The Oxford Film Festival is going into its 15th year, and with 204 films—18 of which are from Mississippi filmmakers—the festival is bigger than ever.
Some highlights include the opening night film The Last Movie Star featuring Burt Reynolds and Ariel Winter, a special screening of BASEketball including a baseketball tournament that festival goers and general public can sign up for, and the closing night selection of R.L. Laing biopic Mad To Be Normal starring David Tennant and Elisabeth Moss.
Among the 204 films, a 30 percent increase in the previous year’s lineup, 29 are world premiers and six are US premiers. Another interesting statistic is that this year features 60 films that were directed or codirected by females, a number likely assisted by the 50 percent discount for submissions by women filmmakers and the Alice Guy Blaché Award for Emerging Female Filmmakers.
“This year we’ve struck a wonderful balance between films that are thoughtful, provocative, reflect the world we live in, and address the issues of the day without blinking, with films that are just pure, fun entertainment,” said Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington. “The festival continues to increase in size and scope and that growth can also be seen in the work of our local Mississippi filmmakers, whose exceptional work continues to impress. This year’s festival includes 18 films from Mississippi artists, the most to date, and they will be highlighted right next to the best films we could find from all around the world.”
Spaghettiman won over the crowd two years ago to the point that an extra screening was added. Filmmaker Mark Potts will be making a return with his new comedy Cop Chronicles: Loose Cannons: The Legend of Haj-Mirage. The film follows two cops trying to take down an evil mastermind as they overcome personal, partnership issues.
As always, the Oxford Film Festival will be featuring works that address topics that weigh heavily in our society. This year sees the Mississippi premier of Trish Adlesic and Geeta Gandbhir’s award-winning HBO documentary, I Am Evidence. Produced by Law and Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay and focusing on the thousands of unprocessed rape kits across the country.
“Given the recent and continuing avalanche of sexual harassment and assault revelations in almost every area of society,” said Addington, “we felt it was important that the issues raised in these two films, as well as others in this year’s festival, be highlighted and discussed in our community.”
For the full lineup of films in this year’s festival as well as the entire announcement click here.
Oxford Film Festival 2018 Trailer from Oxford Film Festival on Vimeo.
