Southeastern International Film Festival Announces 2019 Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 5, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​Southeastern International Film & Music Conference (Nov. 8-10, 2019) will be held in downtown Nashville at the Cambria Hotel and The Valentine on Broadway. It is the seventh edition of the annual festival, which celebrates the convergence of art, film, and music while giving back to the community by providing a distribution channel for independent film and music.   

This event recognizes international and American independent cinema - hosting submissions from 34 countries and 24 US States. The organization strives to promote creative works and inspires attendees of innovative events and parties to connect. Awards will be presented for each category, as well as a SIFF’s Grand Jury prize for recognition of exceptional work in film. Over 100 judges from around the world from all areas of creative development determine the annual program. The festival waives submission fees for 10 days each year to include artists challenged to afford entries, like artists from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. 

"A unique component of this the festival is that we accepted blanket waivers at the beginning of the submission process for anyone, so it was fair for artists of all circumstances. We found film professionals from disenfranchised countries had the opportunity to enter. We are grateful that quality works were not excluded for the lack of opportunity. This is a critical moment in history. It’s more necessary than ever to support independent voices," said Ava Leigh Stewart, festival founder. "We are proud to promote and host filmmakers that might not otherwise have the chance for audiences to see their work." 

"The encore screenings highlight many veteran film professionals, as well as new ones. The films' stories deliver fresh commentary and thought-provoking concepts," Stewart said. "We are incorporating live performances from several films to enhance the experience of the art again this year. This engages the imagination and brings audiences together in an unforgettable way." This year’s encore screening on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. will be “Haven’s End” by Director Chris Ethridge, which stars Catherine Tabor from Star Wars and Megan Hayes from Hunger Games. They will all be in attendance, hosting a Q&A after the screening. 

There will be over 30 artists performing in a series of over 15 live performances. Headline acts include country breakout star Matt Williams and Atlanta band The TwoTakes. A festival after-party will follow on both nights with music by renowned DJs. Musical Director Daniel Collins said, “I’m thrilled to have such a talented group of musicians perform at the seventh annual festival. Their performances and talent capture the essence of our weekend-long event.”

On Sunday the Songwriting Showcase starts at 2 p.m. featuring Alex Smith, Alyssa Trahan, Southern Gothic, Matt Williams, and more. At 4 p.m., we will screen award-winning Director Stacey Black’s documentary film about Nashville's own musicians, "Send My Mail to Nashville." An acoustic performance by one of those featured, Lydia Manuel Smith, will follow.  We will also screen the award-winning film “When All That’s Left is Love” at 4 p.m. Award-winning Director Eric Gordon will be in attendance to answer questions after the film. The movie is an emotionally gripping story, shot over six years, of a wife’s determination to care for her Alzheimer’s-stricken husband. "I am compelled by the range of storytelling in this year's selections. The 2019 program will engage and challenge audiences," said Stewart. 

Independent filmmakers and musicians founded the Southeastern International Film and Music Festival to create distribution channels for smaller towns and venues in the Southeast. The organization is dedicated to fostering connections between film making, music, and art professionals across the globe and helping creative people move forward. Founded in 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, SIFF is best known for its conferences and festivals, but also offers educational resources. The event features a variety of networking opportunities, proving annually that the most unexpected discoveries happen when a diverse group of people are brought together. Don’t miss #SIFF2019 from Nov. 8-10, 2019. For more information or to purchase passes, please visit ​southeasternfilm.com​.

For media inquiries, please contact SIFF's press contact Mashon Fine at southeasternfilm@gmail.com.

Source: Southeastern International Film & Music Festival