This week, the Lindsey Film Fest will begin taking submissions for next year’s film competition.  It’s a little like Christmas for us; each submission is a gift that we are both honored and surprised to receive.

Some of them come from old friends, filmmakers whose faith in us keeps them submitting their work year after year.  A film festival has to work very hard to prove its integrity to the artists seeking to have their films exhibited.  All festivals require a submission fee, and independent filmmakers are working with very limited financial resources; decisions on which festivals to submit to are based in part on which festivals will treat judge their films professionally and fairly in the competition process.  The Lindsey Festival is always conscious of this, and we are proud to have so many filmmakers trust us with their projects year after year.

We are just as honored when filmmakers select the Lindsey Fest for the first time.  As a small, university sponsored festival, we have to work hard to compete with the bigger named, bigger city festivals for submissions; part of that work over the years has been to prove that professionalism wrapped in Southern Hospitality can make up for size and name, and to show that the films always come first at our festival.  We must be doing something right because new filmmakers tell us time and time again how another filmmaker recommended our festival for its special treatment of each filmmaker and submission. 

As we begin the submission process for the 2014 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, we eagerly anticipate hearing from old friends and making new ones; it’s our Christmas in May!

When our organizers aren’t busy preparing to exhibit films at the Lindsey Fest, some of them are making their own films which screen and compete at other festivals.  Festival Co-chair Jason Flynn has directed a music video shot by UNA grad Tyler Martin featuring an original song, “American Dream,” written and performed by Charlton James, who manages Lindsey Fest screenings.  Their film is currently competing for the Audience Award in the Freestyle Life Film Exhibition. 

Jason Flynn is the head of the Film and Digital Media program at UNA, and Charlton James is a theatre professor.  By making films that compete in festivals, they show UNA students that creating art (film, music, and/or theatre) is an ongoing pursuit requiring much dedication to the art.  Working with a UNA alum on this film testifies to the type of support regularly given to their students by these professors. 

The Lindsey Film Festival is lucky to work with these dedicated professions.  Do yourselves a favor and take a look at “American Dream.”  And if you want to vote in the completion, that would be pretty great also.

When it seems like there is only bad news and worse news, it’s good to find something we can all cheer about.  If you were at this year’s festival, you will remember our youngest filmmaker, Gerry Orz, whose film “Day of Silence” won our Audience Choice Award.  If you did not attend this year’s festival, you missed an opportunity to meet this caring, passionate, and engaged young man (11 years old!) who turned his movie camera on as a way to turn bullying off.  This week, Gerry was quite busy meeting with the Los Angeles School Board about coordinating a “Day of Silence” against bullying event, but he took time out to pick up his newest film festival award, the “Making a Difference in the World” award at the Universe Multicultural Film Festival, which Gerry earned for his newest film, “Born to Bully.” 

Gerry’s films are available on YouTube; do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to watch “Day of Silence, Episode 1,” “Day of Silence, Episode 2,” or “Born to Bully.”  After a week of so much bad news, Gerry’s films will give you a warm and hopeful start to the weekend!  You can also see his Lindsey Fest Q&A on YouTube.

Congratulations Gerry!  And keep fighting the good fight!

One of the last opportunities the University of North Alabama had to honor alum George Lindsey was through the building and dedication of the George S. Lindsey Theatre, a black box theatre that fulfilled a long-time dream and very large need of UNA’s Music and Theatre department.

George would be very proud of how the theatre bearing his name has been used for the past year.   Shortly after it was opened for use, the UNA Summer Theatre program took up residence, staging “A Streetcar Named Desire” with visiting stars Elaine Hendrix and Myk Watford, “Tuna Does Vegas,” and the “Devised Theatre Project”.  During the past school year, such diverse theatrical productions as “6 Characters in Search of an Author,” “A Winter’s Tale,” and “No Exit” have been staged at the black box, as well as musical productions and fundraisers for theatre students traveling to China this summer. 

George Lindsey’s career as an actor began on the stage at UNA, he trained in New York at the prestigious American Theatre Wing in New York, and he graced the Broadway stage before making his move to television and film.  He loved to talk about his experiences in the theatre, and George would love knowing that others, both professionals and students, are accumulating their own personal stories on a stage that bears his name.

This week, the Music and Theatre departments will join for a performance of “Orfeo ed Euridice,” and soon the George S. Lindsey Theatre will be abuzz with Summer Theatre activity, helping to keep alive the memory of a UNA graduate from Jasper, Alabama.

For information on events at the George S. Lindsey Theatre, check the schedule at http://www.una.edu/music-theatre/.