announcing the
2020 Lineup
magnolia film festival -2020 lineup
The Mag, Mississippi’s first and longest running film festival, will continue its legacy of bringing quality independent films and filmmakers from around the world to the Golden Triangle for the 23rd year.
The festival will feature 38 films: 29 short films, 5 music videos, and 4 feature films. The lineup ranges from drama to comedy and from narrative to documentary, and includes work from all over the US, the UK, Canada, Switzerland, Uruguay, China, Iran, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Venezuela, and Czech Republic.
This lineup includes 27 exclusive Mississippi and US premieres and 2 world premieres. Advance tickets are now on sale and the full lineup is listed below along with details of this year’s documentary filmmaking workshop.
opening night - feb. 27 - 7 pm
SHORT FILMS:
PATCHWORK
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(Spain, 8 MIN)
Director: Maria Manero Muro
The story of a 60 year old woman who needs a liver transplant told from the perspective of the donor that provide the liver to her.
A COLOURFUL RED
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 12 MIN)
Director: Costa Karalis, Jack Owen
Accepting a job for a high-profile client, an amateur photographer travels to Indonesia and becomes part of a plot affecting hundreds in the freelance industry.
ZUCCHINI CAKE
USA Premiere
Rating: R
(Venezuela, 19 MIN)
Director: Fernando Diaz
A gay couple goes through the process of accepting that one of them is transgender.
READY TO WORK
USA Premiere
Rating: G
(USA, 15 MIN)
Director: Seth Farmer, Reagan Wells
At a local high school, three seniors attend a job fair through a career-readiness program.
CLOSE2U
USA Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(Poland, 25 MIN)
Director: Mark Gluszczak
Timid Franek finds a new job. His task is to pretend attractive call girls and fortune tellers. This is the last chance to pay off his rent to a selfish landlord, Bronek. One day the boy discovers a sad secret of his landlord.
FEATURE FILM:
EASY DOES IT by Will Addison
Rating: R
(USA, 95 MIN)
Starring: Bryan Batt, Dwight Henry, and Linda Hamilton
Shot with a gritty ’70s road-movie aesthetic, EASY DOES IT follows the scrappy anti-heroics of two Mississippi no-hopers on a treasure hunt of epic proportions. Broke and on the run, these two small-town buddies and their accidental hostage careen across the 1970s American South on a treasure hunt turned crime spree.
Friday Night Showcase- Feb. 28 - 7 pm
SHORT FILMS:
CATGOT
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: G
(China, 3 MIN)
Director: Ho Tsz Wing
An abstract and colorful “fountain performance” from 2D hand-drawn animation using the song, “Catgot” by ISAN.
DELTA BLIND SPOT
Rating: PG-13
(Mississippi, USA, 4 MIN)
Director: John W. Bateman
In 1967, three graduate students headed into the Mississippi Delta to teach at a historically black college. The Klan was watching. Inspired by actual events.
HEBO
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG
(USA, 11 MIN)
Director: Kevin Wells
An exploration of the work of Sam Ezell, an outsider folk artist in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
HONOUR THY MOTHER
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 17 MIN)
Director: Yinghui Fu
Homeless and living life adrift, Liz returns home to her God-fearing mother and discovers time has changed more than she ever could have imagined.
TORCHING THE DUSTIES
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(Canada, 14 MIN)
Directed by: Marlene Goldman, Philip McKee
From behind strange baby-faced masks, protestors issue a chilling simple demand: it’s time for the residents of this posh retirement home to give up their space on earth.
BLOOM
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 8 MIN)
Director: Will Derrick, Chris Derrick
Darnel, a.k.a D’Block, a misfit teen who measures his self-worth in popularity, goes to extreme lengths to swap out his geek cred for street cred.
ALL THAT YOU LOVE WILL BE CARRIED AWAY
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: R
(Mississippi, USA, 30 MIN)
Director: Thad Lee
A Salesman’s love of bathroom graffiti may save his life on a cold, dark Nebraska night. Based on a short story by Stephen King.
