“The Tallahassee Film Festival is excitedly anticipating this year’s 48-Hour Film Contest, which each year attracts talented filmmakers from across the country,” said Lou Armesto, TFF Board Chair. “The contest is a fun event for both filmmakers and the public, who eagerly await their work.“  The fun begins in the lobby of the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science on Nov. 2^nd, where orientation will take place at 7 p.m.  There the three required elements of each film will be announced: theme, prop and line of dialogue, all of which must be prevalent in all submissions and congruent with the film’s storyline.

No previous film experience or training is necessary; however along with the entry fee of $50 per team, participants are required to submit a registration form and a hold harmless agreement.  Teams are allowed a maximum of five members and will be entered into one of three categories based on level of experience: youth, amateur or professional filmmakers. One team of winners in each category will be awarded with a $100 cash prize, bragging rights and a trophy.  Results will be determined by a panel of non-competing filmmakers and film critics.  The Tallahassee Democrat, the contest’s primary sponsor, will post all qualified entries on their website, www.tallahassee.com, to help facilitate the Audience Choice Award. Friends, family and the community will have a one-week opportunity to vote in the audience choice category beginning on Nov. 9^th at 7 p.m.

Ms. Chucha Barber, 48-Hour Film Contest Committee Chair, says, “We encourage everyone to view the videos online and cast their ballot for the Audience Choice Award by voting for their favorite.”

All winners will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 29^th, at a public event sponsored by the Tallahassee Democrat and Tri-Eagle Sales.  Registration forms and official rules and regulations for the 48-Hour Film Contest can be found on the Tallahassee Film Festival website at www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

About the Tallahassee Film Festival:

The Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose Mission is to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development; its Vision is to make Tallahassee a nationally recognized film center.  To those ends, in partnership with the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, it produces an annual festival and other year-round, film-related events. For more information, visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is collaborating with the LeMoyne Center for Visual Arts to co-host a special event during the Hot Glass & Jewelry Invitational on Friday, Oct. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Doors at the LeMoyne Center will open at 6 p.m. for the event. The $12 admission price (or $10 for LeMoyne members) will be collected at the door.

Only on the night of the 19th, guests will be offered two special treats not available during the regular run of the exhibit. At 7 p.m., as the stars come out on the back patio, there will be a sneak-peak showing of a new documentary, AI WEIWEI: Never Sorry, a documentary that chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and gets into an increasing number of clashes with the Chinese government. With seating for the film limited to 100 viewers, those who want to be a part of the action should plan to arrive early. Also guests will have the opportunity to shop from the works of nationally known special guest artist and jewelry enamellist, Kristin Anderson, who is exclusively showing her artwork that evening. Kristin was trained in the fine art of enamels in Norway and continues to design and sell her work both locally and nationally. This is in addition to all the other “fabulous, funky and fashionable” artists’ works on display during the Hot Glass & Jewelry Invitational. It is a great opportunity to do early holiday shopping from special items you won’t find elsewhere.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the generous team at the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts to raise awareness of both organizations while celebrating our mutual support of all the visual and cultural arts.” says Lou Armesto, TFF Board Chair. “We are certain this night will be of great interest to the Tallahassee community, not only because of our exclusive film screening but because of our nationally recognized guest, Kristin Anderson, that we are honored to present. TFF and the LeMoyne Center are combining art and film for this one-of-a-kind event that you won’t want to miss.”

All activities throughout the night will be accompanied by a cash bar and concessions stand. TFF thanks Tri-Eagle Sales and HandiStuff Vending for its support of this event. For more information, please visit: www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com or www.lemoyne.org.

Above from Left to Right: Paul Cohen, Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda, and Lawton Langford

“The marriage of the Film Festival and the Film School is good for both organizations and our community,” said Frank Patterson. “The Film School has always been committed to teaching students to be great film makers but it is equally important to teach them to be good business people.  Paul Cohen will bring outstanding independent films and film makers to our local festival, providing our students with additional opportunities to meet, network and learn from industry professionals.  The Film Festival and our community will get the benefit of extraordinary film experiences that are likely to become Oscar contenders.”

State Representative Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda stressed that The Tallahassee Film Festival is important to economic development.  She has been a supporter of the Festival since its inception and remains committed to supporting incentives for filmmakers and the industry in order to generate clean, green jobs for Florida.  Florida Film Commissioner Shari Kerrigan echoed these sentiments in her remarks and expressed her, “enthusiasm for the direction the Festival is headed.”

