Inaugural Amelia Island Film Festival was wonderful
Inaugural Amelia Island Film Festival was wonderful
POSTED 10/10/2008 - While most people think of sun-baked beaches and charming historic homes when they think of Amelia Island, there was much more to this quiet little spot this past week.
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The Festival kicked off with the AIFF Filmmakers Welcome Reception at the Florida House Inn on South 3rd Street where the mingling began Thursday morning, as filmmakers and the local media gathered to sip coffee and sample Danishes while listening to the 'Brothers' band.
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Amelia Island turned into a "festival island" last weekend as hundreds of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, directors, actors, producers, fans, and more turned out to be part of the Inaugural Amelia Island Film Festival. The festival ran September 25 - 28, and lacked nothing in the way of variety: everything from short documentaries to comedy to musicals, to sci-fi gore graced the silver screens.
It was lights, camera and all kinds of action last week as the AIFF raised its curtain on galas, receptions and premieres. One did not have far to go to watch over 45 movies throughout the weekend. The AIFF venues were scattered around the island at such places as Palace Saloon, Florida House Inn, Peck Center and the Woman’s Club.
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Friday night’s Gala Party was well-attended with hundreds of film-buffs and invaded by The Fernandina Pirates Club. Music by the 'Face For Radio' band with Sean McCarthy.
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Friday evening's screening of the President Choice: Sordid Lives with Delta Burke was well attended by the seedier side of the Island.
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Approximately 100 filmmakers and movie lovers attended Saturday’s Filmmaker reception at the George & Barbara Sheffield’s Bailey House. Patrons enjoyed a variety of finger foods, including smoked salmon, spiral ham, shrimp and Fernandina Beach BBQ meatballs, catered by Karen Miller of Old South Yankee. There was also a cash bar was sponsored by the Palace Saloon.
During the reception, guests were invited to view DARIUS GOES WEST: THE ROLL OF HIS LIFE showing at the Palace Saloon.
The movie is about a crew of college-age students taking Darius Weems, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, cross-country in an RV in hopes of convincing MTV's "Pimp My Ride" to customize his wheelchair. A birthday party was held for Darius’s 19th birthday. Darius' older brother died of MD at the age of 19 and was not able to graduate from High School. Darius graduated last June and he hopes to outlive his brother. Participating in this film has certainly given him the motivation he needs to do that.
The four-day event wrapped up Sunday afternoon with an awards ceremony at the Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown. The awards go as following:
Best Musical/Comedy
EARANO
Director: Luke Matheny with a $500.00 cash award.
Best Documentary
APPALACHIAN STATE FOOTBALL
A DATE WITH A DESTINY
Directors: Ray Goodrich & Kyle Payne with a $500.00 cash award.
Best Short
ON THE DOWN LOW
Director: Thomas W. Oliver with a $500.00 cash award.
Best Special/Other
FORFEIT
Directors: Andrew & Shea Brendan with a $500.00 cash award.
Best of the Fest - THE RICHARD WIDMARK award:
AMELIA ISLAND: ISLE OF 8 FLAGS
Filmed by Rob Hicks of Pirate Television at the Fernandina Beach High School
For those who did not see all the showings, The Nassau County Library has agreed to circulate the AIFF Film Library by partnering with the Film Festival. All of the films shown during the festival will be available at the Downtown Fernandina Beach location on North 4th Street.
The AIFF would like to thank to all the AIFF volunteers and FBHS Student National Honor students that assisted during the festival. We would also like to acknowledge our corporate sponsor without their support the event would not have been as successful: Books Plus, Citizen State Bank, Digital Village, First National Bank, Florida House Inn, Newsleader, Hampton Inn & Suites, Quality Images and Smurfit Stone.
For more details about the Amelia Island Film Festival, please refer to their website at www.AmeliaIslandFilmFestival.org.