FEATURE FILM:
LOST BAYOU by Brian C Miller Richard
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 87 MIN)
Starring: Teri Wyble, Dane Rhodes, Deneen Tyler, Hunter Burke, Terence Rosemore, and Jackson Beals
Synopsis: In this Southern Gothic mystery, a struggling addict ventures into the Louisiana swamps to reconnect with her faith healer father, only to discover he’s hiding a troubling secret aboard his houseboat.
Saturday Family Friendly Block - Feb. 29 -11 am
These films were specially curated for audiences of all ages and will last 1 hour.
All proceeds for this block go to the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability which provides comprehensive, multi-disciplinary evaluations and services to remove limitations through the application of assistive technology, evidenced-based practice, training, and educational supports.
SHORT FILMS:
THE ADVENTURES OF WONDERBOY
Rating: G
(USA, 10 MIN)
Director: Marti Young, Alan Brazzell
When Dr. Black threatens the city of Nashville, it’s up to Wonderboy to save the day.
CATGOT
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: G
(China, 3 MIN)
Director: Ho Tsz Wing
An abstract and colorful “fountain performance” from 2D hand-drawn animation using the song, “Catgot” by ISAN.
DOG GONE
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: G
(USA,7 MIN)
Director: Tommy Woolridge
A man searches for his lost dog.
HANGRY
Rating: PG
(USA, 8 MIN)
Director: Clint Till
An elderly man attempts to right a lunchtime wrong.
MASTER MOLEY BY ROYAL INVITATION
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG
(UK, 30 MIN)
Director: Leon Joosen
The story of a young Mole and his adventure to pick a rose from the Queen’s Garden, not knowing that this simple act will change, not only his life, but the life of all Moles.
DANCING IN THE RAIN
Rating: G
(Uruguay, 3 MIN)
Director: Juan Cristiani
A musical animation about how children can teach us with their sensitivity and their imagination.
Saturday Matinee - Feb. 29 - 1 pm
SHORT FILMS:
STARVATION
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(Iran, 7 MIN)
Director: Zahra Rostampour
A hungry wolf gets stuck in stereotypes about being the big bad wolf of the story. She has to flee when everybody accuses her of violence and murder. She faces the danger of getting killed.
OH, SORRY
World Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 15 MIN)
Director: Justin Giddings, Ryan Welsh
A grieving young woman leans on her younger brother for emotional support until a spontaneous night out forces her to confront her denial.
DEAR JOHNNY REB
Rating: PG
(Mississippi, USA, 8 MIN)
Director: Philip H Scarborough Jr.
A heartfelt appeal for the removal of confederate monuments from Mississippi courthouse lawns across the state.
BAGHEAD
Rating: R
(United Kingdom, 15 MIN)
Director: Alberto Corredor Marina
After a life-changing event, Kevin is haunted by grief. He seeks a shapeshifting witch that is able to channel the dead that lives under a mysterious pub.
BINARY THINKING
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 15 MIN)
Director: Peter Berger
Exploring the impact of digital technology, Binary Thinking examines how changes in the brain have outcomes that play out in human behavior, and in turn, our society at large.
DER MEISTER
World Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(Switzerland, 6 MIN)
Director: Simon Wottreng
A sculpting apprentice receives a phonecall and learns about the death of the master sculptor; her life seems to break apart. Yet, every farewell is also a new beginning.
DOODLE
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: R
(USA, 23 MIN)
Director: A.F. Madison
An artist, after finding a strange pencil, must confront the reality of her husband’s death.
FEATURE FILM:
SPIRAL by Kurtis David Harder
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: R
(Canada, 85 MIN)
Starring: Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Ari Cohen, and Jennifer Laporte
Synopsis: A same-sex couple move to a small town so they can enjoy a better quality of life and raise their 16 year-old daughter with the best social values. But nothing is as it seems in their picturesque neighborhood. And when Malik sees the folks next door throwing a very strange party, something very shocking has got to give.
