2024 Opening Night Ceremonies Experience

Join or Die

Director: Rebecca Davis

The Jacksonville Film Festival's mission is to be a multiplier in building a robust and sustainable film community where Jacksonville is seen as a leader in independent film creation and curation. The 2024 Jacksonville Film Festival (JFF) takes place April 12th through April 14th in downtown Jacksonville. The internationally acclaimed festival creates spaces where conversations are had, and communities are built. JFF serves as a bridge by presenting opportunities and resources to emerging filmmakers to encourage them to create in Jacksonville and share their stories from all across the world. 

JFF curates a unique filmmaker experience that allows moviegoers to come and engage with the films through panels, workshops, and social events. So whether you have been to a film festival before or you have not, JFF offers a variety of levels to engage, from attending one film block to attending networking parties with community members and the filmmakers themselves. Here is a detailed description of what to expect: 

Friday, April 12th, 2024

OPENING NIGHT 

Location: WJCT 

Address: 100 Festival Park Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Time:

• 6:30 pm-7:30 pm Pre-Film Reception 

• 7:30 pm-9:00 pm Film and Panel Discussion

Upon arrival, you will walk down the main hallway in the WJCT Public Media building. "WJCT Public Media is the community-owned and operated public media organization serving Jacksonville and the First Coast since 1958, using television, radio, digital media, and live events to help community members learn, share, and grow." This building is where much of the Jacksonville community media is broadcasted and created. As you enter the space, you can immerse yourself in the history of WJCT as well as a peek into the windowed rooms where much of the podcasting/local NPR radio broadcasting happens. 

Once you are check-in and enter the main lobby, there will be a bar where libations are provided as well as a decadent display of food catered by local Chef Shandon Shandon Benjamin-Fox, Owner of 1 Foxy Lady Cafe located downtown in Historic Springfield Neighborhood. Shandon specializes in non-traditional southern comfort food, and her twist on these traditional items never disappoints. Ruby Beach Brewing will also be there as our event beer sponsor passing out samples and providing information about their  local brewery located in Downtown Jacksonville. The libations don’t stop there, as we will also have signature cocktails provided by Bacadri. 

After the first hour of drinks, food, and engaging with community members and filmmakers worldwide, everyone will head inside the main theatre to watch our Opening Night Film, "Join or Die," not before grabbing some popcorn from Chef Shandon's gourmet popcorn bar. 

This feature documentary follows the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could answer our democracy's present crisis.

 After the film's conclusion, we will have community members lead a discussion about community and how it relates to the film. 

Community members for our panel include: 

• Councilmen Rahman K. Johnson, Ph.D., Jacksonville City Council District 14

• Marlo Zarka, Public Policy Lead for Blue Zones Project Jacksonville 

• Matt Hartley, Director of Interfaith Programs at OneJax

• Dr. Erin Almond, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair for Junior League of Jacksonville 

That will conclude the evening, as everyone will depart and prep for the next two days of films and activities. 

Purchase a Ticket to Opening Night only | HERE 

2023 JaxFilmFest Winner Now Streaming

Click image for trailer.

The Jacksonville Film Festival is excited to announce the 2023 Best Feature Narrative winning film - The Mirror Game - is now streaming.

The Mirror Game screened the opening night of the 2023 festival at WJCT Studios with the director, William J. Stribling, and the screenwriter, Marissa Flaxbart, in attendance. Opening Night sold out, with 150 people registered to attend. It was a chance for the community and filmmakers to network. In addition to the film and collaborating with the film industry professionals, the popcorn bar from 1Foxy Lady Cafe Catering was a hit.

The JaxFilmFest always loves to hear when a selected/winning film has received distribution. The film was shot completely in a hotel during COVID.

Film Description: Friends since middle school, Rose and Abe — now in their late 30s and living in different time zones — are both in Las Vegas for friends’ bachelor(ette) parties on the same weekend. Now, they’ve arranged to spend an evening together catching up. But they’re not kids anymore, and both show up at the hotel room with unseen baggage. Their sprawling conversation, by turns hilarious and dark, investigates friendships, family, aging, the challenges of marriage and singlehood, and the lies we tell ourselves to get through it all.

Screen The Mirror Game

The Mirror Game • Now on Amazon

The Mirror Game on YouTube Movies

The Mirror Game on Google Play Store

Amazon - Coming Soon

Tubi - Coming Soon

Official Website: mirrorgamemovie.com

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yRKDnf9Nmc

2023 JaxFilmFest Official Selection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 19, 2022

2023 JACKSONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL: 

OFFICIAL FILM SELECTION & FESTIVAL DATES ANNOUNCED

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The 2023 Jacksonville Film Festival will showcase four-days of domestic and international independent films on February 3-6, 2023. Festival events expand throughout the historic San Marco neighborhood with screenings located at the San Marco Theatre and Aspire Church San Marco.

The 2023 Festival lineup consists of 114 films from 22 countries, with an astonishing 60% produced or directed by women. 

Artistic and Programming Director, Tim Driscoll has been with the festival since 2018. He believes this coming year’s films stand out from the past. 

