Oxford Film Festival adopted a new Board of Directors that is hard at work organizing the 2016 festival.
The Board reviewed the impact of the festival on the community and recognized that for the organization to reach the next level it would require a full time director.
“The festival is more than a weekend of films. It is connected events year round and is a resource for filmmaking in North Mississippi,” said Wayne Andrews, Director of the Arts Council. “In order to achieve the goal of hiring a director several board members and business leaders stepped forward with a challenge – they would commit matching funds if the Board could raise half of the salary.”
The new board of directors is as follows: Board President: Wayne Andrews of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Bethany Cooper of FNC, movie producer and New Albany native Hudson Hickman, Jon Maynard of the Economic Development Foundation, former Dean of Students at the University of Mississippi Sparky Reardon, intellectual property attorney and filmmaker Meaghin Burke, Invitation Oxford’s Sonia Thompson, writer Chris Offutt, City Grocery Restaurant Group owner John Currence, and concerned citizens Ralph Vance, Donna Ruth Roberts, Joy Clark and Tim Burkhead. Oxford Film Commissioner Mary Allyn Roulhac also sits on the board as a non-voting member.
The Leadership Campaign has kicked off the drive and is looking to raise $25,000 by July 31.
In the film festival’s 12-year history it has become a major event for the City of Oxford, drawing famous actors, directors, and assorted media to Oxford. The role of the festival has evolved into an organization that hosts movie screenings throughout the year and promotes North Mississippi as an ideal location for filmmaking. Upcoming events include screenings partnered with the U. of MS Southern Studies, Fringe Festival and Sarah Isom Center.
“This expanded role for the festival creates a strong positive impact on the cultural and business community in Oxford,” Andrews said.
Donations are being accepted on the Oxford Film Festival website at www.oxfordfilmfest.com, by mail at Oxford Film Festival P.O. Box 727 Oxford, Mississippi USA. To learn how you can become part of the film festival or sponsor the festival, contact info@oxfordfilmfest.com or by phone at 662-236-6429.
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