The Opening Night red carpet at the Oxford Film Festival is also a raucous event at The Lyric with Thacker Mountain Radio music blaring forth live onstage not that far from where the photos and interviews are being done in the foyer. As with every event and screening at Oxford, the “party” is always about to happen, if it hasn’t already inserted itself into the proceedings -and the red carpets are no different.

 

HE COULD'VE GONE PRO director McGhee Montieth (Photo by Bill Dabney)

HE COULD’VE GONE PRO director McGhee Montieth (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Oxford FF 2017 - Victoria Negri (GOLD STAR) 2.16.17 (Photo by Bill Dabney)

GOLD STAR’s director…and star, VICTORIA NEGRI (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Matthew and Harold Millan, the son and father filmmaking team behind the documentary STRONGER THAN BULLETS (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Matthew and Harold Millan, the son and father filmmaking team behind the documentary STRONGER THAN BULLETS (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Team Millan with the poster shot for their film, STRONGER THAN BULLETS (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Team Millan (Director Matthew, Producer – and dad, Harold) with the poster shot for their film, STRONGER THAN BULLETS (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Brian Whisenhunt, doing double duty at the Oxford FF, as he was a programmer of the new LGBTQ section and also had an acting role in the short film, SHABATI. And he can also do Jazz hands. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Brian Whisenant, doing double duty at the Oxford FF, as he was a programmer of the new LGBTQ section and also had an acting role in the short film, SHABATI. And he can also do Jazz hands. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

EL ESCAPE director, Fabian Pinella (Photo by Bill Dabney)

EL ESCAPE director, Fabian Pinella (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Producers of the creepy fun short FEEDING TIME, Jennifer and Kevin Studer (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Producers of the creepy fun short FEEDING TIME, Jennifer and Kevin Studer (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

FEEDING TIME's Jennifer Studer, does the "style shot". (Photo by Bill Dabney)

FEEDING TIME’s Jennifer Studer, does the “style shot”. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Jenifer and Kevin Studer pose with the poster for their film, FEEDING TIME (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Jenifer and Kevin Studer pose with the poster for their film, FEEDING TIME (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

He had to be talked into doing the red carpet.. EVOCATION OF A NIGHTMARE's Wally Chung (Photo by Bill Dabney)

He had to be talked into doing the red carpet.. EVOCATION OF A NIGHTMARE’s Wally Chung (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

The I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE TEAM: Emily Cooley (Costume Assistant), Mario Tutor (Voice Over), Deborah Freedland (Director and Editor), Glennnray Tutor (Painter and star of the film), and Mark Alexander Carroll (Music) (Photo by Bill Dabney)

The I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE TEAM: Emily Cooley (Costume Assistant), Mario Tutor (Voice Over), Deborah Freedland (Director and Editor), Glennnray Tutor (Painter and star of the film), and Mark Alexander Carroll (Music) (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

The I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE crew pose with their poster (Emily Cooley, Marion Tutor, Deborah Freedland, Glennray Tutor, Mark Alexander Carroll) (Photo by Bill Dabney)

The I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE crew pose with their poster (Emily Cooley, Marion Tutor, Deborah Freedland, Glennray Tutor, Mark Alexander Carroll) (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Glennray Tutor (I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE) explains his art to a reporter on the Oxford Film Festival red carpet (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Glennray Tutor (I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE) explains his art to a reporter on the Oxford Film Festival red carpet (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Producer Adam Shakinovsky and director/writer Jennifer Sheridan of the short film, SET ADRIFT (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Producer Adam Shakinovsky and director/writer Jennifer Sheridan of the short film, SET ADRIFT (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

SET ADRIFT's Adam Shakinovsky explains to a reporter how their film is guaranteed tomato you cry in less than 8 minutes. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

