Oxford, well-known for its art culture, creative community and unique festivals, was host to yet another impressive Oxford Film Fest this past weekend. The 2017 Oxford Film Fest raised the bar in attendance, submissions, hospitality and sales.
Since its creation, the Oxford Film Fest has been a rising star in the film world and in Oxford.
“The Oxford Film Festival was founded in 2003 to bring exciting, new and unusual films (and the people who create them) to North Mississippi,” said John Wildman in a post-festival press release from OFF. “The annual four-day festival screens short and feature-length films in both showcase and competition settings, including narrative and documentary features and shorts; Mississippi narratives, documentaries and music videos, and narrative, documentary, animated and experimental shorts.”
This year, the film fest had many new additions including virtual reality films and an increase in LGBTQ films. The two shining accomplishments of the festival, however, were a large growth in ticket sales and a special appearance by actor Danny Glover.
“This year’s edition of the Oxford Film Festival was highlighted by an increase of more than $6000 in ticket sales, as well as a special appearance by beloved actor and social activist Danny Glover, who came to Oxford to raise awareness for the March on Mississippi in Canton on March 4 to bring awareness to the plight of Nissan workers,” Wildman said. “Glover visited the Oxford Film Festival on Friday evening and regaled the audience prior to a screening of Peck’s ‘I Am Not Your Negro,’ with personal anecdotes of meeting the film’s subject, James Baldwin, as well as talk to and pose for pictures with the fans. It was a fitting moment for a film festival that has not shied away from politics and speaking out on behalf of the underrepresented, both in the film community and the local community as well.”
Every year, the Oxford Film Fest brings thousands of visitors to Oxford, creates customers for the hospitality industry and the local restaurants, and provides outlets and opportunities for filmmakers. The Oxford Film Fest is a huge part of what keeps Oxford growing while staying unique and on the cutting edge of innovation in the arts community.
Oxford Film Fest’s Night On The Red Carpet
Photos by Paul Keelaghan.
Thacker Mountain Radio Hour’s Rocking Thursday Night Performance
For the full story, read “Thacker Mountain Radio Rocks The Lyric To Kick Off Oxford Film Festival,” by Alex Kitchens.
“I Am Not Your Negro” And “Kudzu Zombies” Highlight OFF’s Premier Night
For full coverage of Friday night’s event, check out “I Am Not Your Negro” And “Kudzu Zombies” Bring Record Crowds To Oxford Film Festival, by Gracie Snyder.
2017 Oxford Film Fest Award-Winning Films
“Some Freaks” – Best Narrative Feature
Director: Ian MacAllister-McDonald
Country: United States
Running Time: 95min
“First Lady of the Revolution” – Best Documentary Feature
Director: Andrea Kalin
Countries: Costa Rica, United States
Running Time: 67min
“Don’t Come Around Here” – Best Mississippi Feature
Director: Navid Sanati
Country: United States
Running Time: 95min
“Shake’em On Down” – Best Music Documentary
Director: Joe York
Country: United States
Running Time: 57min
“Woman on Fire” – Best LGBTQ Film
Director: Julie Sokolow
Country: United States
Running Time: 95min
“Chance” – Special Jury Citation – LGBTQ Film
Director: Jake Graf
Country: United Kingdom
Running Time: 16:11min
“Goodbye Neenaw” – Best Narrative Short
Director: Donald Ian Black
Country: United States
Running Time: 5:59min
“On Sunday” – Special Jury Prize – Narrative Short
Director: David Lea
Country: United Kingdom
Running Time: 6:30min
“Refuge” – Best Documentary Short
Director: Matthew Firpo
Country: Greece
Running Time: 20min
“Through the Wall” – Special Jury Prize – Documentary Short
Director: Tim Nackashi
Country: United States
Running Time: 6:20min
“Otha Turner” – Best Mississippi Short Film
Director: Ava Lowrey
Country: United States
Running Time: 6:02min
“Prisma” – Special Jury Prize – Mississippi Short Film
Director: Coop Cooper
Country: United States
Running Time: 9:13min
“Broken Paths” – Best Mississippi Music Video
Director: J.B Lawrence
Country: United States
Running Time: 4:44min
“Less Hell, More Angel” – Reel South Award
Director: Christian D’Andrea
Country: United States
Running Time: 11:20min
“I, Phillip” – Best Virtual Reality
Director: Pierre Zandrowicz
Country: France
Running Time: 14min
“The Trader” – Best Experimental Film
Directors: Manuel Alvarez Diestro, Sergio Belinchon
Country: Spain
Running Time: 12:06min
“Paco” – Best New Media
Director: Catalina Jordan Alvarez
Country: United States
Running Time: 12:10min
“Gunner Jackson” – Special Jury Award for Acting – New Media
Director: Christian Strevy
Country: United States
Running Time: 8:52min
“The Fox and the Whale” – Best Animation
Director: Robin Joseph
Country: Canada
Running Time: 12:03min
“A Little Love Goes a Long Clay” – Special Jury Award for Concept – Animation
Director: Juliet Buckholdt
Country: United States (Mississippi)
Running Time: 3:20min
Victor Negri (Gold Star) – Lisa Blount Memorial Acting Award
Erin Heidenreich (Girl Unbound) – Alice Guy-Blaché Female Filmmaker Award Juliet
Buckholdt (A Little Love Goes a Long Clay) – Pat Rasberry Emerging Mississippi Filmmaker Award
“Breakfast” – Best Editing
Director: Tyler Byrnes
Country: United States
Running Time: 9:44min
“I Am Not Your Negro” – Audience Award Winner (TIE)
Director: Raoul Peck
Countries: United States, France
Running Time: 95min
“Midnight Return” – The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey – Audience Award Winner (TIE)
Director: Sally Sussman
Country: United States
Running Time: 99min
Amy Goodin is a writer for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at argoodin12
Follow HottyToddy.com on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat @hottytoddynews. Like its Facebook page: If You Love Oxford and Ole Miss…
