The Cannes International Film Festival is an annual festival held on the French Riviera since 1947. The invitation-only festival is generally recognized as the most prestigious, publicized, and influential film festival in the world. The Ozark Foothills FilmFest is honored to have two young, emerging filmmakers whose work has been selected and honored in special categories.
John X. Carey is a fast-rising young director fresh out of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, whose work has already been recognized by the Art Directors Club in New York and the Shots Young Directors Awards in Cannes. Voices from the Field, a wrenching yet hopeful film about the work being done by Project Concern in Africa that screened at the 2011 FilmFest, won both awards. Carey, a Missouri native, began his film career entering both the T Tauri Film Festival and the Ozark Foothills FilmFest. Three short narrative films by Carey (Be Near Me, Shelter from the Storm, and Harlem Elvis) will be screened at the festival on Friday evening, March 30, at 6:00 p.m. at UACCB before the feature Ozark: A Celebration in Song. Carey writes, directs, edits, and does sound and visual effects on all of his films. He will be in attendance at the screening.
Ya’Ke Smith, a film instructor at the University of Texas at Arlington, is widely-regarded as one of this generation’s up-and-coming talents. He has established himself as a fearless filmmaker who takes an unflinching look at the challenges facing ordinary people in today’s society. His short drama, Hope’s War, was selected to screen at Cannes as part of Kodak’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. The film follows the struggles of a U.S. soldier returning home from Iraq who is threatened by brutal visions of the war. Smith’s film, Katrina’s Son, selected for the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner, tells the powerful story of a young Katrina evacuee who has been ignored by society. After losing his grandmother during the hurricane, he eventually makes his way to San Antonio to find his mother, who abandoned him years earlier and has communicated only by postcard. Smith’s writing and tight direction capture the perfect tone for this painful reminder that not all families come together. Four of Smith’s short films, including Hope’s War and Katrina’s Son, will be screened at the FilmFest on Saturday afternoon, March 31, at 3:45 p.m. at UACCB. He will be in attendance at the screening.
The 11th annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest takes place March 28-April 1 at various venues in Batesville. For the complete festival schedule visit www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org. Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) educational non-profit founded in 2001 and headquartered in Locust Grove. Contributions to the organization are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
