STARKVILLE – Anxious anticipation filled the air at UEC Starkville Theater Thursday night as festival organizers and volunteers hurried through rooms, distributing ballots to eager audience members.
Meanwhile, laughter and clinking of pink champagne flutes echoed from the VIP room, where filmmakers and attendees mingled before making their way into Theater Room 3.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd fell silent, the excitement was palpable. Applause filled the room as the screen flickered to life. The 28th annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival had officially begun.
“We have filmmakers from all over the country who have come, and the glory in that is that we all speak a common language,” first-year board president Thomas Easterling said. “When we fall into these moments, it’s like getting to relive the things you love most about film.”
Founded in 1997 by the late Ron Tibbett, the festival affectionately known as “The Mag” returned this week, showcasing eight short films and a 75-minute feature film presentation Thursday. Between its start and the festival’s conclusion Saturday, this year’s festival includes 34 films, with featured films from seven states and six countries around the world.
Thursday night saw dozens filling theater seats with filmmakers, event coordinators and community members.
Filmmakers described the unforgettable experience of watching their films alongside an audience. Director of “Young Toussaint,” Fernandel Almonor, described the experience as “cathartic.”
“You can see something a hundred times, but there’s something fresh and different about experiencing it with other people,” Almonor said.
First-time director Jazmín Caratini debuted her film, “No Escuchardo (Not Heard),” a story surrounding representation for the deaf community. Caratini is not deaf herself, but she is fluent in multiple languages, including in sign language.
Cartini was moved by the audience reactions around her.
“I’ve seen the film many times, and I thought that I was going to hate it sitting there watching it again,” Caratini said. “For some reason I started crying, and it’s because I could feel the audience.”
A common inspiration among filmmakers was the desire to impact others through storytelling.
“My main inspiration is the hope that each time I do this, it really inspires and touches people on a deeper level,” Almonor said.
Caratini said she hopes people walk away from her film more conscious about the necessities of the deaf community.
“I’m trying to make a grain of sand … little by little, you create the desert,” Caratini said.
The importance of Caratini’s message was deeply felt by audience members like VIP attendee George N. Henderson, who recalled his own experiences learning sign language to communicate with a deaf friend.
“All I remember now is my sign name,” Henderson said, signing the name Stormy. “I was so glad they included that in the movie.”
Movie magic
Easterling fondly recalled the festival’s humble beginnings working alongside Tibbett.
“We were putting aluminum foil in the windows so there wouldn’t be any light coming through in the screenings,” Easterling said, laughing. “The next festival, we were in a school gym, and there was a thunderstorm, and it started leaking.”
Although it has grown, Easterling said the heart of the festival has never changed.
“What gives me joy is walking into the theater after a show has started and looking up at the people watching the movies,” Easterling said. “It’s like introducing a kid to something you’ve always loved. Being able to share in that magic is a wonderful thing.”
As the festival nears its 30th anniversary, there is excitement about expanding its reach while staying true to its values. Board Director Chris Misun highlighted the importance of creating an intimate space for filmmakers and audience members.
“Our primary goal besides showcasing really good films is providing that southern hospitality that Ron instilled in people when he first started the festival,” Misun said. “I think we were able to create that atmosphere this year.”
Easterling is particularly eager to connect with the women’s studies program at Mississippi University for Women to draw more students and women to next year’s festival.
“I want to make sure that they know we’re here,” he said.
Easterling said he plans to be more conscientious about selecting films for the festival’s lineup next year to coincide with the festival’s new Ladies’ Night, a kick-off party encouraging women to attend the event.
At the heart of future plans is the desire to maintain the festival’s sense of community and intimacy. Misun stressed the importance of keeping the event a one-screen festival, where everyone has the chance to experience the same films together.
“Everybody needs to see everything we have because we chose them for a reason,” Misun said.
With this year’s festival wrapping up Saturday and next year’s dates already set for Feb. 19-21, Misun hopes community members will attend the festival and help celebrate independent film. “It’s a unique opportunity for people who enjoy watching movies … to actually meet the people that created these amazing films,” Misun said. “That’s not something that you always get in a smaller town.”
For those who haven’t yet attended, there’s still time to catch the final screening of the festival. Saturday’s showing begins at 6 p.m., with an awards ceremony following the final film. Tickets for Saturday’s screening are $15 per person and are available online or at the theater.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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Related Photos
Actor Audie Kirby during production of the film “Befriending Bigfoot.” The film was produced as part of The Mag’s third annual 48-hour Film Competition in September 2024 and was screened Friday evening at UEC Starkville Theater. Courtesy of Jonah Holland
Filmmakers Jonah Holland, left, and Sarah Kirk behind the scenes of production for the short film “Befriending Bigfoot.” The film was produced during the Magnolia Film Festival’s third annual 48-hour Film Competition held in September 2024 and was screened Friday evening. Courtesy of Jonah Holland
