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Offshoot Film Fest 2011

(Seedling Film Association Announces Film Festival)

Seedling Film Association (SFA) will be hosting the second annual Offshoot Film Fest--four days of films, education, and fun held October 27th through the 30th in the Global Campus building on the Fayetteville square (2 East Center Street).  This event includes over 120 films from around the globe and brings together an eclectic mix of world-renowned filmmakers and artists, professional arts educators, esteemed members of the community, as well as students and film lovers from across the region. Individual screening/workshop tickets are $7.00 each and weekend passes are $35.00. Both are available on the website (www.seedlingfilm.com) or at the door.

In addition to the film screenings, many educational opportunities are available to both schools and community members.  The majority of educational opportunities will be occurring on Thursday, October 27th and Friday, October 28th.  Schools from around the region have secured their spot to learn from industry professional. In addition to screening independent films from around the country and around the globe, Seedling Film Association is proud to be screening many Arkansas made films at Offshoot Film Fest 2011.

Offshoot Film Fest 2011 begins with a day of educational workshops on Thursday, October 27th and the first professional independent film to kick the festival off properly will happen at 7pm with the screening of the film 'Karaoke Man.' (www.karaokemanthemovie.com)

Offshoot will culminate with the Awards Ceremony at 7pm Sunday October 28th. 

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If you are interested in more information about Offshoot Film Fest 2011 or the Seedling Film Association, please contact info@seedlingfilm.com or call 479-422-9958. Click here to view the official flyer.

Contact:
General Press Inquiries Contact: Mallory O'Neal, (479) 880-6936 Mallory@Littlerockfilmfestivial.org
LRFF Artistic Director Brent Renaud Brent@Littlerockfilmfestival.org

The Little Rock Film Festival announces Fall and Winter
Agenta Film Series Schedule

The Little Rock Film Festival (LRFF) and the Argenta Arts Foundation along with the Mitchell, Williams Law Firm are proud to announce the fall and winter schedule for the Argenta Film Series (AFS) beginning with a screening of Marathon Boy on October 7th, at the Argenta Community Theater in North Little Rock. A reception will begin at 6:30 pm and the film will begin at 7:00 pm. Director Gemma Atwal, will be in attendance from London for a question and answer period following the film's screening.

The Argenta Film Series is a new year-round film series, emphasizing in-depth discussions on the craft of filmmaking, and will showcase indoor and outdoor screenings of local, national and international films. John Gaudin of the Argenta Arts Foundation said, "we are excited to add the film series to the growing list of cultural events that are happening everyday in the Argenta Arts District. We are proud to partner with the Little Rock Film Festival in support of the creative and talented Arkansans involved in film."

The Fall and Winter Schedule is below. All screenings begin at 7pm at the Argenta Community Theater in North Little Rock. Reception begins at 6pm. Tickets for all events (except the October 25 fundraiser) are 8$ at the door or can be purchased online at LittleRockFilmFestival.org. 2012 LRFF Gold Pass holders get in free.

October 7, 2011 Marathon Boy
A Tribeca Film Festival official selection from HBO Documentary FIlms, MARATHON BOY is the story of a four-year-old boy who is plucked from the slums of India by his coach and trained to become India's greatest runner, but what starts as a real Slumdog Millionaire turns into the stuff of film noir: a tale of greed, envy and broken dreams. Director Gemma Atwal will be in attendance from London.

October 28, 2011 Drag me to Hell
A special free outdoor Halloween screening in a secret location TBA via twitter and facebook, of Sam Raimi's modern classic DRAG ME TO HELL. A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.

November 9, 2011 Bellflower
Offical Selection at the Sundance and SXSW film festivals, BELLFLOWER follows two friends who spend all their free time building flame-throwers and weapons of mass destruction in hopes that a global apocalypse will occur. The New Yorker says Bellflower is "Intense and beautiful. Blasts open a new dimension in the cinematic imagination." And Rolling stone says "Evan Glodell's explosive debut feature is a thing of toxic beauty. BELLFLOWER is one hot ride." Director Evan Glodell will attend.

