Magnolia Festival shows artistic side of film

Autumn Simon
dm senior Staff writer

For some, a movie is something to go see with a date, but for others see it as opportunity for artistic expression. Those interested in the artistic side of film may find something more to their taste in the third annual Magnolia International Film Festival in Starkville than at the Ciné 4.

Writer and film maker Ron Tibbett, who has lived in West Point, Miss., for the last six years, began the film festival three years ago in the hopes of drawing independent films into the state of Mississippi. He said the first year's festival in 1998 was fairly successful. "Despite the hard seats and no heat, we still drew a crowd of about 350 coming from across the state." Last year's attendance was at about 400 people, and this year Tibbett hopes to do even better.

"This year is really taking off," Tibbett said. "There have been over 100 film entries from all over the world, and I am only selecting 25 films to show."

This year Tibbett is making an extra push for the younger crowds to come and check out this year's festival. Last week, Tibbett was a guest speaker in Jack Barbera's film class and talked to students about the uniqueness of independent film and the importance of taking part in local film festivals.

"Independent film pushes the art of film making forward," Tibbett said. "Hollywood uses a formula for making films that abide by the ten minute rule. Something has to either be blown up, someone has to die or have sex every ten minutes," said Tibbett.

Tibbett discussed with students how independent films try to break Hollywood's formula and explore new techniques of telling stories.

"You find at film festivals, films that leap out and just touch your heart," Tibbett said to the class.

This weekend has a long and diverse line up of films that are sure to appeal to a wide array of people. This year's starred attraction is a highly acclaimed German film entitled, "Run Lola Run," which was the 1999 Audience winner at the Sundance Film Festival. Some of the other notable films include "Human Remains," a short film which won 25 major film awards, including the 1999 Sundance Jury Award, "The Innocents" and some short animation films. One animation, "Ah L'Amour," is only two minutes long, but received lots of laughs from Barbera's class last Monday. "Ah L'Amour" also won the World's Funniest Cartoon award at the 1998 HBO awards.

The Magnolia Film Festival kicks off this Friday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday, Feb. 5, beginning at noon and running until 10:30 p.m. The festival is being held at the McComas Theater on the Mississippi State University campus in Starkville.

Tickets for the Magnolia Film Festival are $5 for Friday and $10 for Saturday. For any further information or to reserve tickets, call Ron Tibbitt at (601) 494-5836.