Festival South winners
|This is a press release from Festival South Film Festival
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The 2nd Annual Festival South Film Festival has once again produced as wide variety of winners as it did entries. In gaining international attention the Expo showcased films from as far away as the United Kingdom and Australia.
From a field of 28 entries top honor, the Golden Magnolia Award, went for Best Feature: “High Cotton,” directed by Ken Horstmann. A cash prize of prize of $500 was made for this award. The Golden Magnolia for the Best Short, went to the production “Sam” directed by Hattiesburg resident, Jessy Hughes, who received a $250 cash award.
In other awards the Audience Award went to “Follow The Money”, a documentary from the United Kingdom, directed by Steve Boggan, Ben Unwin, and John Hardwick. Of special note, Ben Unwin was in Hattiesburg from the U.K. to accept this award. The Best Cinematography Award, went to “The Flying Dutchmen,” a documentary, directed by Kendall Miller of McComb, MS.
Best actor honors went to Jody Thompson, of “High Cotton” and Best Actress honors went to Kelly Murtagh, for “Seagulls,” directed by David Dubos.
In addition to showcasing 14 features and 14 shorts the Festival hosted a sold out sneak preview screening of Miles Doleac's new feature THE HOLLOW. Star of “The Hollow” James
Callis was on hand for a panel before the screening and to participate in a Q and A with Miles and members of the local cast afterward. Callis is best known for his role as Gaius Baltar in SyFy Channel's “Battlestar Galacgtica”
According to Expo Director, Miles Doleac, this year was bigger and better than last, and said: “It is our aim to grow the festival each year, to continue to provide Mississippi-based independent filmmakers a platform to showcase their work and to build a festival that commands worldwide attention and shines a positive light on the film community in our state.” He further noted that it was a very special thing to see Mississippi filmmakers not only showing their films here, but winning the awards.
Expo sponsors include Forrest County, Visit Hattiesburg, Historia Films, The Grand Theatre and That’s a Wrap TV/Film Acting Studio.