December 7, 2011 Kassim the Dream
KASSIM THE DREAM tells the powerful story of child soldier from Uganda, who was kidnapped by a rebel army and forced to commit war atrocities, and then went on to become a professional boxer in the United States. In a memorable part of the story Kassim fights World Champion Jermain Taylor in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kassim and Taylor will participate in a Q and A following the screening.

January 7, 2012 Actor Robert Walden
3 time Emmy nominated actor, director and producer, Robert Walden will show clips of his work and talk about his career on television and in the movies. Walden has acted alongside many of the greats like Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, and worked with directors like Woody Allen. Walden is currently starring in the new TV Land sitcom HAPPILY DIVORCED.

February 16, 2012 The Wise Kids
A vivid, dynamic Southern coming-of-age drama, takes place in the transitional space between high school and college, when life seems to be all questions and no answers, and the future is scarily wide open. Set in and around a Charleston, SC Baptist church, tensions and buried feelings abound, as colleges are chosen and adults behave badly, as the characters hang onto what they have, all the while yearning to break free. Writer director Stephen Cone will attend.

*Special Program: October 25, 2011 The Unknown Citizen and FEEDASOLDIER.COM
A Special Fundraiser to support the Little Rock Film Festival and FeedASoldier.com. The FEEDASOLDIER.COM project centers around the short film THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER by Neil Osam. Produced in Little Rock the film re-enacts a simple gesture of anonymously giving back to our military personnel and veterans. Director Neil Osam will discuss how he hopes FeedASoldier.com will grow from a local grassroots effort into a national movement. Actor Michael Cuomo will attend from New York. This is a special Fundraiser to support the Little Rock Film Festival and FeedASoldier.com. Tickets are 100$ food and drinks are provided. Reception 6pm, Event at 7pm.

Upcoming Spring programs TBA include:

Just Like Us from Arkansas born producer Taylor Feltner. A group of "comedy ambassadors" travel from Dubai to Beirut, Riyadh to Cairo with a double mission: to disrupt the pervasive image of Muslims as solemn, threatening, and inhuman; and to deliver some much-needed relief and laughter to the intense reality of everyday life in the Middle East.

Freak Dance, by Arkansas born Director Matt Besser, and member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, is a major motion picture musical about good, evil, dance, saving dance from evil for good, and the greatest love story ever told…about dancers". Stars Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz and Tim Meadows.

"We're thrilled to expand the programming that has made the LRFF one of the fastest growing film festivals in the country, to include a year round slate of events at the Argenta Community Theater," LRFF creative director and co-founder, Brent Renaud said, "the Argenta Film Series will feature filmmakers from around the World and from right here at home in Arkansas, at least once a month, for in depth and intimate discussions on the craft of filmmaking."

Foothills Film Gazette
October 2011
Volume 7, Number 4

Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers Will Perform at FilmFest Benefit

Jazz masters Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers return to Batesville to perform a benefit concert for the Ozark Foothills FilmFest on Sunday, November 6. "Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon" will be held at Elizabeth's Restaurant, 231 East Main Street, at 3:00 p.m. Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages are included.

Block, a classically trained instrumentalist, performs a unique blend of traditional jazz, Bebop, and gospel. An Arkansas native, he honed his trumpet skills by playing at some of Kansas City's premier venues, including the legendary Grand Emporium. His ensembles have opened for Jonathan Butler, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. Block's ensemble toured Brazil, was spotlighted on the Emmy-nominated 2007 public television special "Front Row with Rodney Block," and performs frequently at the Afterthought in Little Rock. Out of the Box, the Real Jazz Lovers' first CD, has been well-received by the jazz community and work is currently underway on a second recording. Rodney and the group have been praised for "re-energizing jazz classics" while at the same time integrating new influences into their distinctive sound. The group includes Oliver Thomas on bass, Michael Chandler on drums, and Sam Carroll on keyboards.

Tickets for the benefit are $25 per person; four and eight person tables are available. Tickets may be purchased at Elizabeth's Restaurant or by calling 870-251-1189. Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon is sponsored by Elizabeth's, Bruce Cochran (The Wine Guy), George's Liquor, Daylight Donuts, Natalie's, MorningSide Coffeehouse, Tommy's Famous Pizza, Serenity Farm Bakery, Day and Night Sound and Lights, WRD Entertainment, KFFB 106.1 FM, and Pepsi.


