.m.)
Closing out the Oxford Film Festival is this look at the life of Hollywood star and Yazoo City native Stella Stevens, known for roles in classics like The Nutty Professor, The Ballad of Cable Hogue and The Poseidon Adventure. The film was produced and directed by her son Andrew Stevens, himself a prolific actor and filmmaker, following her death in 2023 at the age of 84.
Other picks
Hereâs some picks for canât-miss films from out-of-state and international filmmakers:
Prism of Gray Rock (Narrative feature, The MAG: Feb. 20, 8:15 p.m.)
The MAGâs opening night feature provides some international flavor with this story of a womanâs journey to reclaiming her emotions, the feature debut of Korean director Min Yeong Kwak.
Against the Spread (Narrative feature, The MAG: Feb. 22, 8:15 p.m.)
This film, which follows a down-and-out gambling addict, is a Southern-fried retelling of Shakespeareâs The Merchant of Venice. âThe true charm of our film lies in its authentic portrayal of the rural South, which will particularly resonate with those who grew up in or have spent time in that part of the country,â said director Mitchell Cole.
LARRY (they/them) (Documentary feature, OFF: Feb. 28, 6:20 p.m.)
This film is a doc about non-binary photographer Laurence Philomene from award-winning filmmaker Catherine Legault. âMy film is an intimate portrait that aims to humanize transgender experiences with empathy and understanding,â Legault said. âAt a time when LGBTQ+ rights are being challenged, I hope this film contributes to positive trans representation and reminds us to listen, accept, and embrace one another as we are.â
Counting In (Feature narrative, OFF: Feb. 28, 9:15 p.m.)
A mock rockumentary about the search for the legendary Steve Staccato, the all-time great of counting to four to start a song. âWe think our film is a hilarious testament to the power of indie filmmaking â a labor of love fueled by borrowed time, my passionate friends, and our knack for turning everyday chaos into comedy gold,â said director Griffin Davis.
Workshops
Finally, both festivals offer chances for filmmakers to learn more about their craft at workshops and panel discussions.
At 1 p.m. Feb. 22, The MAG will feature a âSound in Filmâ panel discussion. Panelists include Memphis-based filmmaker Clint Till (narrative short Thatâs My House, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m.); New York actress, writer and producer Allyson Morgan (narrative short The Ghost, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m.); Johanna Beale Keller, a New York filmmaker, playwright, lyricist and music critic (narrative short The Perfect Match, Feb. 22, 11 a.m.); As well as the filmmaking team behind Against the Spread (narrative feature, Feb. 22, 8:15 p.m.), Florida writer-director Mitchell Cole and producer Thomas R. Rondinella, who has a background in sound production and is a professor of sound and visual media at Seton Hall University.
The Oxford Film Festival will feature both a workshop and panel discussion sponsored by the Mississippi Film Office.
First up at 10:30 a.m. March 1 is the âThe Way of Words: A Journey into Characterâ screenwriting workshop. Oxford author Michael Farris Smith (whose directorial debut short film is Chasing Rabbits, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.) is joined by Indian filmmaker Rashmi Rustagi (narrative feature Designed by Preeti, Feb. 28, 3:30 p.m.) and writer-director producer David Fortune (narrative feature Color Book, Feb. 28., 6 p.m.) for this workshop.
Then at 11:45 A.M. the âConnecting the Dots: How to Make It Happen (with Help)â panel discussion will cover the business of film. Panelists include Los Angeles-based producer-writer-director-actor Andrew Stevens, who has brought over 100 projects to life, including the OFFâs closing night feature Stella Stevens: The Last Starlet, a documentary about the life of his mother, a Golden Globe-winning actress and Yazoo City native (March 1, 6:45 p.m.); Laurel native actress-writer-director Mary Elizabeth Ellis (narrative short Last to Leave,March 1, 6:45 p.m.); Mississippi Film Office director Nina Parikh; and Mississippi Film Society founder and film publicist Ryan Parker, who recently co-executive produced the multiple award-winning documentary Union.
âTwo of the toughest nuts to crack for filmmakers are financing and distribution,â said Parikh. âWeâll cover those topics as well as other business concerns in the journey from getting your project off the ground to the finish line, and weâll also share how the Mississippiâs film and TV incentives can play a role in your success.â
This is just a sampling of the wide array of films and events both festivals have to offer. To get tickets and to explore the films screening, visit magnoliafilmfest.com and ox-film.com respectively.
