Which film will earn Best Film at the 2014 Statesboro Film Festival?

Matt Bankhead, the lead producer for Studio Statesboro, the Statesboro Herald Report and director of the 2014 festival, said all entries have been received and the approved films are posted for everyone to view and vote on.

“I'm really pleased with the entries,” Bankhead said. “The filmmakers put a lot of thought into their movies and it shows.”

The public is invited to go online to statesborofilmfestival.com, watch the films and vote for their favorite. People can vote up to 10 times per day from a single URL address. Voting is now open through midnight today. The film with the most votes will earn a special People’s Choice award.

Vote totals will not be shown, so the People’s Choice winner will be revealed on the evening of the Statesboro Film Festival — Thursday. The festival will be held at the Averitt Center for the Arts. A reception begins at 6:30 p.m., with the festival getting underway at 7 p.m.

Eleven of the films entered will be shown on the big screen inside the Emma Kelly Theater.

In addition to Best Film and People’s Choice, a panel of three judges is viewing all films and will give awards for Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Director. The awards will be announced after all films are screened, culminating with the Best Film winner.

Light refreshments will be served at the prefestival reception and Millhouse Steakhouse is catering the intermission.
Tickets for Thursday’s film festival are $5 and can be purchased at the Averitt Center box office or by calling (912) 212-2787.

“It's a great event for Statesboro to show off some great young filmmakers," said Tim Chapman, executive director of the Averitt Center.

The 2014 Statesboro Film Festival is sponsored by the Statesboro Herald, the Averitt Center for the Arts, Millhouse Steakhouse, Gailey Trophy and Connect Statesboro.

James Healy may be reached at (912) 489-9402.