The Crossroads Film Festival is an independent
film festival
A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upon ...
that takes place annually around the
Jackson metropolitan area in the state of
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
. The second oldest film festival in Mississippi, Crossroads Film Festival focuses on independent film of all kinds, as well as regional and Mississippi films. Its parent organization, the Crossroads Film Society, celebrated the 20th Festival in April, 2019.
The festival takes place over three days, as more than 100 selected films are screened throughout the weekend. Special events include educational film-related workshops, panels, and Master Classes; kid-friendly activities; live local music; nightly after-parties; and special badge-holders-only receptions. An awards brunch on the Sunday of the festival culminates in awards and other prizes being given to winning films and filmmakers. Workshops, parties, and receptions are typically held at various locations, including
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi. It was founded in 1890 and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
History
The college was founded in 1889–90 by a Confederate veteran, Major Reuben Webster M ...
, local clubs and restaurants, and the
Mississippi Museum of Art
The Mississippi Museum of Art is a public museum in Jackson, Mississippi. It is the largest museum in Mississippi.
Location
It is located at the corner of 380 South Lamar Street and 201 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson, Mississippi.Lee Ellis, ''F ...
.
Founded in 1999, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Crossroads Film Society is a membership organization created to promote, highlight, and grow independent film and filmmaking in the Deep South, especially among female and young filmmakers, filmmakers of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and indigenous filmmakers.
The mission of Crossroads Film Society is to celebrate the art of filmmaking in all of its diversity and depth; showcase and promote a broader spectrum of film and video for the community; present and honor film related to Mississippi and the South; and provide educational opportunities and forums of discussion for film lovers and aspiring filmmakers.
Naming
The Crossroads Film Festival was named in part for the widely known area of Mississippi where
Robert Johnson
Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...
was said to have sold his soul to the devil. It is also a reference to hometown Jackson's role as a metropolitan hub of the
New South
New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with the ...
.
Awards
*Best Experimental Film
*Best Animated Film
*Best Music Video
*Best Student Film
*Best Short Documentary
*Best Feature Documentary
*Best Short Narrative
*Best Feature Narrative
*Programmer's Choice
*The Adam Ford Youth Filmmaking Award
*Transformative Film Award
*Audience Choice - Film
*Audience Choice - Music Video
*The Ruma Award (for most promising Mississippi filmmaker)
References
External links
Official website
Crossroads Film Festival
Film festivals in Mississippi
American film awards
Awards established in 2000
Tourist attractions in Jackson, Mississippi
2000 establishments in Mississippi
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