First ever Film Festival to be held at Garden Theater

The venue for the Big Sandy Film Festival will be the historic Garden Theater in downtown Louisa, and will be held on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24.

According to Marsha Slone, the film industry is growing in the area. The festival will be open to the public with submissions from all over the United States and a few from Europe.

The following films will compete for awards in the following categories- feature films, short films and student films. On Friday, the box office opens at 11 a.m., and filmmaker meet and greet; 12:30 p.m., short film block 1: Cottage, Up, Up and Away, My Mountain Friend, The Last Ride of JR Roc; Dear John Olvey; Ardor; and As Easy As Closing Your Eyes; 2:10 p.m., short film block 1 question and answers; 3:10 p.m., short film block 2, Aftermath, Holding Pattern, ll, Late Fee, Just A Minute, Wulf and Tolly; 5 p.m., short film block 2 questions and answers; 6 p.m., feature film 1, Within The Walls with questions and answers at 7:45 p.m.; Feature film 2-Britney Lost Her Phone at 8:15 p.m., with question and answers following.

Saturday begins with box office opening at 11 a.m.; Student Film Block at 11 a.m., showing The Taken, In Memoriam, The First Gale of Spring, Portrait of Night, Buddy, Listen, The Chronocular Device and The Steak; student film block questions and answers at 12:30 p.m. Feature film 3: Ava at 2:05 p.m., with question and answers following; Feature film 4: M30 Oxy at 4:25 p.m., followed by question and answers; Feature film 5 will be The Martini Shot at 7:45 p.m., followed by question and answers.

The Gem of the Big Sandy Award Ceremony will begin at 9:55 p.m., with the overall winner receiving the Diamond Award.

Go to www.thebigsandyfilmfestival.com for more information on festival schedules or to purchase tickets.