From July 20-25, the Jxn Film Festival will celebrate a milestone: its fifth anniversary.
“We’re proud of what we’ve done in five years,” said founder and executive director Maximus Wright. “It definitely has been a learning curve, not in just how to put on a film festival, but also in creating one that’s community friendly. We wanted to build something that is inclusive to everyone.”
And what better way to celebrate turning 5 and spotlight the local film community than by recognizing a significant milestone for Mississippi-made films: the 25th anniversary of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
“It’s a film that has impacted us all,” said Wright, who is a native of Yazoo City. “I remember when they were filming. At that point, I didn’t think filmmaking was something that would be part of my future, but I had always been a fan of movies. It was really cool to see a production in your hometown.”
On Sunday, the festival will open with a special screening of O Brother, Where Art Thou? at 4 p.m. at Tougaloo College’s BGT Auditorium, followed by a panel discussion at 6 p.m. and a blues concert on the lawn at 7:30 p.m.
Film Mississippi Director Nina Parikh will speak on the panel, as the film was one of the first major projects she assisted in her career.
“Perhaps more so than any other film made in the state, O Brother exemplifies what Mississippi can be on the silver screen,” Parikh said. “They filmed in 10 counties and impacted communities across the state – from Yazoo City to Canton, D’Lo to Edwards, Vicksburg to Church Hill – more than any production in our history.
“It was a thrill to get to work with Oscar-winning film industry luminaries the Coen brothers, and I’m excited to be able to share some stories and celebrate the film’s lasting legacy.”
Another highlight of this year’s festival is the workshops. First up on Monday at 11 a.m. is a masterclass in social media with Jackson native actor and social media influencer Noah Jay Wood.
“He has 10 million followers on TikTok,” Wright said. “One question we get a lot is, ‘How do I get out there as an artist?’ Noah will be sharing what he’s learned along his way to success and how he’s not only grown it but sustained it.”
Then on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Wright himself will be in the spotlight when he presents his own masterclass he calls “Becoming.”
“I’ll talk about what I’ve learned in the last 10 years of doing this full-time,” Wright said. “How do you start from nothing to actually living the dream and doing it? And how do you survive? What kind of mindset? What have I learned along the way, and who have I had to become?”
Then on Wednesday and Thursday, Greenwood native Tonea Stewart will once again present her intensive acting masterclass “Theatre of Being.” Known for her role in the 1996 Mississippi-made film A Time to Kill, Stewart was initially a guest of the festival when it celebrated the 25th anniversary of that film, and she has presented her workshop at the festival for several years running now.
“I would encourage people who are not even actors or filmmakers to go to her class,” Wright said. “She’s phenomenal. Every year her passion for this is getting stronger.”
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. the festival will present From Darkness to Light, a TV pilot directed by Wright that tells the life story of Lincoln County native Kolean Sanders.
“Her story is one of tremendous faith and how to overcome adversity,” Wright said.
Thursday evening brings two special events. First up at 4 p.m. is the 100 Showcase. It’s a screening of projects by filmmakers that are part of the festival’s 100 Filmmakers and Artists initiative to mentor and develop local talent. First up is Touched by Jessica Evans, who won Best Film by a Black Female at the International Black and Diversity Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. It’s followed by !Freaks!, a sci-fi web series by Philip C. Washington.
“We’ve now had people who had never held a camera before who are now creating the projects we’re showcasing,” Wright said. “And it’s amazing to us that they’re not only making these great projects, but they’re out there competing and winning awards, like Jessica. That speaks to our efforts and what we’re cultivating on our own.”
After the 100 Showcase, the festival will present An Evening with the Arnetts at 6:30 p.m. Cameron and B.J. Arnett are the stars of the hit 2024 independent faith-based film The Forge, which has grossed over $40 million worldwide.
“There’s an interesting local connection to The Forge – Aspen Kennedy, a Jackson State graduate, is another star of that film, and he was in my first feature, 2017’s Soul Damage,” Wright said. “The Arnetts have an interest in the film economy here. They want to come talk about faith, family, film—how they have navigated those waters. And also how they see themselves fitting into the future of filmmaking here in the state.”
The festival will feature screenings Monday through Wednesday, with a mix of shorts, documentaries, music videos and features. For a full list of films and showtimes, visit jxnfilmfestival.com.
“This will be the third consecutive year we’ll have international guests coming to Mississippi,” Wright said. “That project is from Norway. We have projects from Denver, South Dakota, Wisconsin – just all over the country. There will be 50 filmmakers in attendance for Q&As, many of whom are local filmmakers, as it’s always our mission to celebrate their work and help grow the local film ecosystem.”
Another component of the festival that supports that mission is the Plotline People’s Choice for Best Screenplay competition, which features table reads of the works in competition interspersed with the screenings throughout the festival.
“We’ve partnered with Plotline, which is a tech startup founded by Eric Pertilla, who has been a Hollywood executive for 20 years,” Wright said. “It’s like movie scripts meets Youtube. Basically people can share, read and rate scripts and connect with people looking to produce projects.”
The festival will wrap up Friday night with an event that’s always a highlight – the Black Tie Awards Gala. It features a reception, awards ceremony and after party at the Two Mississippi Museums, and this year the festival is encouraging creative attire as it’s Met Gala inspired.
“The theme is ‘Roots and Wings’,” Wright said. “The best we can give our kids are the roots of who they are and where they’re from, and wings to soar to where they should be. We’re excited to see what people’s interpretation of that will be. It’s a great opportunity for costumers to show what they have to offer and we hope it brings an artistic flavor to the gala itself.
“Now, I myself am going to stay traditional with the black tie attire for the most part – maybe a nice lapel wing or something.”
For more information and a full schedule of Jxn Film Festival events and screenings, visit jxnfilmfestival.com.
