STARKVILLE – Stories spanning the state of Mississippi and seven countries will play on the big screen at UEC Starkville Theater next week as the Magnolia Film Festival returns for its 29th year.
The festival, affectionately known as “The Mag,” has brought independent films and the makers behind them to the Golden Triangle for nearly three decades, a feat Thomas Easterling, board president of the festival, attributes to staff efforts behind the scenes and the community that keeps coming back for more.
“I think that it survived the pandemic, and that it’s managed to stick around when a lot of other independent film festivals have not, shows that people in this area really want to go and see things like this,” Easterling told The Dispatch on Wednesday. “Not every movie has to be a superhero movie.”
This year’s festival lineup includes 32 films total, including 29 shorts ranging from 15 to 30 minutes and three feature films.
Films will be presented starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Feb. 20. A family friendly showing is set for 11 a.m. Feb. 21, followed by a workshop and panel at 1 p.m. Festivities conclude Feb. 21, with film presentations starting at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through magnoliafilmfest.com.
Among the lineup are six Mississippi-made films, Easterling said.
“They run the gamut from characters in a fictional narrative who are dealing with aging, to a documentary from Oxford called ‘Not Your Negroni,’ which is the story of a bartender who is African American, who came up with a drink of that name,” he said.
The workshop Feb. 21 will feature Marty Lang, assistant professor of communication, media and theater at Mississippi State University, who will give a presentation about raising money for independent films, Festival Director Chris Misun told the Dispatch.
After the workshop, a panel of indie filmmakers will dive into the craft of storytelling, Misun said.
“Last year was kind of focusing on music and sound, and then the year before, it was art,” he said. “So this is kind of closing the loop on what I wanted to do … between the 25th and the 30th (festival).”
Following film presentations, Misun said filmmakers will be available to speak with audience members about their work.
“It’s such a casual festival that you wouldn’t even know sometimes that you’re talking to a filmmaker unless you look at their badge,” Misun said. “… Everybody’s just so easy going and just enjoying the process. There’s no divide between any of that kind of stuff.”
Films will be judged across 13 categories, with awards ranging from Best Cinematography to Best Feature to the Ron Tibbett Award, named for the festival’s founder.
Misun said genres for this year’s festival span documentary films to music videos to “a really cool, sci-fi western” set to screen Feb. 20.
“This is one of the best opportunities to (check out what independent film is about) because we are a single-screen festival, and that’s kind of an abnormality in festivals,” he said. “… I want everybody to see everybody’s projects.”
That community aspect, Easterling said, is one that continues to set the festival apart after nearly three decades.
“The other thing that always makes me happiest is when I go to the theater and I turn around and I watch other people watching the movies and I see that they’re just in love with what they see as I am,” he said. “There’s a sense of community that’s undeniable. The people who come are people who respect the work that goes into each one of these films.”
Easterling encouraged residents to attend and experience the festival firsthand.
“When people put together these films, they are sweating every penny, and there is absolutely no good reason to put these films together except the most important reason of all, which is that they represent the dreams of the people who are making them,” he said. “It’s just magic to watch it all come together in the theater with popcorn and coke and other people who are falling in love with the very same thing.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
