Released by Alan Jackson, Footcandle Film Society
In September of 2015, the Footcandle Film Society held its first film festival — the Footcandle Film Festival — at the SALT Block Auditorium in Hickory. The festival showcased twenty-five films from around the world selected by a committee of film society members. The festival included an opening night “Short Film” event and reception and a closing dinner ceremony where four of the selected films were presented awards.
The film society plans to hold its second year of the film festival on September 23-25, 2016. The format and location of the festival will remain the same as last year, with films being shown from Friday night through Sunday afternoon at the SALT Block Auditorium, located at 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory NC. Tickets for the festival screenings will go on sale to the general public this summer.
Films are being considered for submission during the first half of 2016 with the final slate of films to be announced this summer. For each of the films selected to show during the festival weekend the filmmaker will be invited to visit Hickory for the weekend and attend the festival to hold a question-and-answer session after their screening. In 2015 twelve filmmakers visited the area and spent time meeting attendees of the festival as well as enjoying some of the local restaurants and attractions.
Filmmakers from around the world are encouraged to submit their films to be considered for this year’s festival. All film lengths, types and content matter are welcomed and will be considered. There will be four awards presented at this year’s festival: “Best Narrative Feature”, “Best Documentary Feature”, “Best Short Film” — all three determined by a panel of judges — and an “Audience Favorite” selected by festival attendees.
Filmmakers wanting to submit their film for consideration should visit the festival’s website. Submission fees are $10, with a deadline of June 1, 2016. All films will be reviewed by a panel of film society members, with a voting system to determine the best films to show during the festival. Those films selected to be screened at the festival will be notified by early July.
The Footcandle Film Society has been screening and facilitating discussions on films in Western North Carolina since its inception in 2008. Through monthly film screenings, discussions, partnerships with various international and educational organizations, the film society has built a community of over 600 members that support film efforts in our region.
For any questions about the festival or the submission process, please contact the Film Society by email or visit the festival’s web site at www.footcandlefilmfestival.com.