Production Underway on Indie Film Initiative Project

One of the projects to receive a production grant through the Ozark Foothills FilmFest Indie Film Initiative is just wrapping shooting. 45RPM, written and directed by Juli Jackson of Paragould, will be entering into post-production following an ambitious September shooting schedule. The film, which follows a young woman artist named Charlie on an odyssey across Arkansas in search of her father's early 45 rpm recordings, will premiere at the 2012 FilmFest. Principal actors include Jason Thompson, Liza Burns, and Ed Lowry. Visual artist Mandy Maxwell created over a dozen original paintings to serve as the work of the fictional Charlie. Maxwell remarked, "This was an intriguing and exciting opportunity. I had the chance to take risks I never attempted before and view the process of painting from a completely different perspective." A lively and current website keeps followers updated on the production.


Ozark Foothills FilmFest Issues 2012 Call for Film Entries

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest is currently accepting submissions for the 11th annual festival, set for March 28-April 1, 2012 in Batesville, Arkansas. The festival is non-competitive with the exception of a $500 Audience Favorite award. All festival feature films are eligible for this $500 cash award determined by audience vote.

Entries are accepted in two categories:
OFFICIAL SELECTION. Narrative or documentary films forty minutes or longer in length.
INDIE FILM SHOWCASES. Narrative, documentary, animated, or experimental films less than forty minutes in length. Showcase films are screened in groups organized by genre or subject. A minimum of four showcases are typically scheduled.
Filmmakers whose work is chosen as an OFFICIAL SELECTION will be invited to attend the festival to present and discuss their work. Special consideration is given to filmmakers from Arkansas and neighboring states. Filmmakers age 18 and under are urged to submit their work to the organization's annual T Tauri Youth Film Festival, www.ttauri.org.

Submissions must be on DVD (preferably DVD-R) and accompanied by a non-refundable $10 entry fee. Films will not be returned unless sufficient return postage is provided. A complete entry form is available at www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org. All entries must be received by December 16, 2011. Mail entries to Ozark Foothills FilmFest, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove, AR 72550. Filmmakers will be notified of selection by January 31, 2011 or before. For additional information call 870-251-1189, or email ozarkfilm@wildblue.net.


Fifth Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest Screenwriting Competition Accepting Entries
Short and Feature Length Screenplays Accepted

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest is accepting entries for its fifth annual Screenwriting Competition. The competition, the only one of its kind in Arkansas, is limited to writers who have not yet had a work produced or optioned. Entries are accepted in two categories: Feature Screenplay, 90-130 pages, and Short Screenplay, 30 pages or less.

Entry Guidelines and an Entry Form are available at www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org. The entry deadline is December 1, 2011; entry fee is $20. Entries must be submitted electronically to bobpest@wildblue.net. Work should be submitted as a PDF, a Microsoft Word file, or a WordPerfect file; hard copy entries will not be accepted. Entry forms and the entry fee should be submitted by mail to Screenplays,195 Peel Road, Locust Grove, AR 72550.

Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Feature Screenplay ($600) and Best Short Screenplay ($400). Entrants will be honored and winners will be announced at a reception and awards ceremony during the 11th annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest, March 28-April 1, 2012, in Batesville.

Judges for the 2012 competition include Israeli filmmaker and screenplay editor Pola Zen (Dolls and Houses); Arkansas radio host, filmmaker, and film journalist Levi Agee; and Dawn Winkler, a screenwriter with an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. The Screenwriting Competition is sponsored in part by Category One Entertainment. For more information contact Bob Pest at 870-251-1189 or bobpest@wildblue.net.


Southeast Tourism Society Selects FilmFest as Top 20 Event for March 2012

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest has been selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events for the month of March 2012. This is the FilmFest's third straight year to receive this prestigious designation. The Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events receive extensive exposure in print media, web, and television and radio in the U.S. and Canada. Over 1,600 newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, AAA's, and others receive the Top 20 listings.

