Photo courtesy of Backlight Student Film Festival
Founded in 2022, the Backlight Student Film Festival is a surging nonprofit showcasing Georgia’s young, diverse talent in student filmmaking. It also allows students to network, meet other creative professionals, and build long-lasting connections. The fourth annual festival will take place this year at the Tate Student Center in Athens March 29 and 30.
This year’s festival received submissions from 18 universities across the state, many of which will be represented. A wide range of genres were submitted, including drama, comedy, mystery, animation, sci-fi, and thriller.
Backlight Director of Press and Accreditation Julia Turner says the festival provides “an outlet for the community to rally behind Georgia’s diverse collection of young talent. We hope by uniting studios and production companies, and financiers and film offices with our students, we can help to generate more above-the-line opportunities for Georgia creatives and foster continued growth in the larger industry.” Sponsors of previous festivals include Assembly Studios, Trilith Institute, Chispa House, Georgia Film Office, Athens Film Office, and Project Casting.
Turner says the festival will only continue to grow. “Five years from now, I hope Backlight is as well-known of an event among students across Georgia as it is among students at UGA now,” she says. “We want to be known as a hub in the state of Georgia for early career and talent development for students and young professionals who will make up the next generation of the Georgia film industry.”
The full film selection list will be available March 16.
Photo by Tyler Addison