I am humbled and in awe with this year’s program. Twenty-two countries represented with sixty percent of our films directed and/or produced by a female filmmaker. This year’s event will showcase films from Sundance, SXSW, and a 2021 Oscar nominated film.

These stories are brimming with heart, passion, and a bold desire to communicate and connect. Every year I’m proud of the work we curate for the Jacksonville community and this year is no different. Top to bottom, this is our strongest collection of work to date. Can’t wait to see you at the movies!

The full program and tickets for the 2023 Jacksonville Film Festival will be announced on December 15, 2022. Passes will be available for purchase at www.jacksonvillefilmfestival.com

Social Resources

Facebook: facebook.com/jacksonvillefilmfestival

Twitter: @JaxFilmFestival

Instagram: @jacksonvillefilmfestival

Hashtag: #JaxFilmFest

About JaxFilmFest

Jacksonville Film Festival is the longest running film festival in Jacksonville, Florida. 

A non-for-profit, annual film festival that showcases in-competition and out-of-competition American and International independent films. For more information, please visit JacksonvilleFilmFestival.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Team @ 2023 Jacksonville Film Festival

Niki Logoreci, Executive Director

Tim Driscoll, Artistic and Programming Director

Monica Whitsel, Vice President of Communications

Brian Reese, Director of Operations

(continue to next page for film selection)

The 2023 Official Film Selections

Feature Narrative

• The Artifice Girl - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Franklin Ritch

• Bone Cold - US - Director: Billy Hanson

• The Mirror Game - US - Director: William J. Stribling

• Ragged Heart - US - Director: Evan McNary 

• Stay with Me - US - Director: Marty Lang

Feature Documentary

• Duchenne Boys - Iran - Director: Sohrab Caviar 

• Giseloo - Iran - Director: Mohammad Sadeg Esmaeili

• Love in the Time of Fentanyl - US - Director: Colin Askey

• One Road to Quartzite - US - Director: Ryan Maxey

• Still Stoked - UK - Director: Paul Surety

• Undiagnosed - US - Directors: Dr. Katia Moritz & Nicholas Miller

Short Narrative

• At Vin Diesel’s Funeral - US - Director: Patrick Belics

• Baba - Canada - Directors: Anya Chirkova & Meran Ismailsoy

• Back Home - Spain - Director: Ariadna Pastor

• Bead Brothers - Turkey - Director: Aykut Temel

• Bestia - Chile - Director: Hugo Covarrubias 

• Big Guy - US - Directors: Hicham Harrag & Samir Harrag

• Big Touch - US - Director: Christopher Tenzis

• Bully - US - Director: David Mahmoudieh

• Clone - US - Director: Ryan M. Kennedy

• Dead End - Canada - Directors: Kiarra Goldberg & Sydney Scotia 

• A Dead Sea - Israel - Director: Nahd Bashir

• Dispatchers - Spain - Director: Actor Padilla 

• Florida Moves - Florida, US - Damon Maulucci 

• Flowing Home - Canada & France - Director: Sandra Desmazières 

• Foxglove - Ireland - Director: Michael-David McKernan

• The Game - US - Director: Aldo Vassallo

• Goodbye Jérôme! - France - Directors: Gabrielle Selnet, Adam Sillard, & Chloé Farr

• Hallelujah - US - Director: Victor Gabriel

• Hush - South Korea - Director: Young Lee

• The Idea of the Century - France - Director: Alexandre Spieser

• June - New Zealand - Director: Dwayne Cameron

• Local Middle Schooler - US - Director: Sanjna Bharadwaj

• The Madness Store - France - Director: Alex Guéry

• The Magic of Passion - US - Director: Miles Gillespie 

• Mary Meets Grace - US - Director: Faryl Amadeus

• Meat - Uganda - Director: Asher Rosen

• My Grandmother is an Egg - Taiwan - Director: Wu-Ching Chang

• New Santa - US - Director: Zanah Thirus

• Ocultos - Mexico - Director: Mauricio Corredor Buitrago

• Precious Hair & Beauty - UK - Director: John Ogunmuyiwa 

• Record Highs - US - Director: Beryl Allee

• Revolution of John - Slovakia - Director: Andrej Kolencik

• Sea Light - Spain - Director: John Doe

• Space Junk - US - Director: Adam Peltier

• Tóxico - Brazil - Directors: Rubia Lima & Rafael Henrique Lima

• We Should Get Dinner! - US - Directors: Eliza Jiménez Cossio & Lexi Tannenholtz

