ST. MARYS FILM SOCIETY HOSTS LUNCHEON
FOR AMELIA ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL
ST. MARYS, GA—Members of the Amelia Island Film Festival (AIFF) were greeted by St. Marys Film Society board members as they debarked the Cumberland Sound Ferry last Monday (September 14). The Amelia Island group had sailed to St. Marys to discuss the upcoming cooperative arrangements between the AIFF and the St. Marys Film Society.
After an historic tour of St. Marys, the group gathered at Captain Seagle’s in the Riverview Hotel for a lunch hosted by proprietors Gaila and Jerry Brandon. Plans discussed revolved around the February screening of an AIFF movie in St. Marys scheduled for February 19 (the week before the Film Festival). AIFF organizers will then bring film industry executives/professionals to St. Marys on February 26 for a tour of potential film location sites and a reception. The public will be invited to the February 19 screening. AIFF president Tony McAdoo also suggested a prize to be awarded to the best festival entry that comes from Georgia.
“We already have in place an award for Florida’s best entry,” McAdoo said. “In honor of our new collaboration with St. Marys, we thought Georgia should be recognized as well.”
One representative of the Amelia Island contingent lamented that Florida had done away with a lot of incentives for film makers at the same time that Georgia had increased their incentives.
Director of St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau Janet Brinko said, “With a 700% return to local economies on the state’s investment in filmmaking promotion, it makes us proud that Georgia leadership recognizes the value of this industry and continues to put out the welcome mat for them.” Brinko went on to state that having a film production can raise visitorship in an area by as much as 75% with residual effects on tourism lasting long after the film is wrapped. Savannah, for example, continues to reap the benefits of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, even though the movie was filmed there more than twelve years ago.
The next project for St. Marys Film Society will be to screen entries to the Amelia Island Film Festival to determine the film that would most appeal to St. Marys film patrons.
Both organizations agreed that the synergy between the two cities on both sides of the St. Marys River will play an important role in bringing film makers to the area.
“The diverse locations that we can offer as a team are impressive,” stated Doug Vaught, Acting Chair of St. Marys Film Society. “Moving forward with our join initiatives will be a win-win situation for both states.”
To get involved in St. Marys Film Society or for more information, call 912-729-1103.
