Crossroads Film Festival

The 9th Annual Crossroads Film Fest offers Movies, Music and Art

Attention music lovers! From April 3-6, 2008, The Crossroads Film Society presents its 9th Annual Crossroads Film Festival, incorporating 70+ films, local and national recording artists, pre- and post- parties and a variety of workshops and panels. Screenings begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Regal Parkway Place Theater (Lakeland Dr. @ Airport Rd.) and run
through Sunday evening. Throughout the festival, the late-night celebration continues with live music at Hal & Mal’s.

This year Crossroads’s line-up includes music related films and Saturday morning at the Mississippi Museum of Art, a free panel discussion on “Film & Music: Legal Issues.” Jackson native, producer Orian Williams, will be in attendance at Friday’s screening of Control, starring Samantha Morton—a narrative feature based around the late singer of Joy Division, Ian Curtis. The highly acclaimed I’m Not There, a journey into the life and times of Bob Dylan, starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere and Heath Ledger, will screen Saturday night. Also on Saturday, Of All the Things features Dennis Lambert of “Rhinestone Cowboy” fame, a prolific 70’s songwriter turned 60-year-old real-estate salesman. When a Filipino promoter convinces Dennis to make a comeback tour (turns out his 1972 solo album was huge in the Philippines), he rediscovers his passion for music. Other music films include the narrative feature Teary Sockets, which follows an LA-based emo-kid rock-star’s return to his childhood home of Garlandsville, Mississippi, and the shorts The Babies Got the Blues and Black and Blues, both filmed on location in Clarksdale.

Following Saturday’s Screening of Bonnington Truce: An Alternative History of Mississippi, Bonnington Truce will play a one-night only reunion show in the Hal and Mal’s brew-pub, with the Awards Ceremony happening in the Big Room. Other festival-related music includes classic 70’s soul performers, Wiley & the Checkmates (Friday in the Red Room - open to the public); the Jackson-based salsa group, Latinismo (Thursday in the Red Room - open to the public); Athens-based indie-rockers Abandon the Earth Mission (featuring former Macha frontman Joshua McKay); and the returning favorite, lounge/trip-hop act Amanda Ray.

ALL-ACCESS festival passes are available online, at www.crossroadsfilmfest.com or by phone, at 800-838-3006. Passes are $65 ($55 for Crossroads members) and get you into all events. Tickets to individual films are $8. Please visit our website for a complete festival line-up and to purchase advance tickets to individual films. Parties with music at Hal &
Mal's are $5 at the door or free with ALL-ACCESS pass.

The 9th Annual Crossroads Film Fest offers Movies, Music and Art

From April 3-6, 2008, The Crossroads Film Society presents it’s 9th Annual Crossroads Film Festival, incorporating 70+ films, local and national recording artists, pre- and post- parties and a variety of workshops and panels. Each afternoon kicks off with a Meet & Greet Reception for filmmakers and passholders, providing multiple opportunities for fans to visit with filmmakers. Each evening ends with music at downtown venues, including Latin, indie rock, trip-hop, roots rock and 70’s soul group, Wiley & the Checkmates.

Screenings begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Regal Parkway Place Theater (Lakeland Dr. @ Airport Rd.) and run through Sunday evening and include the first two films of Crossroads 2008 Global Lens Film Series, promoting cross-cultural understanding through cinema. Films from India and Argentina will be shown. Saturday at the Mississippi Museum of Art, Crossroads will offer a free Children’s Storyboards & Flipbooks workshop and a screening of movies made by kids sponsored by the Canton Film Office. Other workshops include Youth Animation, Teen Filmmaking, Sound for Film, New Media, Film & Music: Legal Issues, and Indy-pendent Filmmaking, featuring two Mississippians who, as teenagers, made a nationally noted recreation of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Jackson natives Tate Taylor and Brunson Green, writer and producer, will be in attendance for the opening night film, Pretty Ugly People, about a dying woman’s attempt to bring six estranged college friends together in the Montana wilderness. Another Jackson native, producer Orian Williams, will be in attendance at Friday’s screening of Control, starring Samantha Morton—a narrative feature based around the late singer of Joy Division, Ian Curtis. The highly acclaimed I’m Not There, a journey into the life and times of Bob Dylan, starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere and Heath Ledger, will screen Saturday night. Following Saturday’s Screening of Bonnington Truce: An Alternative History of Mississippi, Bonnington Truce will play a one-night only reunion show at the Crossroads after party in the Hal and Mal’s brew pub with the Awards Ceremony happening in the Big Room. Other notable films include Lars and the Real Girl (Ryan Gosling), What Would Jesus Buy? (Reverend Billy), thought-provoking documentaries, and innovative blocks of short films.

