An enthusiastic crowd of 300 turned out on Saturday evening, October 27, to attend the premiere of 45RPM, described by author, producer, and director Juli Jackson of Paragould as a “dark comedy that extends the world of the classic American road movie while exploring rich Southern history.” The story follows a struggling artist seeking a connection between her work and her deceased father, a garage band musician. Together with an obsessive record collector for memphis, she begins a search for a rare 45 recording of her father’s band, The Five Man Trio.
45RPM is the first film to be completed as part of Ozark Foothills FilmFest’s Indie Film Initiative, an aggressive effort to stimulate the Arkansas independent film community. “We were fortunate to receive a significant grant from Governor Beebe that enable us to help fund three films,” explains Ozark Foothills president and co-founder Bob Pest. “There are two exciting documentary films in the pipeline,” he added, “My Brother’s Heart by award-winning filmmakers Craig and Brent Renaud and Man Shot Dead by Taylor Feltner.” Each of the three projects received $30,000 grants. The two documentaries will be launched upon completion. “We had 26 Arkansas filmmakers apply for the three grants,” Pest notes. “Several of the filmmakers have moved forward on their own, finding the necessary resources from a variety of sources or funding the projects themselves. I am especially excited about No Trespassing, a documentary about the cycle of poverty, abuse, neglect, and addiction that plagues much of the Ozark region. The film was shot in both northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri by Kate and Lyle Siegenthaler. Kate is a youth therapist and counselor who works in the most impoverished Ozark communities.
As our audiences learn to appreciate independent films the festival will continue to develop strategies for both funding and promoting independent filmmaking in Arkansas. We have the talent, we have the locations, and we have growing statewide awareness and support. Individuals, businesses, corporations, and organizations interested in advancing the Indie Film Initiative may send your contributions to:
Indie Film Initiative
Ozark Foothills FilmFest
195 Peel Road
Locust Grove, AR 72550
For more information contact ozarkfilm@wildblue.net or bobpest@wildblue.net. Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 2001. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Hear Juli Jackson on KFFB’s Open Mic with Bob Connell
