21st Annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Film makers from all over the globe gather in Starkville this weekend for The 21st annual Magnolia Independent Film Festival.

This year the fest is shining a light on female filmmakers.

I spent the morning learning how the role of women has changed in the motion picture industry.

“The magnolia film festival really encourages and nurtures female film makers and that’s very important,” said Filmmaker Patricia Chica.

The Magnolia Film festival is an event filmmakers look forward to all year long.

“I keep coming back to the magnolia film festival and the beautiful city of Starkville because I love this festival. I love the organizers they’re wonderful people they are very friendly they treat film makers like royalty here,” said Chica.

Independent and feature film directors head to Mississippi each year to show off their best work.

“There’s always a nice mix of different style films. There are Mississippi Films, there are scary films there are serious films there are funny films. Basically it’s a festival that anyone can go to. If you’re kind of afraid of independent films you’re fine because there’s going to be something that you like here,” said Filmmaker Wendy Keeling.

In light of the recent push for women empowerment this years Festival is high lighting female directors and how thing are evolving in the film industry for the better.

Chica and Keeling spoke at a women in film panel Saturday. They says it’s been a tough road as a women directors but they feel the tide of change headed their way.

“Times are changing, as you know women empowerment the feminist movement are to the rise especially in this era right now it’s very important that we support and encourage and empower women to tell stories because the stories we tell are from another perspective that’s not been explored too much in hollywood or the industry,” said Chica.

“As women in the industry it can be tough and the me too movement and all of these things. I think what is happening right now is that people are saying that’s not ok and women have points of view and women actually can do a really good job as an actor as a film maker we can tell great stories,” said Keeling.

The festival will concluded tonight, with a with an award ceremony.