The Top 20 Events are listed on the Southeast Tourism Society website, www.southeasttourism.org, and on the vacation website, www.escapetothesoutheast.com. Festival president and co-founder Bob Pest calls the third consecutive selection "a tribute to our many sponsors, Film Society members, and partners." The festival features independent feature and short films, documentaries, animation, experimental films, international films, workshops, panels, a screenplay competition, social gatherings, and opportunities to meet and mingle with festival guests.

The Southeast Tourism Society is dedicated to the promotion of travel to and within the Southeastern states, recognizing the importance of festivals, events, and attractions in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.


The T Tauri Nation Participates in the 48 Hour Film Project

Fresh off their Movie Camp experience, T Tauri alumni participated in the Little Rock 48 Hour Film Project. Not only did they complete their film, but after completing a Movie Camp Script to Screen film in 21 hours, it wasn't even hard! The T Tauri participants were Casey Hubbard, Caroline Stone, Kate Moses, Sawyer Wright, Graceleigh Wright, and Payton Hubbard. The group named their production company The Three Peas (for Pest Prodigies Productions); their film is titled Bird Droppings and can be viewed here.

OTHER NEW LINKS FOR THE T TAURI NATION:

Photos, films, and instructor essays from the 2011 T Tauri Movie Camp on www.ttauri.org

Updated contests and calls for entries on www.ttauri.org/galaxy


Calendar

October 14-23, 2011. 20th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. www.hsdfi.org.

October 27-30, Offshoot Film Festival. Fayetteville, AR. www.seedlingfilm.com/offshoot.

November 3-6, 2011. 14th Annual Indie Memphis Film Festival. www.indiememphis.com.

November 6, 2011. Benefit Concert for the Ozark Foothills FilmFest featuring Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers. Elizabeth's Restaurant, 231 East Main, Batesville. 3:00 p.m. Tickets $25. Tickets are available at Elizabeth's or by calling 870-251-1189.

December 1, 2011. Entry deadline for the 5th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest Screenwriting Competition.

December 16, 2011. Entry deadline for the 11th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest.

We will be happy to announce any relevant dates and events in the Events Calendar. Send announcements to ozarkfilm@wildblue.net.  

For Immediate Release                                                                                                     8/9/2011 

Open Call for Actors, Extras, Stand-Ins and Photo Doubles for Feature film,
"MUD."

Award winning native Arkansan Jeff Nichols to bring his next feature film home.

Here is your chance to be cast in a major feature film Arkansas! We are looking to cast as many as 400 people to work on the film "MUD."

Where: Parkview Arts and Science Magnate High School
Metcalf Auditorium
2501 John Barrow Road, LR
When: Sunday, August 14^th, 1pm-7pm

Needed:   We have a special opportunity to cast a co-starring role, "Neckbone." This rural type boy should be age 13-17, to play 14, he is very much the outdoors type who has experience swimming and boating.

More Roles:   There are a wide variety of ages and types, which are needed to play various roles in this small river community. Ages 12 to 65+ will be considered. Men, women (all ages) and teens are needed.

Interested parties should attend open call; bring with them a recent non-returnable picture. A parent or guardian must accompany those under 18 years old. We are not accepting anyone under the age of 12.

If you are unable to attend open call, you may refer to the casting website to make application: www.ARFilmCasting.com. There you will find all instructions. If you do not have Internet access, you may mail a non-returnable photograph along with all contact information to: Mud Casting, 802 West 8^th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Please include height and weight. Those who apply on line do not need to attend the open call.

Let's find "Neckbone" in Arkansas! He should look 14, and have a bit of a hard edge and a strong survival instinct. He is comfortable in boats and water; other outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and motor biking would be ideal.

This role is also auditioning in other states and Los Angeles. As proud Arkansans this is an opportunity to showcase what The Natural State has to offer. Spread the word; encourage all who fit [the] description to make application immediately.

We are also looking to cast "May Pearl" in Arkansas as well. She should be Caucasian, 15-17, a small town girl with natural beauty.

"Mud," written and to be directed by Nichols, will begin filming this fall in central and south Arkansas. It is a coming of age drama centered on two fourteen year old boys (Ellis and Neckbone) who encounter a mysterious fugitive (Mud) on an island in the Mississippi River. Intrigued by this man, the boys enter a pact to help him escape capture. A friendship evolves as Mud teaches the boys as much as he learns from them.

