The Oxford Film Festival Receives Grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission

The Oxford Film Festival announced today they have been awarded a $500 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC).

This grant is a portion of the $1.61 million in grants the Commission will award in 2015-2016 and will be used to pay for conference fees for festival executive director Melanie Addington to attend the Art House Convergence prior to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January, 2016. The grants are made possible by continued funding from the Mississippi State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

“The creative economy has never been more vibrant than it is today in the communities across Mississippi,” stated Dr. Tom Pearson, Executive Director at MAC. “This agency is honored to play a small role in assisting these organizations to continue their work of reinforcing the value of the arts and the role they play in creative place-making and economic development.”

Addington said, “Attending the Art House Convergence allows executive directors, artistic directors and operations people from film festivals across the country to meet, compare notes, learn from each other and bring those innovative solutions and exciting ideas back to our own festivals and local communities to enrich the film festival experience for our local film fans. We couldn’t be more grateful that the Mississippi Arts Commission included the Oxford Film Festival among the many worthy organizations and groups they assist and sponsor.”

The Oxford Film Festival (February 17-21) celebrates the art of independent cinema from across the globe while also focusing on moviemaking and enhancing the arts in Oxford and North Mississippi. The organization holds monthly events which culminate in the annual four-day film festival each February. The festival exhibits over 100 quality films from across the globe, has built a reputation among both the independent filmmaking community and national film and entertainment journalists as a key destination film festival, praised for its hospitality increasing Oxford, Mississippi’s tourist profile.

The Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, serves the residents of the state by providing grants that support programs to enhance communities; assist artists and arts organizations; promote the arts in education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. Established in 1968, the Mississippi Arts Commission is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

For information from the Mississippi Arts Commission, contact Allison Washington – 601/359-6546 or awashington@arts.ms.gov. More information about the Oxford Film festival is available at http://www.oxfordfilmfest.com.

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