
We like to think people love the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival because we’re so darned good at what we do, but we know deep down that much of that love is because of just where we are located. The Shoals has long been a mecca for artists and art lovers. Those musicians that put the Shoals on the map came here for the outstanding work done by the producers and musicians at FAME and other studios, but they came for other reasons as well. There is that singing river to which much of the musical inspiration of the region is attributed, and we would argue that river sings to other types of artists as well, including filmmakers. There are the people, who are as hospitable as the south can produce. There is the food and entertainment on Florence’s Court Street that always comes as a pleasant surprise to our out of town guests. We know we cannot have a festival without filmmakers, and we work very hard to bring as many of them as possible to our community, but getting them here is only half the job. It is Florence and the larger Shoals community that makes our guests want to come back year after year, and for that – Thank you! If you are coming to the festival from out of town, make sure to spend some time taking in The Shoals, visit First Fridays on Florence’s downtown Court Street on March 2, and have fun!