Call for Entries open May 1, 2018, for the 2019 Oxford Film Festival, taking place in Oxford, Mississippi, February 6-9, 2019. The 16th edition of the festival will include the return of OFF’s screenplay competition with cash prizes, as well as a reduced submission fee incentive for female filmmakers.

Led by Executive Director Melanie Addington, and additions to the programming lineup, including Hammer to Nail editor Don Lewis (Narrative features), critically acclaimed filmmaker/actor Victoria Negri (Mississippi features and shorts), and actor Donna Kozloskie (Documentary features and shorts), the Oxford FF will screen films, television, and virtual reality projects in all genres, as well as promoting and celebrating Mississippi filmmakers culminating in the presentation of the film festival’s award ceremony. Through year-round programming, the festival works to encourage filmmaking in Oxford and North Mississippi while growing understanding of cinema through screenings, workshops and educational programs, during the five-day event.

This year, films created by people with disabilities, and/or featuring performers with disabilities receive a 50% discount using code ReelOxff. This initiative will be added to the OXFF50 discount for female directed projects (which can be co-directed by a female and male) last year, which led to an increase of the film festival’s alumni database from 28% to 31%. Addington has pledged that OFF will keep the efforts going as long as it takes to get to 50-50 female to male representation.

The Oxford Film Festival will also be expanding the festival’s LGBTQ category, which will now total 5 features to be on track with he narrative and documentary competitions, thanks to generous Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences grant to expand LGBTQ stories in the state of Mississippi. In addition, there will be a new student category – which returns to the Oxford Film Festival after a 10-year absence timed to the launch of a new film major at University of Mississippi. OFF continues to work to strengthen ties to film students and find ways to better highlight their works.

The growth of that category, in addition to the continuation of the discounted submission fees for female filmmakers demonstrates the real, tangible support for artists of all genders, lifestyles, and cultures that the Oxford Film Festival represents in the South. The film festival has made a name for itself nationally in that regard for the impact it is making with filmmakers, film artists, and the local community, by embracing its place artistically, politically, and socially in Oxford and the state of Mississippi.

The Oxford Film Festival is now, without dispute, a prominent “voice” in the regional film festival community, as it continues to take real, and lasting, action in order to offer an oasis of culture, a position of advocacy and support on behalf of minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community, as it supports diverse voices in the state of Mississippi.

When submitting their films to Film Freeway for consideration by the festival, women should use the following submission code to receive their 50% discount: BlacheOXFF

Submissions can be made at https://filmfreeway.com/festival/OxfordFilmFestival, and more information is available at www.oxfordfilmfest.com.

The Oxford Film Festival’s competitions this year include:

Artist Vodka Film D’Or Prize

A grand prize of $10,000 will be given to the winner along with flight and hotel covered to attend the festival. Also, an audience winner will also be announced with a $500 prize.

Note all short films submitted must use “In Association with Artist Vodka” in beginning credits. A t-shirt or bottle can be purchased through the Artist Vodka website at http://artistvodka.com/ By submitting a film to this category, you agree to let the film be placed on the Artist Vodka and/or Oxford Film Festival website.

Entry deadline for the Artist Vodka Competition is December 1.

 

Short Screenplay Competition

The Short Screenplay Competition will feature the following prizes for the winning writer/filmmaker:

• A $1,000 prize for use in making the film from the winning script.
• OxFilm Society equipment rental for free for use in the production of the film if shot in Lafayette County as well as production support from OxFilm Society.
• Flight (if not local) and hotel accommodations to attend the Oxford Film Festival to hear the live table read of their script.
• Producer mentors including John Norris and Tate Taylor of Wyolah Films (GET ON UP, THE HELP) will also meet with the scriptwriter at the festival to consult on production details to assist in the making of the film.

• Second place will receive $500 and third place $250.

• Entry deadline for the short screenplay competition is December 1.

Eligibility rules can be found at www.oxfordfilmfest.com.

 

The festival screens short and feature-length films in both showcase and competition settings, hosts panel discussions on issues in contemporary filmmaking, and invites the filmmakers to interact with the audience at a number of social events.

Film categories include:

• Narrative and documentary features and shorts
• Mississippi narrative, documentary, and music video
• LGBTQ
• Fest Forward (Animation and Experimental)
• Student Films

Submission Deadlines

• Early Bird: September 4, 2018
• Regular: October 4, 2018
• Late: November 4, 2018

The festival was founded in 2003 by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. In 2008, it became an independent non-profit organization with 501c3 status committed to celebrating the art of independent cinema.