And don’t miss the only film to win two awards at 2008’s prestigious Sundance Film Festival! The Mississippi-made Ballast will screen Saturday night, with Mississippi-based cast and crew in attendance.

Saturday’s Awards Party at Hal & Mal’s will recognize the best features, shorts, documentaries, student and youth films, animation and experimental films and music video.

ALL-ACCESS festival passes are available online, at www.crossroadsfilmfest.com or by phone, at 800-838-3006. Passes are $65 ($55 for Crossroads members) and get you into all events. Please visit our website for a complete festival line-up and to purchase advance tickets to individual films.

www.crossroadsfilmfest.com
www.crossroadsfilmsociety.com
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"Crossroads provides more than just films to watch. Film fans have the opportunity to meet many of the filmmakers and discuss the filmmaking process as well as participate in free screenwriting workshops. Even the youngest fans will get a chance to learn about the filmmaking process." Chris Gore - Film Threat
The Crossroads Film Festival, held every year in early April, fulfills two of the fundamental goals of the Crossroads Film Society--to promote Mississippi filmmakers and to bring quality independent films to the Jackson Metro area. In addition to films, the Festival also features special panel discussions, film-related seminars and after-parties with national and regional up-and-coming bands.
2008 Festival Highlights:
• Mississippi films will be shown daily.
• There are Daily World Cinema and Art House Showcases featuring films from around the world.
• Filmmakers from 12 countries will be represented at the festival.
• On Saturday, the Festival features the Workshops at the Mississippi Museum of Art include an animation workshop for children, ages four and up, "How to Shoot a Film" workshop for teens and many others.
• Cash prizes for best films will be presented Saturday night at Hal & Mal’s, 9 p.m.
• There will be post screening entertainment each night at Hal & Mal's premiering recording artists Abandon the Earth Mission (of Macha), Latinismo, Wiley & the Checkmates, Amanda Ray and others.
You can become a Crossroads member at the Parkway Place Theatre lobby membership table anytime during the Festival, or before any Crossroads event, to get your discounts for all-access passes, tickets and year round events. The all-access festival pass is the only way to attend all the filmmaker receptions, parties, workshops and films, all for one low price. All films are shown at Parkway Place Theatre in Flowood, at Lakeland Drive and Airport Road. The Saturday Filmmaker Workshops will take place at the Mississippi Museum of Art, as will the screenings of Mississippi youth films. Call 601-212-7387, or go to www.crossroadsfilmfest.com for more information.
For press kits and information email Anna Kline or crossroadsfilmfest@yahoo.com, or call 601-212-7387.
A limited number of press passes are available, and media crews are welcome at all Crossroads events. To arrange in-studio interviews, email Greg Williamson at atgreg17@comcast.net or Cheree Franco at chereefranco@gmail.com .
The Ruma award is given annually to the most promising Mississippi filmmaker. This year’s painting honors the festivals former vice president Ruma Haque, who died in a car accident.
To become a Crossroads member, check out the applications at www.crossroadsfilmsociety.com

2008 Crossroads Film Festival Workshops Schedule

Reserve you space now.

All Workshops at the Mississippi Museum of Art
Saturday April 5, 2008
Museum of Art Schedule (Workshops and screenings)
$2 discount for Crossroads Society members

8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. (free)
STORYBOARDS & FLIPBOOKS with Nan Beaumont
(Ages 6-12)
"Storyboards & Flipbooks" is a workshop for aspiring artists who don't
own movie equipment. The emphasis is on staging and pre-visualizing
with still photography, and on learning the basic principles of simple
animation. Participants will create a commercial storyboard to be
critiqued by local judges, along with a flipbook.
Mississippi Museum of Art
To reserve a seat, please email nbeaumont107@yahoo.com.