This is Jeff Nichols' third feature film. "Take Shelter," scheduled for release in October by Sony Pictures Classics, follows the award winning "Shotgun Stories." "Take Shelter" won the Critics' Week Grand Prize and the Fipresci Award at the renowned Cannes Film Festival in May 2011, and is featured on many critics' lists of likely Academy Award contenders.

For Immediate Release

Contact:          Producer: Levi Agee (501) 837-5896, Levi@Littlerockfilmfestival.org
                      Associate Producer: Mike Ledford (870) 210-0704, Mike@Littlerockfilmfestival.org
General Press Inquires Contact:  
                            Mallory O'Neal (479) 880-6936, Mallory@Littlerockfilmfestival.org

Little Rock Film Festival to Produce 48 Hour Film Project
Argenta Community Theater
August 19-21, 2011

Little Rock, Ark - For the second consecutive year, the Little Rock Film Festival (LRFF) will produce the 48 Hour Film Project August 19-21, 2011. Completed films will be screened from August 28-30, 2011 and the Awards Ceremony is scheduled for September 10, 2011.

The 48 Hour Film Project is a competition in which filmmakers must write, film, edit and score an original short film in only two days. The participating teams receive a specific character, a prop and a line of dialogue that they must include in their films. Each team draws from a hat a genre under which its film must be categorized.

LRFF programmer, Levi Agee, will act as City Producer for the project, which is the world's largest, timed film competition. "The Little Rock Film Festival is very excited to be putting the 48 Hour Film Project on for the second year," Levi Agee said. Agee said that he has put together a "very helpful and enthusiastic" volunteer staff that will be assisting throughout the weekend. LRFF artistic director, Brent Renaud said that "the 48 Hour Film Project along with the the Reel Civil Rights Film Festival, and the Argenta Film Series which will begin this fall, are all examples of the growing year round programming that is making the LRFF one of the premiere film organizations in the country."

The competition will take place at Argenta Community Theater (http://argentacommunitytheater.com/) located in downtown North Little Rock. Vincent Insalaco of ACT said, "This is why ACT was created. Our partnership with the LRFF is good for the community. And the 48 Hour Film Project is completely volunteer-staffed from the filmmakers to the ticket takers. How wonderful is that!"

Teams who register for the competition before Monday, August 1, may do so at a discounted entry fee. Teams may register at www.48hourfilm.com/littlerock.

SPONSORS:

Press Release
June 20, 2011
For Immediate Release

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest
870-251-1189

Ozark Foothills FilmFest Issues 2012 Call for Entries

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest is currently accepting submissions for the 11th annual festival, set for March 28-April 1, 2012 in Batesville, Arkansas. The festival is non-competitive with the exception of a $500 Audience Choice award. All festival feature films are eligible for this

$500 cash award determined by audience vote.

Entries are accepted in two categories:

OFFICIAL SELECTION. Narrative or documentary films forty minutes or longer in length.

INDIE FILM SHOWCASES. Narrative, documentary, animated, or experimental films less than forty minutes in length. Showcase films are screened in groups organized by genre or subject. A minimum of four showcases are usually scheduled during the festival.

Filmmakers whose work is chosen as an OFFICIAL SELECTION will be invited to attend the festival to present and discuss their work. Lodging and a travel stipend is provided. Special consideration is given to filmmakers from Arkansas and neighboring states. Filmmakers age 18 and under are urged to submit their work to the organization's annual T Tauri Youth Film Festival, www.ttauri.org.

Submissions must be on DVD (preferably DVD-R) and accompanied by a non-refundable $10 entry fee. Films will not be returned unless return postage is provided. A complete entry form is available at www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org. All entries must be received by December 16, 2011. Mail entries to Ozark Foothills FilmFest, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove, AR 72550. Filmmakers will be notified of selection by January 31, 2012.

For additional information call 870-251-1189, or email ozarkfilm@wildblue.net.

