JULY 5, 2010 – Starting July 12, the region’s future filmmakers will descend on the Gulf Coast Exploreum in downtown Mobile to spend five days learning about, and creating, movies.

The “Reel Science” creative camp runs July 12-16 and is presented by the Exploreum and the South Alabama Film Festival – Mobile’s only three-day celebration of film.

Throughout the week, students in grades 6-12 will spend four hours a day immersing themselves in the cinematic arts, exploring every aspect of being a filmmaker. They will learn about brainstorming and script development, casting, lighting, composition, production, editing and marketing – all in one week from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Guided by the wisdom and experience of professionals working in the medium, each of the five days will be packed full of hands-on exercises illustrating the many pieces and players it takes to produce a film, designed to help each student comprehend the total process, and to develop their specific passions within it.

This culminates with each team making a film of its own, all of which will be featured during the 2010 South Alabama Film Festival, held Nov. 5-7.

The Reel Science camp will be held July 12-16 at the Gulf Coast Exploreum. Since the goal is for each student to receive as much direction as possible, there are a limited number of spots available. For more information, visit The Gulf Coast Exploreum online.

Deadline September 1, 2010

Feature-Length Narrative – Fiction films more than 60 minutes in length.
Feature-Length Documentary – Nonfiction films more than 60 minutes in length.
Short Narrative – Fiction films, animated or live, that are less than 30 minutes in length.
Short Documentary – Documentary films, animated or live, that are less than 30 minutes in length.
Student Films – Short films, under 5 minutes in length, submitted by students enrolled in middle or high school.
Music Videos – Short videos, that are less than 10 minutes in length, featuring regional musical artist(s).

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The South Alabama Film Festival’s mission is to showcase and educate the community about filmmakers and their creations. To accomplish this mission it holds an annual film festival with seminars and workshops. During the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to see films that may not have large distribution and have the chance to meet and discuss these films with filmmakers. The group also plans events throughout the year promoting local filmmaking and encouraging the art of filmmaking in our local schools. The South Alabama Film Festival is an annual event anticipated by the entire community. The South Alabama Film Festival wants to bring filmmakers and their products to the Mobile community. The group is not searching for major motion pictures or stars, but for films that might not otherwise be seen in our area. Over a three-day period, the festival hopes to show 8-16 features, plus short films, and host several social events and workshops. This film festival will be open to the general public.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The South Alabama Film Festival (SoAL Film Fest) seeks to showcase and educate the community about filmmakers and their creations, while welcoming all who enjoy the medium. One of the nation’s oldest and most beautiful cities, Mobile will alight with the cinematic arts throughout 2010, culminating in November’s three-day festival. In addition to feature-length and short films, SoAL Film Fest will offer seminars and workshops for adults and school children, to further its goal of educating – as well as enchanting – the growing regional film community. SoAL Film Fest strives to be the yearly event in Southern Alabama for all who love, and create, film. The festival is scheduled for November 5-7, 2010. The full-time venues are the Crescent Theater, the Five Rivers Delta Center, and Bernheim Hall. Limited venues include The Gulf Coast Exploreum and many others.

ORGANIZERS
Hailee Kuntz (Executive Director), Mike Dumas (Assistant Director) and Gideon Carson Kennedy (Program Director)

FEES
Feature Length Films $30
Short Films $20
Student Films and Music Videos $10
The Alabama filmmaker discount is $5 with current identification.

All fees are nonrefundable.

GENERAL RULES
Submissions must have been completed after December 1, 2007 and may not be publicly screened in Mobile County or Baldwin County, Alabama prior to the 2010 festival dates (excluding other South Alabama Film Festival screenings and collaborations). Submissions will be notified of their selection status on or around Sept. 15, 2010. If accepted, two additional DVDs of the final film must be provided to the South Alabama Film Festival for jury screenings, media requests and the festival archive. Selected festival films must also provide updated contact information, a digital and non-digital press kit, and one exhibition copy of the film in the format we will determine at the time of selection. South Alabama Film Festival may deny acceptance of any film at its sole discretion, or waive rules for any submission it deems appropriate for the festival. If accepted, the screening schedule (including venue, time and number of screenings) is at the sole discretion of South Alabama Film Festival. The festival encourages filmmakers to accompany the film to represent it and participate in a Q&A sessions following the screening to share their experience of making of the film. Each accepted film will receive free industry passes to the festival.

The entrant guarantees that they have legal right to submit their film and have obtained all necessary rights and clearances to screen the work at the South Alabama Film Festival. Submission of work confirms that the South Alabama Film Festival has permission to exhibit it (and any moving image excerpts or reproduced stills) during the festival and for any festival publicity or promotion. Every precaution will be exercised in handling entries and exhibition copies of submitted films, but the entrant agrees to hold the festival, its organizers, employees, volunteers, sponsors, and partnering organizations harmless for damage to or loss of materials submitted.

FILMS
The South Alabama Film Festival is looking for 8-16 feature length films, and 12-20 short films. The festival plans to show all films multiple times. We wish to show both fiction and nonfiction films. Special consideration will be given to films made in or around Mobile, Alabama; in the state of Alabama; and in the American “South.” The festival is also searching for films that celebrate the outdoors, and the spirit of exploration and conservation. These films will be screened at the wonderful Five Rivers Delta Center.

TO SUBMIT A FILM:
Send a DVD copy of the film. Please label the DVD with the film name, your name, and the film running time. Include a one page description of the film with any important personal information. Also include your application fee. Mail to: South Alabama Film Festival, Post Office Box 850968, Mobile, Alabama 36685, USA .

The Crescent Theater
4.16 – 4.22 “North Face”
4.23 – 4.29 “The Runaways”

Callaghan’s Movie Night
4.20 “Goodfellas” & “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

The Blind Mule
4.23 DCWF “Film Scramble 2″

Please visit all of our festival friends online (and at the fests themselves, if you can) and look for more exciting film news about upcoming events when we return. Happy Spring Break!

2:00 PM
Bernheim Hall (in the Ben May Library) – Southern Circuit Film “Between Floors” w/ filmmaker Jen White (screening will include Stephen Hammond’s animated short “Monster Movie”)

Crescent Theater – The White Ribbon

3:00 PM
Space 301 – DCWF Local Scramble Films

5:00 PM
Space 301 – SoAL Film Fest Local Scramble Films

7:00 PM
Crescent Theater – The White Ribbon

Rules

Winner: Alma Bryant High School – Frankenstein’s Failure

First Runner Up: Trey Lane – Open/Shut

Second Runner Up: Arel Watson – The Masochist

(Other entries will be posted later)

2:00 PM

Space 301 – SoAL Film Fest Local Film Scramble Showcase
Art Off Centre (view map) – Rootsy Hip at Arts Alive
Crescent Theater – The White Ribbon

3:00 PM

Space 301 – Downtown Creative Wellness Foundation (DCWF) Local Film Scramble Showcase

4:00 PM

Space 301 – SoAL Film Fest Local Film Scramble Showcase

4:30 PM

Space 301 – DCWF Local Film Scramble Showcase

5:00 PM

Crescent Theater – Crescent Shorts

7:00 PM

Crescent Theater – The White Ribbon

Arts Alive! Schedule