SET ADRIFT’s Adam Shakinovsky explains to a reporter how their film is guaranteed to make you cry in less than 8 minutes. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE's Marion Tutor tries to convince Oxford Film Festival publicist John Wildman that their "space refugee" just arrived and they needed to do another photo. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE’s Marion Tutor tries to convince Oxford Film Festival publicist John Wildman that their “space refugee” just arrived and they needed to do another photo. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE's Glennray Tutor, Deborah Freedland, and Steve Wooten (the space refugee) (Photo by Bill Dabney)

I WAS A SPACE REFUGEE’s Glennray Tutor, Deborah Freedland, and Steve Wooten (the space refugee) (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

One of the stars and the DP of local community film FIRMAX: Jacob Hall and Derek Brown (Photo by Bill Dabney)

One of the stars and the DP of local community film FIRMAX: Jacob Hall and Derek Brown (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Jacob Hall attempts to convince a reporter that the film FIREMAX is really all about him, while Director of Photography Derek Brown is poised to get to the truth of the matter. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Jacob Hall attempts to convince a reporter that the film FIREMAX is really all about him, while Director of Photography Derek Brown is poised to get to the truth of the matter. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

SOME FREAKS producer Tim Harms doesn't quite have the poster shot thing down yet. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

SOME FREAKS producer Tim Harms doesn’t quite have the poster shot thing down yet. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

THE OTHER KIDS director Chris Brown proudly holds his film's poster on the red carpet. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

THE OTHER KIDS director Chris Brown proudly holds his film’s poster on the red carpet. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Matthew Morgan, one of the people responsible for casting the Opening Night Gala selection, STRANGE WEATHER. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Matthew Morgan, one of the people responsible for casting the Opening Night Gala selection, STRANGE WEATHER. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Jury member and panelists Eric Snider and Gabriel Furman flank Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Jury member and panelists Eric Snider and Gabriel Furman flank Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Oxford FF 2017 - Meagan Harkins (JOEL BLASS) 2.16.17 (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Meagan Harkins, director of the documentary, JOEL BLASS (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Megan Harkins (JOEL BLASS) does the poster shot thing on the Oxford Film Festival red carpet (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Megan Harkins (JOEL BLASS) does the poster shot thing on the Oxford Film Festival red carpet (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Michael McIntee (Director) and Laurie Pumper (Producer) of the documentary, HOW LOVE WON - THE FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN MINNESOTA (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Michael McIntee (Director) and Laurie Pumper (Producer) of the documentary, HOW LOVE WON – THE FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN MINNESOTA (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Michael McIntee talks to a reporter about his documentary, HOW LOVE WON - THE FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN MINNESOTA (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Michael McIntee talks to a reporter about his documentary, HOW LOVE WON – THE FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN MINNESOTA (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Elise Fyke and Matthew Morgan, the casting team behind STRANGE WEATHER (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Elise Fyke and Matthew Morgan, the casting team behind STRANGE WEATHER. You’d never know it, but we nearly had a wardrobe malfunction right before this shot. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Amy Nicholson, director of the beloved short film, PICKLE (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Amy Nicholson, director of the beloved short film, PICKLE (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Even the poster for PICKLE is adorable. Amy Nicholson, director, at the Oxford Film Festival. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Even the poster for PICKLE is adorable. Amy Nicholson, director, at the Oxford Film Festival. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Oxford's own Susan McPhail with Derek Brown (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Oxford’s own Susan McPhail with Derek Brown (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

The filmmaking team behind THE PROCESS: THE WAY OF PABLO SIERRA: Producer Andrew George, director Jeff Dennis, and DP Derek Brown. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

The filmmaking team behind THE PROCESS: THE WAY OF PABLO SIERRA: Producer Andrew George, director Jeff Dennis, and DP Derek Brown. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

 

Just before the red carpet was wrapped for the evening, Greg Earnest, the director of BORN IN THE BLUES asked, "Are short film directors allowed on here? Hell , yes, they are! (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Just before the red carpet was wrapped for the evening, Greg Earnest, the director of BORN IN THE BLUES asked, “Are short film directors allowed on here? Hell , yes, they are! (Photo by Bill Dabney)