Selected as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s ’50 Film Festivals worth the Entry Fee, 2015,’ the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers brings the best of independent film to communities across the South. Audiences have seen over 300 films and have engaged filmmakers in post-screening discussions in more than 100 Southern communities. The tour takes the audience away from their televisions, computers, tablets and phones to connect them with independent filmmakers – live, in-person! Southern Circuit transforms watching independent films from a solitary experience into a communal one.

Interview with Teresa Hollingsworth:

Matthew Toffolo:What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers? 

Teresa Hollingsworth:To quote one of our Southern Circuit alums, “I got to screen my film for real people,” meaning non-film festival audiences. Filmmakers have the opportunity to screen for a variety of audiences – high school and college students, inner city and rural community folks, and, yes, indie film buffs.

We actually pay filmmakers. Filmmakers receive screening honoraria!!! We pre-pay plane tickets, provide per diem for lodging and meals, and reimbursement for rental cars, gas and airline baggage fees. Yes, you have read all of this correctly! We are also building independent film audiences. Audience development is vital to independent film. Filmmakers need more people to see their amazing work.

Matthew: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)? 

Teresa: Incredible Southern hospitality! You are our invited guest artist. (We firmly believe that filmmakers are artists.) We want you to enjoy your Southern Circuit Tour by seeing our beautiful landscapes, sampling our legendary cuisine and meeting our enthusiastic Screening Partners and audiences.

Our season runs 2016-2017 (the traditional academic calendar). Our filmmakers tour 7-12 days for an average of six screenings.

Matthew: What are the qualifications for the selected films? 

Teresa: Filmmakers must retain festival and educational rights (we don’t pay distribution fees). Films must be completed after January 2014 and between 40-120 minutes running time. There are some other details on the South Arts website.

Matthew: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why? 

Teresa: There are so many variables in programming festivals. Despite numerous festivals, a lot of little gems are missed. All filmmakers seem to want to screen at Sundance, SXSW or Tribeca, but it’s not going to happen for everyone. I’m all for dreaming ‘big,’ but don’t miss the chance to screen at a smaller festival.

Matthew: What motivates you and your team to do this festival? 

Teresa: We literally connect films/filmmakers to communities and organizations. We do the ground work in finding great films/filmmakers and pairing them with opportunities to screen in great Southern communities. We really like filmmakers. And we really like our Screening Partners. It’s rewarding to know that a film has had an impact on an audience.

Matthew: How has the festival changed since its inception? 

Teresa: Southern Circuit was born in South Carolina and screened exclusively there for years. Gradually screenings were offered in surrounding states. In 2006 the Circuit moved to South Arts (a Regional Arts Organization). We expanded the program, and currently screen in nine Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee). Other changes include increased filmmaker honorarium, transitioning screeners from discs to streaming, providing marketing assistance to Screening Partners, lots of social media, etc. We try to improve the Circuit every season.

Matthew: Where do you see the festival by 2020? 

Teresa: Growing! Last season we presented 108 individual screenings. We are striving to send more filmmakers to more Southern communities for more screenings!!

Matthew: What film have you seen the most times in your life? 

Teresa: No judgement. It’s gotta be White Christmas. I think the first time I saw it I was five. I loved Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen’s red velvet dresses. And there was singing. And dancing. And snow. I see it a ridiculous number of times during the holidays every year. It reminds me of home.

Matthew: In one sentence, what makes a great film? 

Teresa: A great film is the perfect fusion of strong storytelling, dedicated direction and extraordinary editing. (I really need a paragraph…)

Matthew: How is the film scene in your city? 

Teresa: Our home office is in Atlanta, although Southern Circuit screenings are held throughout the South. Atlanta has three vibrant indie film theatres that screen classics, indies and retrospectives. A number of universities have film courses/programs. There are several annual film festivals in town. The Atlanta Film Society is doing amazing things! Plus, Georgia has become a hub for film and television production because of our attractive tax incentives. Good stuff down here.

As Senior Program Director for South Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, Teresa Hollingsworth oversees the Traditional Arts and Film Programs, and provides support for international exchange activities. Teresa directs the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers working closely with filmmakers and partner communities to present new documentaries, narrative, animated and experimental films throughout the South. She served as the film programmer for Caravanserai, A Place Where Cultures Meet, a national project funded by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts that presented contemporary Muslim films and
filmmakers to midsize communities. Teresa is a seasoned film festival veteran who annually attends national and regional film festivals to identify filmmakers for Southern Circuit. She has contributed to a number of media projects, educational publications and scholarly journals, curated museum exhibits, and served as a project consultant, lecturer, festival stage manager and grant panelist.

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Fesival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.