Columbus film festival gets $17,000 boost

Paul Pierce says the Way Down Film Festival scheduled for October in Columbus is a lot more than just a just a couple of days of entertainment.

“This is the beginning of a homegrown, Georgia-made film industry,” said the artistic director of the Springer Opera House, which was chosen to host the event. “This is a visionary undertaking.”

The festival on Oct. 21-22 will provide a platform for talented filmmakers to showcase their creative efforts and deliver networking opportunities to obtain jobs and launch projects. The festival aims to empower the artists, audience and community with encouraging film projects and solidify the success of the film industry in Columbus.

The festival got a big shot of support Thursday when it was officially given a check for $17,000, a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley.

“This is an investment in city progress,” said Betsy Covington, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, as she presented the check to the festival co-founders Stacy Cunningham, Jacy Jenkins and Cora King during a ceremony on the stage at the Springer.

Cunningham recently relocated to Georgia from Los Angeles and is a veteran screenwriter, producer, director and actor who has worked in the film and television industry.

Jenkins is an entrepreneur who has started and sold an apparel line, food truck and tax business. She recently founded an online magazine, Electric City Life, and is the marketing director for The Loft.

King is an executive with Outfront Media. She is also an independent film marketer and distribution primer through the Bo Bartlett Studios.

On Thursday, Cunningham said this is the first high-profile film festival ever in Columbus.

“I love film,” she said. “What a powerful medium it can be.”

She said the film industry in Georgia is “taking off’ and Columbus can be a big part of that.

“It’s time for Columbus, Georgia, to further tap into the $6 billion film industry happening in our state and we are grateful the community has been extremely supportive,” Jenkins said.

King added, “Columbus is blooming as an area that serves filmmakers and the Way Down Film Festival is an invitation to explore the possibilities way down here. We also want to show the community the value filmmakers bring and how they can contribute to our local culture.”

There will likely be 30 films shown at the festival.

Films will run anywhere from a minute to 40 minutes in length. There will be no feature-length works.

The films may be documentary, narrative, animation and experimental.

Cash prize for best overall film will range from $2,500 to $250 in six categories.

Cunningham said short films were chosen for the festival so people could see “as many stories as possible.”

She is expecting films not only locally, but also internationally and mentioned submissions have already been received from filmmakers in Bulgaria and Italy.

“Celebrating innovative filmmakers and uniting artists is our passion,” Cunningham said.

Tickets for the festival are not yet on sale.

For more information, go to www.waydownfilm.com

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Columbus film festival gets $$17,000 boost."