9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. ($5)
"SHOOT IT" - TEEN FILM MAKING WORKSHOP with ASH TAYLOR
(Ages 10-18)
This interactive workshop is for both the young filmmaker and actor.
Ash Taylor, actor and director, will teach you the ins and outs of
working behind the camera and in front of the camera. Participants will learn
techniques used in blocking, lighting and acting in a scene.
Mississippi Museum of Art
To reserve a seat, please email wbiggins2@gmail.com.

9:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. (free)
FILM & MUSIC: LEGAL ISSUES PANEL DISCUSSION
(Adults)
Panelists: Shawnassay Howell Britt, Orian Williams, Anna Kline, and Hal
“Corky” Kessler
Moderator: Anita Modak-Turan
This roundtable featuring four industry experts on legal issues related
to film production, distribution and music licensing, this panel will
address potential difficulties that are encountered during the
filmmaking process. Use of recorded music, footage of public and private
landmarks, shooting permits, interview clearances, and other issues will be
discussed, as they relate to all filmmakers. Questions from the audience
are welcome and appreciated.
Mississippi Museum of Art.
To reserve a seat, please email wbiggins2@gmail.com

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ($10)
NEW MEDIA WORKSHOP with Anthony Marshall
(Adults)
Anthony Marshall, co-founder of MTV’s Lyricist Lounge and creative
consultant for Current TV, gives a lecture on the exciting field of new
media. The lecture explores a variety of digital content forms—software,
websites, blogs and wikis, podcasting, and more—and shows how this
information technology can be used to create new models for film and
television production and distribution.
Mississippi Museum of Art
For more information call 601-212-7387.
To reserve a seat, please email wbiggins2@gmail.com.

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (free)
YOUTH FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE
(All ages)
Sponsored by Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau and Film Office
A special screening of film shorts made by young moviemakers, ages
10-18, including videos made during the Canton Young Filmmakers Workshops
2007 and What’s Up? directed by Curtis Everitt.
Mississippi Museum of Art

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (free)
Screening of Take Part!
(All ages)

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ($5)
YOUTH ANIMATION WORKSHOP with Philip Gentile
(Ages 8 and up)
Phillip Gentile, filmmaker and professor of film at the University of
Southern Mississippi, will conduct a camera-less animation workshop for
kids of all ages. Each participant will create an animated film and
view them with music at the end of the workshop.
Mississippi Museum of Art
To reserve a seat, please email wbiggins2@gmail.com.

1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. ($10)
SOUND FOR FILM WORKSHOP with Sam Watson
(Adults)
Sam Watson's Sound Workshop will cover the areas of recording in the
field, Edit Suite Magic, and sound as a storytelling device. It will
includes hands-on opportunities with standard tools of the trade (mics,
mixers, DAT machines, timecode slate, etc), suggestions for acquiring
decent and affordable gear for use on your own projects, tips on capturing
the illusive beast known as “good sound” on set, and how to make use of
it in crafting of your project via some demonstrations within
post-production software (mainly Logic Pro but applicable to any program with
decent sound manipulationcapabilities) and examination of clips from
various films and projects that illustrate use of sound to enhance the
storytelling experience.
Mississippi Museum of Art
To reserve a seat, please email wbiggins2@gmail.com.

1:30 – 4:30pm – ($10)
Indy-pendent Filmmaking: How 3 Teenagers Remade a Hollywood Epic For
Next to Nothing
(Ages 11-18)
Eric Zala & Chris Strompolos
A how-to lecture in indie filmmaking with concrete examples from Zala
and Strompolos’s experience in remaking Raiders of the Lost Ark as
teenagers. An intensive session touching on all stages of film-making
—pre-production, production and post-production, plus plenty of fun stories.
Mississippi Museum of Art
To reserve a seat, please email wbiggins2@gmail.com

The 9th Annual Crossroads Film Festival
April 3-6, 2008
4 Days, 70+ Films, Music & Workshops
Parkway Place Theatre, Lakeland Dr.

The All-Access Festival Pass is the best way to enjoy the full 4-Day
festival & Reserve Your Seat for Every Film. This Pass offers entry to
all events at one low price and offers exclusive access to meet & greet
filmmaker receptions, as well as all films, workshops, panel discussions
and after parties. Reserve your seat.

Purchase Your Pass Online Now. Pick it Up at Will Call during the
festival or have it Mailed to You Or CALL our Ticket Hotline 24/7 at
800-838-3006 to order your passes.