Georgia Film Festival available online for free

More than 33 films including two feature-length movies and 16 student shorts are ready to be broadcast online during the 2021 Georgia Film Festival (GFF).

Hosted by the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Communication, Media and Journalism (CMJ), the fifth annual festival will be presented in a virtual format for free from Nov. 4-6. The festival's viewing parties will be followed by live question-and-answer sessions via Zoom. Registration will be on the GFF website.

"This year, we are excited to provide film lovers with the GFF content online to protect their health and well-being amid the COVID-19 pandemic," Dr. Jeff Marker, department head of CMJ, said. "All attendees may vote on their favorites to recognize the best of the best."

Viewers may vote for Best Indie Short, Best Student Short, Best of the Fest, and more. Winners will be announced on Nov. 7. Access to the films will last until Nov. 11 to allow viewers to see all the projects.

The festival will open at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 with the movie "The Plymouth Period." The coming-of-age drama is Atlanta-based director Jake Shiptenko's first feature film. The festival's last film will be shown at 8 p.m. Nov. 6, with the documentary "Look Away, Look Away." Written and directed by Patrick O'Connor, the film focuses on the five-year battle that led to the redesign of the Mississippi state flag. The festival will close with the awards announcements at 2 p.m. Nov. 7.

In between the first and last screenings, the audience may watch an array of shorts, which are 40 minutes or less. The categories include Student, Nighthawk, Added Perspectives, and Georgia shorts. While the Nighthawks block features only UNG students, the student block ranges from high school to master's degree students. The Georgia block features films made in Georgia or by Georgia-based filmmakers. And the Added Perspectives is a specialty category.

"This block features short films hand-picked by UNG student and faculty evaluators that showcase a broad spectrum of perspectives on the human experience," James Mackenzie, assistant professor of film and digital media, said. "The films range from a short documentary about a Palestinian immigrant building community in Memphis to a narrative piece about an American paratrooper lost on the Belgian-German border during WWII."

Marker always looks forward to the Nighthawks shorts.

"This year I’m especially excited to premiere the animated short 'Kamikaze,' adapted from the locally produced comic book," he said.

For film lovers looking to add to the festival experience, GFF is offering a Donor Box for $250. The box includes an official GFF T-shirt, a VIP lanyard, popcorn, and goodies from sponsors. The deadline is Monday, Oct. 25. Boxes will be mailed or available for local delivery or pickup.

Of the donation, $200 will be deposited into the CMJ Film Fund.

"We are offering them as a way to raise funds to support UNG student filmmakers in the film and digital media degree program and to enhance the at-home festival experience for our donors," Marker said. "Helping students clear these financial obstacles to success will have huge impacts on their careers."

For more information, visit the GFF website.