The Bentonville Artsfest film programming continues to grow each year, highlighting emerging new filmmakers to industry veterans from around the region.  Our 2011 program partnerships with the Seedling Film Association and the 4320 Film Challenge will offer an exciting array of films.  Stay tuned for the full schedule!  

4320 Film Challenge - June 3-6, 2011

Teams have 4,320 minutes (72 hours) to make and submit a completed film to be shown to a rowdy audience of discerning tastes.  The fate of each film falls into the hands of three judges  who have no fear of public ridicule. Each team competes for a $500 cash prize and the dubious distinction of being the winner of the 2nd Annual 4320 Film Challenge at the Bentonville Artsfest.

The participants must incorporate elements of downtown Bentonville and a super-secret theme that will be revealed to them moments before they run out to start writing and producing the film.

This challenge is the seed for continued efforts to foster an expanded film presence for both auteurs and audience alike.

Please follow the link below for more information. 

http://www.downtownbentonville.org/artsfest-film/

Ross Macartney
4320 Film Challenge - Volunteer Organizer
(479)721-1450
ross.macartney@gmail.com

Press Release
For Immediate Release
April 18, 2011
Contact:  Bob Pest or Judy Pest
ozarkfilm@wildblue.net or 870-251-1189

T Tauri Movie Camp Set for July 18-30
Claymation and Acting on Camera Workshops Added

The seventh annual T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp will take place in Batesville, Arkansas from July 18 to July 30. The celebration of youth filmmaking includes a national young filmmaker competition judged by area high school students in the Lyon College Upward Bound APPLE project. Over 150 entries by filmmakers age 18 and under from 15 states were received last year. T Tauri also includes several days of public screenings of competition "Official Selections," that feature the best youth-produced films in the country.

The T Tauri Movie Camp consists of two weeks of filmmaking workshops for students in grades 3 through 12. Workshops take place on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) and at the historic Landers Theater building in downtown Batesville and range from two to four days in length. All of the work created in the workshops will be screened at the T Tauri Film Festival Finale Screening on Saturday evening, July 30, at UACCB. The workshop registration deadline is July 10; some workshops reach capacity early so we advise registering before May 31.

Script to Screen is a 3 ½ day workshop open to students entering grades 6 through 12. The workshop covers the basics of narrative filmmaking including script writing and storyboarding, production planning, acting, shooting, sound recording, and editing. Students work in small groups to complete short films. The workshop meets from Wednesday, July 27, to Saturday, July 30, on the campus of UACCB. Cost is $100 which includes all equipment and supplies. Students are encouraged to bring their own cameras.

Poetry in Motion, for beginners entering grades 3 through 8 meet for three half-days. Students will make short films built around poems. They will select (or write) poems, then decide what moving images, sound, and music best communicate the meaning and feeling of the written words. The workshop meets from Monday, July 18, to Wednesday, July 20, at the Landers Theater building. Students may attend either the morning session from 9:00 am to noon or the afternoon session from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Cost is $40, which includes all equipment and supplies.

Claymation is a type of stop-motion animation that uses clay figures as the primary characters. Students entering grades 4 through 10 will sculpt moveable clay figures using a wire skeleton covered with moldable clay. They will also write dialogue for their clay creatures, create scene props and backgrounds, and add narration, music, and credits. This new workshop meets Monday, July 25, and Tuesday, July 26, on the campus of UACCB. Cost is $75, which includes all equipment and supplies.
   
Acting on Camera is a new workshop for students with a passion for acting. The workshop helps young actors translate their stage acting skills into the basic building blocks to become adept at acting for the camera. Through reading and performing scenes from existing scripts, students will learn how to interact with fellow actors while maintaining a relationship with the camera. A final ensemble scene showcasing all workshop participants will be screened at the T Tauri Finale. The workshop meets at the Landers Theater building Tuesday, July 19 through Thursday, July 21. It is open to students entering grades 6 through 12. Cost is $100 which includes all equipment and supplies.

