On Friday, October 21, the Indie Memphis Soul of Southern Film Festival kicks off its annual weeklong festival at Muvico Peabody Place 22 Theaters, 150 Peabody Place.
The Indie Memphis Soul of Southern Film Festival is the only film festival in the country dedicated to films of a Southern persuasion. This year's festival will highlight more than 70 films about the South, shot in the South or made by Southerners. The weeklong lineup includes short, documentary, feature-length and experimental films by filmmakers from across the county as well as those in our own backyard.
"The festival has been steadily growing," said Les Edwards, Indie Memphis director, "but the recent success of Memphis filmmaker Craig Brewer's 'Hustle and Flow' and native Memphian Ira Sach's film '40 Shades of Blue' at Sundance has further increased interest in Memphis as a film town, and subsequently the festival has received more attention.
"We are seeing more quality submissions and have received quite a bit of national press this past year. We are glad that we can continue providing this forum for filmmakers and audiences to showcase the works of regional and national filmmakers whose films wouldn't normally come to Memphis."
Opening this year's festival is "Loggerheads," winner of Best Feature Film (Audience Award) at the 2005 Florida and Nashville film festivals. "Loggerheads" is the story of one son, two mothers and three overlapping stories of estranged families in three regions of North Carolina, starring Tess Harper and Bonnie Hunt. Cast member Michael Kelly and associate producer Matt Parker are expected to attend the screening, Friday, October 21, 8 p.m.
Other highlights include:
- "Code 33," the new documentary from the directors of internationally acclaimed "Horns & Halos" (IM 2002), follows the 2003 search for the notorious Miami serial rapist and reveals much more about the divides between community and policy and media and truth. Directors Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley are scheduled to attend, Sunday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
- "Defending Against Defense," a documentary from local filmmaker Elizabeth Daggett, who explores the controversial SuperFund site at the former Defense Depot in Memphis and its possible link to cancer among residents in the nearby neighborhood. Saturday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m.
- "Occupation Dreamland," a portrait of a squad of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne from Ft. Bragg, S.C., deployed in the Iraqi city of Falluja during winter 2004. The result is a revealing, sometimes surprising look at Army life, operations and the complexity of American war in the 21st century. Screening is Sunday, Oct. 23, 3 p.m.
- "A League of Ordinary Gentleman," winner of the Audience Award at the 2005 South by Southwest Film Festival, explores the history of the professional bowling tour, from the sport's glory days in the 1950s and '60s, through its near extinction in 1997. Screening is Sunday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
- "William Eggleston in the Real World," the highly acclaimed new documentary from director Michael Almereyda about "one of the most significant figures in contemporary photography." Filmed in Kentucky, Los Angeles and New York, with particular attention to downtime in Memphis, this is an intimate portrait of Eggleston revealing a deep connection between Eggleston's enigmatic personality and his groundbreaking work. The filmmaker is scheduled to attend the screening, Sunday, Oct. 23, 5 p.m.
- "Bright Sunny South," a humorous narrative short whose protagonist is busy fending off his girlfriend's dogs and intrusive neighbor, while trying to keep the man who saved him from dying in a well out of his life. Local filmmaker Andrew Nenninger is scheduled to attend screening on Sunday, Oct. 23, 9 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.
- "Oceanfront Property," winner of the Audience Award at the 2005 Texas Film Festival and Best Feature at the 2005 Magnolia Independent Film Festival, is a dramatic comedy about one week, one beach house and one girl who left the groom at the altar. Screening is Sunday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m.
- Youth Showcase featuring works of young filmmakers from the South, Saturday, Oct. 22, 1 p.m.
- New to the festival this year is a video music showcase from local musicians and filmmakers hosted by Live From Memphis, Saturday, Oct. 22, 9 p.m.
This festival will once again be held exclusively downtown at Muvico, 150 Peabody Place, which has donated theaters for the festival. "Muvico's ongoing commitment to the local film community is phenomenal," said Edwards. "We are so pleased to have the support of one of America's premiere cinemas. Muvico has been a generous and responsive partner for the past four years."
Festival screening times:
Friday, October 21, 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 22, 1 p.m. -9 p.m.
Sunday, October 24, 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
Monday-Thursday, October 25-28, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
For a complete listing of films and show times, see the posting below, visit www.indiememphis.com, pick up a Memphis Flyer or call (901) 246-7086.
Ticket prices are $6 for a single-show ticket and $60 for a festival pass (unlimited entry). The six pack (six-ticket multi-pass) is available for $25. Tickets and passes can be purchased at the Muvico ticket counter, the Indie Memphis Festival booth at Muvico or online at www.muvico.com. Discount parking is available in the Peabody Place garage with validated parking ticket.
Indie Memphis was founded in 1998 to provide a voice and forum for the diverse Memphis film community. In 1999, Indie Memphis became an initiative of Delta Axis, a non-profit 501(c)3 arts organization. Recognizing the contributions of the Delta to music and literature, the Delta Axis mission is to highlight similar contributions in contemporary visual arts. Indie Memphis promotes the contributions of Southerners to what is arguably today's most important art form: filmmaking.
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