Saturday Closing Night - Feb. 29 - 7 pm
SHORT FILMS:
LILI
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: R
(Netherlands, 9 MIN)
Director: Yfke van Berckelaer
A cat and mouse game in this single take #metoo horror, about power, the misuse of power and female empowerment.
MANTORU
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 7 MIN)
Director: Josh Stone, Kyle Flaharty
An experimental short about passing the torch to one’s successor.
OVERNIGHT
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 15 MIN)
Director: Thomas Mendolia
A grieving man spends the night in his RV at a Walmart parking lot, where he finds the embrace of an unexpected community.
APPLEBAUM
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: R
(USA, 15 MIN)
Director: Edward Loupe
A dying man and his nurse have one last conversation. It changes her life forever.
FOR A BETTER LIFE
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 10 MIN)
Director: Yasmin Mistry
Sold for $100, a young boy suffers through years of abuse before his plight is discovered. After almost a year of hospitalization and therapy Fekri moves into a group home where he finds support, mentorship, and eventual forgiveness.
WE BECAME FRAGMENTS
Rating: PG-13
(Mississippi, USA, 13 MIN)
Director: Hanna Miller, Luisa Conlon, Lacy Jane Roberts
After losing his mother and siblings in a bombing that left him injured, a son with his father makes a new life despite the heartbreak of leaving their home behind.
FEATURE FILM:
THE PLANTERS by Alexandra Kotcheff and Hannah Leder
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 78 MIN)
Starring: Alexandra Kotcheff, Hannah Leder Phil Parolisi, and Pepe Serna
Synopsis: “The Planters” is a dark comedy about Martha Plant, a telemarketer who sucks at her job, doesn’t like people, but likes to bury stolen treasure for cash donations. When she finds unlikely friendship in Sadie Mayflower, a Jesus-loving vagrant with multiple personalities, Martha’s world starts looking up. But Martha learns that opening herself up can come with unexpected consequences.
Free Documentary Workshop - Feb. 29 - 10 am
The ABCs of Making a Documentary Film: From Concept to Creation de-mystifies the creation of a documentary film.
LaFrancis, award-winning producer, creator, and director, uses humor, actual projects, and a tremendous amount of personal experience to help beginning and intermediate documentarians not only conceptualize, but create their projects. This is a lively, fast-paced, in-depth program with loads of Q&A time. Limited spots available.
When:
February 29th, 2020 at 10:00am
Where:
Holiday Inn Express Board Room
110 B Highway 12 West, Starkville, MS 39759
featured music videos
In additional to our short and feature film categories, we will also feature 5 music videos that will play during the pre-roll and intermissions during each block of films. These include:
I WON’T (FURY)
Mississippi Premiere
Rating: PG-13
(USA, 3 MIN)
Director: Grace Pisula
Lyrical genius Samantha “FURY” Jordan brings back 90’s hop-hop vibes with her hard-hitting track about the refusal of becoming victim to your surroundings and a challenge to rise above perceived obstacles.
GHOST OF THE RED SAND (CARRACCI)
Rating: PG-13
(Italy, 5 MIN)
Director: Giulia Giapponesi
Three Artists perform in a room under frescoes made by three artists 400 hundred years before.
OSIRIKA (BLACK CHAMPAGNE)
Rating: PG
(USA, 5 MIN)
Director: Jeremiah Williams
Left for dead, Queen Suraya and King Jamari rise from their war-torn sunken city to reclaim their power and set their beloved people free.
JOHNNY AND THE DEVIL (HANDSOME JOHNNY)
Rating: PG-13
(Netherlands, 5 MIN)
Director: Matty Jorissen
Ready to hit the road and become a free soul again, Johnny has a tempting encounter with the Devil.
DANCING IN THE RAIN
Rating: G
(Uruguay, 3 MIN)
Director: Juan Cristiani
A musical animation about how children can teach us with their sensitivity and their imagination.