Jacksonville Film Festival facts for kids
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| Location | Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
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| Founded | 2002 |
| Most recent | April 12-14, 2024 |
| Awards | Best of Fest |
| Language | International |
The Jacksonville Film Festival is an exciting yearly event held in Jacksonville, Florida. It's a place where people can watch and celebrate independent films from America and around the world. The festival started in 2002. It shows movies that are competing for awards and also films that are just for fun. Many people in the film world look forward to this festival.
Contents
History of the Festival
How the Festival Began
The idea for the Jacksonville Film Festival came about in the spring of 2002. Two people, Joan Monsky and Karen Sadler, thought it would be a great idea. They gathered a small group of community leaders. Together, they planned the first festival. It was set for May 2003. In 2003, the festival became a non-profit organization. This means it works for a good cause, not just to make money.
The First Festival in 2003
The very first Jacksonville Film Festival took place from May 15 to 18, 2003. The opening film was "The Flying Ace." This movie was special because it was made in Jacksonville in 1926. Besides showing movies, the festival also had workshops and parties. Many people helped make the first festival a success. This included local businesses, the city, and many volunteers.
Festival Goals and Growth
In 2003, the festival had three main goals. First, it wanted to connect Jacksonville to its past as a moviemaking city. Jacksonville was once called "Hollywood of the South." Second, it aimed to highlight independent films and the people who make them. Independent films are made outside of big studios. Third, the festival wanted to help make downtown Jacksonville a lively place. Many events were held in different downtown locations.
Special Guests and Films
Over the years, the festival has welcomed many famous people. In 2004, actor Bill Murray received a special award called the Tortuga Verde Award. This award honored his long career in movies. That year, the festival also showed the popular movie "Napoleon Dynamite." Director Christopher Coppola also showed his film "The Creature of Sunnyside Trailer Park." In 2006, John Travolta's film "Lonely Hearts" was a main feature.
New Programs and Ideas
The festival kept growing and adding new things. In 2005, it started "Books Alive!" This program showed family films based on books. It also launched "REEL People," a fan club for movie lovers. This club offered special movie screenings all year. By 2007, the festival was celebrating its fifth year. It was becoming well-known in the Southeast. The festival always tried to offer "Something for Everyone!"
Changes and International Focus
The year 2008 brought big changes to the festival. Jesse Rodriguez became the new director. The festival was extended to a full week. It added new programs like "A TASTE OF ASIA" and "EUROPA EUROPA." There was also "HIP HOP FOR THE MASSES" and a film program for the Deaf. The festival created a "FILM FESTIVAL VILLAGE." This made it easy for people to walk between all the venues. In 2008, the festival became truly international. It showed films from over 20 different countries.
Returning to the Big Screen
After a break of six years, the Jacksonville Film Festival made a comeback. It returned in September 2018. The festival continues to be an important event for independent filmmakers and movie fans.
