Filmmakers from Madison County, both professional and amateur, have been selected to showcase their films during the 10th annual Crossroads Film Festival this weekend.

The four day festival will showcase over 70 films as well filmmaking seminars and acting workshops.

The festival is presented by the Cross Roads Film Society, a non-profit organization that provides access, discussion and support for national, international and local films.

A screening committee scored and viewed over 400 films that were submitted to the festival.

The festival will be held at Regal Parkway Place Theater on Lakeland Drive in Jackson beginning Thursday through Sunday. Other events include filmmaking workshops at the Mississippi Museum of Art and after parties at Hal and Mal's.

"Life of a Legend," by Filmmaker Jim Dollarhide is one of the featured films that will be showcased. The hour long documentary is normally exclusively shown at the B.B. King museum in Indianola. The documentary tells the story of world icon B.B. King from his birth to worldwide fame.

Dollarhide first met King 35 years ago during one of his concerts and said making the film had been discussed since then. But it was four years ago when Dollarhide was comissioned by the museum.

Dollarhide, who lives at Lake Cavalier in Madison founded his own film company Dollarhide Film Inc, and the former production company Imageworks Inc. Past accomplishments include shooting the HBO documentary "Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton" which won Best Cinemtaography at Sundance and an oscar nomination for best documentary.

For months Dollarhide followed King all over the United States and Europe conducting interviews and showcasing live performances and studio recordings. The film incorporates interviews and commentary from King's childhood friends and other music legends such as Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and John Mayor.

Dollarhide, who has been a friend of King's for years said making the film was the highlight of his career.

"It was a labor of love," he said. "King and I started talking about doing a film about blues in 1972. Now 35 years later we did, and it's a dream come true.

"He is one of our most treasured native sons," Dollarhide continued. "He is a world wide icon not only for the blues, but American music. It is one of the greatest stories to ever come out of Mississippi."

Carmen Brown, who grew up in Madison and recently graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design, has been selected to feature her film "We The People."

The short film is based on a true story about Mississippi resident Cory Maye who was convicted of murder in 2001 for the death or Prentiss police officer Ron W. Jones. Maye pleaded not guilty citing self-defense and was found guilty and sentenced to death. In 2008 the death sentence was overturned and he was sentenced to life in prison.

After hearing about facts surrounding the case Brown said the story struck a nerve and she wanted to draw attention to it. She worked on the film for over two years as part of a school project.

"I am not a lawyer and do not have the resources to bring him to trial, the least I can do is draw attention to the case and make people think," she said.

Brown currently lives in Altanta, Georgia and is a freelance filmmaker and an adjunct professor at the Art Institute of Atlanta.

Grace Swoop, and Nikki Collins are two students at Madison Central High School who's homemade films "Wake Up!" and "Happily Never After Christmas" have been selected for the youth film catergory

"Wake Up" is about two friends who have different viewpoints on conserving the environment. It is a short film in which one friend shows the other how to be more eco-friendly. "Happily Never After Christmas" is another short that began as a creative Christmas present that Swoop gave to a friend at a party last December.

Swoop has attended the Canton Film Camp twice and said making movies is her favorite hobby. She will be attending The University of Southern Mississippi in the Fall and majoring in Costume Design.

For a complete schedule of all films visit www.crossroadsfilmfestival.com

Lacey McLaughlin
Madison County Journal