Above from Left to Right: Florida Film Commissioner Shari Kerrigan, Paul Cohen, Representative Michelle
Rehwinkle Vasilinda, Beth Langford and Lawton Langford.

Those in attendance shared many great ideas and proposed several creative initiatives that organically stemmed from their business and community connections. For more information about the Tallahassee Film Festival, please visit: www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

Above from Left to Right: Fred Bassett, Marjorie Turnbull, and Dean Frank Patterson

About the Tallahassee Film Festival:
The Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose Mission is to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development; its Vision is to make Tallahassee a nationally recognized film center.  To those ends it produces an annual festival and other year-round, film-related events. For more information, visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

About Florida State’s College of Motion Picture Arts
Florida State’s College of Motion Picture Arts is one of the most highly ranked film schools in America. Its faculty of professional filmmakers provides hands-on training and a high-caliber education to prepare graduates to succeed in an extremely competitive industry. The Torchlight Program is a non-degree granting academic program designed to enhance the education of film students by providing instruction in current and emerging business practices of the motion picture industry. Recently recognized by The Directors Guild of America for its distinguished contribution to American culture, the College’s students have won over 700 awards, prizes and featured screenings at national and international festivals, including those of the Cannes Film Festival, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“As our Board of Directors and Committee Members announce this difficult decision, we are certain that this break will only make our annual festival even bigger and better,” says Lou Armesto, TFF Board Chair. “As partners, TFF and Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts will continue to showcase important films that challenge, engage and entertain our community and spotlight the special place we have for world-class film and the local talent that surrounds us. We are very optimistic for the future and truly appreciate our community’s ongoing support along the way.”

TFF is pleased to announce that it will continue to schedule regular film screenings and fundraising events in this interim period. TFF’s unique and unforgettable film screenings (such as The Big Fix last March and Wild Horse, Wild Ride screened in July) will still be brought to the viewing public throughout the calendar year. TFF will continue to release details of the next festival and future events in the coming days, weeks and months. To make a donation in support of Tallahassee’s film culture or to learn more about the organization, please visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

About the Tallahassee Film Festival:
The Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose Mission is to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development; its Vision is to make Tallahassee a nationally recognized film center.  To those ends it produces an annual festival and other year-round, film-related events. For more information, visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

 About Florida State’s College of Motion Picture Arts:
Florida State’s College of Motion Picture Arts is one of the most highly ranked film schools in America. Its faculty of professional filmmakers provides hands-on training and a high-caliber education to prepare graduates to succeed in an extremely competitive industry. The Torchlight Program is a non-degree granting academic program designed to enhance the education of film students by providing instruction in current and emerging business practices of the motion picture industry. Recently recognized by The Directors Guild of America for its distinguished contribution to American culture, the College’s students have won over 700 awards, prizes and featured screenings at national and international festivals, including those of the Cannes Film Festival, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Torchlight Program, Executive Director Paul Cohen will introduce the presentation.

Each year thousands of wild horses are rounded up and removed from public lands by the U.S. Government. All will need permanent homes. None has ever been touched by a human hand.

Wild Horse, Wild Ride tells the story of the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, an annual contest that dares 100 people to each tame a totally wild mustang in order to get it adopted into a better life beyond federal corrals.

Stunning and poignant, Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus’ debut feature documentary chronicles a handful of unforgettable characters from their first uneasy meeting with their horses and over three months as they attempt to transform from scared strangers to the closest of companions.

Eventually all will converge in Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against each other and offer the horses up for adoption at an auction in which the trainers, if they wish to keep their horses, must bid against the public.

Hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as a “crowd-pleaser with a big heart,” the film traverses across the United States to tell stories of the profound bonds that can develop between people and animals. From the rolling hills of New Hampshire to the Navajo Nation to the heart of Cowboy Country, the film captures a journey that is at times harrowing, humorous, heartwarming and heartbreaking as these wild spirits- both human and horse- embark on the ride of their lives.

From Dallas International Film Festival Preview:

“Wild Horse, Wild Ride is one of those rare films with a true heart and soul. It’s a film with warmth and compassion that will leave you feeling great inside….Whether you are a horse lover or a city slicker, this film is sure to leave you grinning from ear to ear.”

Click here for full review