• You Go Girl! - US - Director: Sharif Ali

LGBTQ+ Shorts

• Chaperone - US - Director: Sam Max

• Church Camp - Florida, US - Director: Andrew D. Bourne

• Jouissance - Iran - Director: Sadeq Es-haqi

• Keep/Delete - US - Director: Kryzz Gautier

• Warsha - France - Director: Dania Bdier

• West by God - US - Director: Scott Lazer

Faith & Family Based Shorts

• Beyond the Chair - Florida, US - Director: Thomas Edward Hindy

• The Choice - Georgia - Director: Nikoloz Bezhuashvili

• Daisy - Florida, US - Director: Jennifer East

• For Who I Am - Florida, US - Director: Joshua Kevin Bowen

• Illation - US - Directors: Rachel Bohanon & Matthew Lydia

• Lapse - US - Director: Luis Tovar

• The Little Drummer Boy - US - Director: John Gray 

• Nightlight - Florida, US - Director: Marcelo Ribeiro Carvalho 

• The Proposal - US - Director: John Andrucci 

• The Queen’s Jewels - Florida, US - Director: Josh Friedman

• Silly Girl - US - Director: Josh Sullivan

• Sugar, Spice, and Everything Ice - Florida, US - Director: Cordelia Keeley 

• Under Thy Wings - US - Director: Jamal Hodge

• Uprooted - Ukraine - Director: Andzej Gavriss

• 1000words - US - Director: Brandon Lane

Iran to Jax Shorts

• Dribble - Iran - Directors: Ali Lavarimonfared & Nazafarin Hassanpour

• Dog - Iran - Mohammad Hassan Yassaee

• For the Clean Up - Iran - Director: Mohammad Moravej

• Katvoman - Iran - Director: Hadi Sheibani

• Middle Eastern Stories: Father - Iran - Director: Reza Daghagh

• Morse - Iran - Director: Ronak Jafari

• A Winner - Iran: Director: Mehdi Mahaei

Utterly Macabre Shorts (Horror & Unique Short Films)

• Bad Seeds - Canada - Director: Claude Cloutier 

• Domestic Bliss - US - Directors: Jennifer Scott & Nicole Townssend 

• Earthworm - US - Director: Grace Gregory 

• Ed’s Last Will - UK - Directors: Lisa Wen Dou & John Xiaoliang Wang

• Familiar - UK - Director: David J. Ellison

• The Graveyard Shift - US - Director: Téa Lynor

• MeTube: August Sings ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima’ - Austria - Director: Daniel Moshel

• The Sprayer - Iran - Director: Farnoosh Abeo

• Tony and the Tree - Florida, US - Director: Pacey Hansen 

• While Mortals Sleep - US - Director: Alex Fofonoff

• Zoon - Germany - Director: Jonatan Schwenk

Short Documentary 

• American Scar - US - Director: Daniel Lombroso 

• Between Two Worlds - US - Director: Jax Broads

• Chaos & Quiet - UK - Directors: Fiachra O Longain & Sean Coyle

• Deewoods Deathtrap - US - Director: James P. Gannon

• Life with CTE: A Warren Sapp Story - US, Director: Mike Mentor

• Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks - US - Director: Kevin Mannens

• Nalujuk Night - Canada - Director: Jennie Williams

• Stranger Than Rotterdam with Sara Driver - US - Directors: Lewie Kloster & Noah Kloster

• Video Visit - US - Director: Malika Zouhali-Worrall

• Unbreakable - US - Director: Alex Astrella

• Urban Eden - Denmark - Director: Emilie Ehrhardt

Student Shorts

• The Aviary - US - Director: Tatum Lenberg

• Five - US - Director: David Orantes

• A Killing Opening Night - Florida, US - Director: Isabella Valencia Green

• A Monolingual Nation - Florida, US - Directors: Pierce Thomas & IBE Engala

• Outside the Door - China - Director: Zhuojing Ma 

• Rose - Florida, US - Director: Aiden Whitman Baker

• Tunnel Vision - Austria - Directors: Lara Marlies Rabitsch

Jacksonville Short Films 

• Clara - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Khiam’e L. Fields

• Fiasco - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Carlos Alvarez

• Hangnail - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Brian Parks

• The Omen Show - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Bruno Misawa Marcondes

• Planet Escape - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Caleb Cook

• Walking Around - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Gilles Bovon

• We’ve got the Summer - Jacksonville, FL, US - Director: Desirae Lee

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

The Jacksonville Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2022 festival. Members of the Jacksonville Film Festival are excited for another year of the festival. The festival is excited to introduce two new categories of submissions: Utterly Macabre and Faith-Based. The festival has included Utterly Macabre in the past, but this is the first year it has its own submissions category. The festival will also be partnering with the Southside Baptist Church in San Marco for the Faith-Based Film category. 

Categories include:

• Feature Narrative

• Feature Documentary

• Short Narrative

• Short Documentary

• Utterly Macabre

• Faith Films

• Animated Shorts

• Student Shorts

• Best of Jacksonville Shorts

Dates & Deadlines Include: 

• Earlybird Deadline - May 31, 2021

• Regular Deadline - July 31, 2021

• Late Deadline - August 31, 2021

• Notification Date - October 1, 2021

The Jacksonville Film Festival will announce dates for the 2022 festival soon. To learn more information about the festival head to Jacksonvillefilmfestival.com. Any filmmakers looking to learn more about the submission process can visit the Jacksonville Film Festival portal on Film Freeway.

Facebook: @jacksonvillefilmfestival

Instagram: @jacksonvillefilmfestival

Twitter: @jaxfilmfestival

Web: jacksonvillefilmfestival.com

Film Freeway: filmfreeway.com/jacksonvillefilmfestival