By Daniel R. Durrett
@FilmDitz
“It’s exciting to get excited about the way you’re getting to see a film, especially when the filmmakers are in attendance” proclaimed Elisabeth Alexander, the festival’s manager. “People think of the south in a certain way, but Oxford is very diverse.”
In it’s 22nd year, the Oxford Film Festival provides a vast mix of music documentaries and southern drama that reaches deeply past a traditional audiences to show the depth and difference of the Mississippi voice.
Opening films for the fest are a pair of short films; “A House For My Mother” Directed by Pilar Timpane & Ben Nero and produced by Ana Hoppert Flores. A House for My Mother is a poignant exploration of a remarkable individual’s life, interwoven with the broader narrative of African American history, racial progress, and the significance of preserving and honoring one’s heritage.
Accompanied by the short film Chasing Rabbits- A truck stop waitress finds her life changed after having her home vandalized in the middle of the night, and is triggered into an impulsive, irreversible decision. Director/Writer Michael Farris Smith, starring McGhee Monteith (Walk the Line, Muddy Water).
Friday continues the diversity of the media offerings, with a screening of “Designed by Preeti” The movie is a romantic drama about an Indian woman’s journey from spousal abuse to personal and professional empowerment as she experiences real love for the first time with someone outside her rigid community and race. Inspired by true stories, and starring Rashmi Rustagi (The Avenger, Atypical) who also wrote and produced the film. The film was directed by Gayatri Everitt Bajpai. “Designed by Preeti” addresses domestic abuse, mental health and interracial romance.
This afternoon screening will be joined with the short film “Hotaru” Directed by Herman J.R. Johnson, Produced by Ashley E. Gibson, and Co-Produced by Amy Nicole Gibson. “Hotaru” is set against the backdrop of the mid-1990s. This poignant short film follows Kayla, a young girl caught in the whirlwind of childhood’s highs and lows. With her family facing significant changes, Kayla must confront deep-seated trauma, forcing her to navigate a path of healing and understanding.
“James ‘Super Chikan’: A Life in Blues” is brought to screen by the director and producing team Mark Rankin and Brian Wilson (Yellowjackets, Harry and Meghan: Escaping the Palace). A Life in Blues both celebrates and explores the personal and musical life of one of Mississippi’s most treasured sons. Having travelled the world sharing his own unique brand of blues music, James ‘Super Chikan’ Johnson, at the age of 73, still strives to balance a musical career while providing for his family. This film endeavors to not only lay bare Chikan’s own story, but also examines how the culture and setting of the south has ultimately influenced his journey.
Returning to her home state is Mary Elizabeth Ellis (The Man on the Inside, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia) starring/directing and producing “Last to Leave” – A film that addresses the pandemic of loneliness post-covid, our primal need as humans for connection, and a reckoning with the way we treat our home planet. This talented and recognizable cast comes together to pack a big punch in a short film that takes a dark and terrifying twist.
Directed/Written/Produced by Andrew Stevens Stella Stevens: The Last Starlet The documentary explores the personal and professional life of Stella Stevens, arguably Hollywood’s last starlet, and includes an interview with Quentin Tarantino.
And 3 other full blocks of shorts; Saturday Shorts block (O), University of Mississippi students block (N), and the Youth Filmmaker Showcase. The year round Organization that produces the film festival is OxFilm. OxFilm celebrates the art of independent cinema. Through year-round programming, the festival works to encourage filmmaking in Oxford and North Mississippi as part of the global film community, while cultivating audience appreciation of cinema through screenings, workshops and educational programs that culminate in the annual festival.
Alexander says “Support for these developing artists who may not have the ability to get to a larger audience…” is essential.
Inclusive stories and diversity of the films selected are the flavor that make Oxford an amazing part of northern Mississippi.
The festival has much more than film screenings. In addition to the screenings are educational panels and parties where filmmakers from every corner of a set can network and celebrate movies.
Panels of note are “Creative Workshop: The Way of Words… a Journey into Character”, panelist and festival filmmakers, Michael Farris Smith and Rashmi Rustagi are joined by film director David Fortune (Color Book, Shoebox).
“Business Panel: Connecting The Dots…How to Make it Happen (with help)”, panels filled with Filmmakers (Ellis and Stevens) are joined by Nina Parikh from the MS Film Office and Festival Founder Ryan Parker.
“The festival is about film, but more than that, it is about people discovering Oxford, its history and its rich artistic culture,” Alexander informed.
Town sites such as Historic Oxford Square founded in 1837 which was home to Neilson’s the South’s first department store, and currently home to the famous Square Books. The famous author Willam Faulkner has a historic home that is now a museum. First opened in 1848, The University of Mississippi often referred to as “Ole Miss” is public research university that beams with historic significance. “Ole Miss” Law school was attended by Lawyer/Author John Grisham, who has brought us so many wonderful legal thrillers. And some actual legal justice in more recent books.
COMING SOON….. ReelNewz John Grisham Film Feature Guide
Oxford, the home of this eclectic and unique showcase of film and art, provided all with a southern flair needed for any of its attendees. Finding myself more excited than I have been for a film festival in some time, Alexander and I completed our interview, leaving me with this final thought, she explained to me that “In Oxford we have true southern hospitality.”
