film festival at SAA!

The biggest shock to me tonight wasn't the $20 price tag for something I thought was free - though that had surprised me.

The red carpet running up the sidewalk had surprised me, too.

Then there were the attendees all decked out in formal evening attire - that was a big surprise that made me feel a tad bit under-dressed.

So, what was the shock?

This was the 19th Annual Savannah Arts Academy Film & Media Festival -

read it again -

that's right, the 19th Annual.

How had it missed if before???

Actually, it's a wonder I hadn't missed it this time, what with all the other stuff going on in the cultural world hereabouts.

I'm glad I caught it this time!

Given that this was a rainy Friday, it was especially nice to have this midtown event to attend.

That meant I didn't have to park several blocks away, like i would have downtown.

Plus, I found out this was every bit as snazzy as the Film Festival that SCAD puts on, but this was condensed into a single evening.

That put the price into perspective!

 

There were five categories of film, with each having several entries that had been judged at some earlier time.

Oscar-like trophies were given out to the one judged as 'best' after all entries for a category were viewed by the audience.

I'm glad to have had this fabulous program with all the titles printed, rather than me having to scramble to type them into my phone!

Commercials/PSA

There were eight entries for this category.

"Jems Project" was the only Public Service Announcement, and it made maximum use of the phrase "domestic abuse doesn't just happen...", following it up with "to women", "in the home", "in poor families".

I really liked it.

I liked "Monopoly", a 'mercial for a new version of the board game that made the players responsible for their taxes and losses - very funny!

The Best Award went to "Instramazing", which didn't leave much of an impression on me; I can't even remember what it was about, but I think it was a glue that kept wigs in place.

Trailers

There were four entries, but I'm not sure all were real movies.

I know "Napoleon Dynamite" was, and the film preview was very good!

"Dancing With The Devil" had to do with the cutthroat world of ballet.

The Best Award went to "Y2K", though I don't think the preview made had anything to do with the actual movie.

Experimental & Mood Piece

This was a group of thirteen shorts, some coherent, some less so.

"Nostalgia" started off with an old-time cabinet-model TV, then followed up with photos from the 1950's or so - pretty sweet.

"Sisterhood" was clips of short segments of three little girls playing and posing, reminding me of my four little blondes.

"Uneasy" and "Terrors" had scenes designed to disturb the viewer - and they did.

"Morning" began with an alarm clock, then settled in to enjoy the sunrise over a cup of coffee.

The Best Award went to "Ephemera", a film which showed items that were temporary in their very nature; I would have gone for "Morning".

Documentary

This category had only five entries.

I admit to liking "Clean Coast Club" because of 1) the five guys named Max that started the school group, and 2) its affiliation to the local coastal group.

I also liked "Susie King Taylor", a film that documented the ceremony of renaming Calhoun Square in Savannah to honor this nurse and educator.

I remember wanting to attend, but not the reason I missed it.

Nice to have seen the highlights tonight!

Neither of those won, nor the one about "Dear Annslee", a young girl born with a cluster of disabilities.

The Best Award went to "Heart Of The Hood", which actually was a nice piece about four neighborhood barber shops run by black men.

Narrative Shorts

Only four entries here, with one reminding me of a story heard about candy-selling in prison, though this "Candy Crew" was on a school campus.

"Eyes On The Road" was the piece I would have given the prize to, as big a fan as I am of "Teen Kids News" and its cautionary driving tales.

Plus, the film starred Josiah Williams, the sweet-voiced singer in "Hadestown"!

However, the Best Award went to "For Hailey", a tale that hinted at teen suicide, starring Kai Washington, the young man who'd written and directed the film about barber shops.

Awards & Scholarships

Angelina Plowe - whose name was associated with two of the Best Award winners - was the recipient of the James Toles Scholarship.

The award has been granted every year by the mother of that young man, ever since his death in 2009.

Wow.

He was only 19 at the time of his death.

His motto had been "Make every day peaceful and productive."

Wow.

This was definitely where I was meant to be this rainy Friday.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.