Flow with the Pro: Final Cut Pro Editing Workflow is a new workshop that focuses on the CORRECT way to use Final Cut Pro editing software. While it includes instruction in the software's basic user interface and core operations, it is more concerned with how a film editing project is planned and organized. The workshop will save novice Final Cut pro users hours, if not days, by demonstrating the proper sequencing of steps and cataloging of video footage, sound clips, still photos, and other elements in a video production. The workshop is open to students entering grade 8 through age 21. It meets Wednesday July 20 through Friday July 22 at the Landers Theater building. Cost is $150.

All workshop participants receive an official T Tauri Film Festival t-shirt, admission to the Finale Screening, and a DVD of the work produced in the workshops. Students provide their own brown bag lunches and beverages. A wrap party will be held on Saturday afternoon, July 30, on the UACCB campus, with burgers, hot dogs, beverages, and other treats. Time will be announced. Family members are invited to attend.

Workshop faculty members are experienced filmmaker/educators. Full workshop descriptions, faculty biographies, registration forms, and parental risk and consent forms are available at www.ttauri.org. Cancellations received on or before June 20 will qualify for a refund, minus a $10 cancellation fee. Refunds cannot be issued for cancellations received after June 20.

The T Tauri Movie Camp is non-residential. However, Comfort Suites, the official hotel of the T Tauri Film Festival, is offering a special festival rate of $76.49 for rooms booked by July 1, subject to availability. Comfort Suites is within two miles of both workshop venues and equipped with an indoor pool, hot tub, and exercise room and provides a continental breakfast buffet included in the room fee. All Comfort Suite rooms have convertible sofa beds, so the rooms accommodate at least two children and one adult. Call 870-698-1900 and ask for the T Tauri Film Festival rate.

The T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp is the youth division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation, founded in 2001. Sponsors include First Community Bank, UACCB, Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville, Batesville High School, the Arkansas Arts Council, Canon U.S.A., The Field Shop (Little Rock), the Independence County Recreation Fund, and Daylight Donuts.   

February 14, 2011
Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest
870-251-1189 or ttauri@wildblue.net

T Tauri Film Festival Seeks Entries to 7th Annual Young Filmmakers Competition

The 7^th annual T Tauri Film Festival Young Filmmakers Competition, one of the nation's longest-running youth film showcases, is accepting submissions. The festival takes its name from the astronomer's term for a newly-formed star. Students in grades 6 through 12 are eligible to enter. This year's competition categories include: Drama, Comedy, Short Documentary (10 minutes or less), Long Documentary (10-30 minutes), Animation, and Experimental and Music Video. The ArkanSTAR Award is also given to the best film made by an Arkansas filmmaker in any category. Cash and/or equipment prizes will be announced in the next few months on www.ttauri.org. In addition to prizes, winners in grades 10-12 also receive a $1,000 scholarship to the Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film in Nashville, Tennessee. The film program at Watkins is widely-respected. The Watkins scholarships will be awarded to all of the "principals" who work on the winning films, including the director, producer, cinematographer, editor, and screenwriter.

There is no entry fee. All entries must have been created between April 2009 and April 2011 and not previously submitted to the T Tauri Film Festival. Entries must be 30 minutes or less in length; be submitted in DVD format, preferably DVD-R; and be postmarked by April 1, 2010. There is no limit to the number of films entered. To facilitate judging, each entry should be submitted on a separate DVD unless the entries are in the same category.

A completed and signed Entry Form must be submitted with each entry. Entry Forms and Guidelines for Submission are available at www.ttauri.org/2011_competition. Competition winners will be announced July 1, 2011. Official Selections (films chosen to be screened at the festival along with the winners) will also be announced on July 1. The T Tauri Film Festival Young Filmmakers Competition is judged by high school students in the Lyon College Upward Bound program known by the acronyn APPLE. All of the award-winning films and a large number of Official Selections will be screened at the 7^th T Tauri Film Festival, July 29-31 in Batesville, Arkansas, and will be posted on the online young filmmakers screening room/learning lab, the T Tauri Galaxy (www.ttauri.org/galaxy). T Tauri Winners and Official Selections have also been broadcast on Arkansas public television and screened at the Indie Memphis Film Festival.

The T Tauri Film Festival is the youth division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc., a non-profit educational corporation founded in 2001. To find out more about the competition, call 870-251-1189 or email ttauri@wildblue.net.