The 2018 Nacogdoches Film Festival was held on February 22-24, 2018 at the historic Fredonia Hotel in downtown Nacogdoches, Texas.
FILMS
The following films were featured:
Lore
Winner of 2018 Feature Film Competition, written and directed by Brock Manwill & Christian Larsen, and produced by John & Aaron Matthews, who were in attendance.
Sins of the Fathers
The 2016 SFA student-produced summer feature film, written and directed by Ethan Cartwright, who was in attendance.
One Month Out
A brand new movie not yet out for distribution, it was produced & directed by John Schneider and stars Ruth Buzzi, both of whom were in attendance.
Cut Shoot Kill
A newly released (Aug 2017) horror film directed by Michael Walker, with music by Christopher North, who was in attendance.
The Buddy Holly Story
This was the first feature length film directed by Steve Rash during his long and successful Hollywood career, which earned three Academy Award nominations. Steve and Maggie Rash were in attendance.
ARSCOTT INTERVIEW SERIES
Award-winning filmmakers Steve and Maggie Rash were our first guests for the inaugural ARSCOTT INTERVIEW, named after Bill Arscott, who founded Stephen F. Austin State University's Film Program 40 years ago.
The Arscott Interview is an informal interview in a format similar to James Lipton's iconic "Inside the Actor's Studio." Longtime Hollywood actor, SFA graduate and current SFA faculty member Brad Maule conducted the interview.
INDUSTRY GUESTS
- Ruth Buzzi — Actress & comedienne Ruth Buzzi's initial big break came as a cast member on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Over the past half century, she has appeared on television and film with most of Hollywood's legends (who can say the same thing about Ruth). Her most recent movie project was in John Schneider's One Month Out.
- Ethan Cartwright — Recent SFA film program graduate Ethan Cartwright wrote, produced and directed Sins of the Father while a student at SFA. It was the 2016 SFA Summer Feature Film, a graduate student-led project that enables students to participate in the actual production of a full-length feature film.
- Brad Maule — Two-time Emmy-nominated actor, director, screenwriter, singer and songwriter Brad Maule is a member of the SFA Film School faculty. Brad played Dr. Tony Jones on General Hospital for 25 years.
- Christopher North — Composer Christopher North has contributed to more than 40 films. His music for the film Two Trains Runnin' was just nominated for a Grammy. His most recent movie composition was for Cut Shoot Kill, which we screened on Friday night.
- Kent Perkins — Kent Perkins is an actor and writer, known for The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, To Protect and Serve, and The Being. He has been married to Ruth Buzzi for the past 40 years.
- Steve & Maggie Rash — The first feature length film directed by Dallas native Steve Rash during his long and successful Hollywood career was The Buddy Holly Story, which earned three Academy Award nominations. He and his wife, Maggie, have collaborated on dozens of films over the past 40 years.
- John Schneider — Actor & director John Schneider's initial big break was playing "Bo" in The Dukes of Hazzard. He will be showing a director's cut version of his current movie, One Month Out, which he directed and produced.
- Larry Waks — attorney who maintains a high-level Intellectual Property practice serving a broad range of domestic and international clients in the high tech, media and entertainment industries
COMPETITION WINNERS
- Short Films — Pickle, directed by Grant Moore of Orange, California
- Full-Length Feature Film — Lore, produced by John & Aaron Matthews of Los Angeles, California & Dallas, Texas
- High School Short Film — Nightmare, directed by Yeongji Kim of Pioneer High School, Sharyland ISD, Mission, Texas
Grant Moore, director of PICKLE, winner of the 2018 NacFilmFest Short Film competition.
Ruth Buzzi and Kent Perkins with SFA Film Program Director Bill Arscott.
SFA student attendees between films on Friday evening.
Composer Christopher North and director Ethan Cartwright.
Brad Maule interviewing filmmakers Steve & Maggie Rash during the Arscott Interview.
John Schneider with John Matthews, producer of LORE, winner in the Independent Feature Film category.
Christopher North's panel session on composing for film.