Jonesborough: 6th Annual Student Film Festival

Sixth Annual Student Film Festival to Take Place November 7

The McKinney Center will roll out the red carpet to a dozen new young filmmakers in Jonesborough for the annual Student Film Festival on Thursday, November 7 from 6 to 7 p.m.

During the 2019 year, students in the spring, summer, and fall film class participated in creating a series of films connecting with people, places, and events in Jonesborough. With assistance from the Heritage Alliance, who provided photographs, historical documents, and other archival material, the students studied history, connected with stories that mattered, and created films based on this history.

Films being premiered this year are “The Spencer-Slagle Murder Mystery”, which examines an early 20th century unsolved series of murders in a format similar to investigative filmmaking; “Flashback to the Lost State of Franklin”, in which a modern day journalist visits Tennessee’s oldest town, and is thrust into the past while examining its history; and a series of “History Minute” short one-minute films about Jonesborough’s Telephone Exchange in the 1930’s, Ernest McKinney, Dr. Cunningham and the Railroad, Virginia Maden’s memories of the Great Depression, and John Sevier.

Each film was developed and filmed by the students in the classes. They created the story boards, learned filming techniques such as camera angles, lighting, integration of music, voiceovers, and other technical craft elements. Some students pull directly from provided texts, while others take a more creative approach, developing their own dialogue as they imagine the historical scenarios.

Before the premier, students will arrive by Limo for a red-carpet walk, and will be available to give autographs. This event is free and open to the public. Popcorn and drinks will be served during the movies. For more information about the premier, please contact Jules Corriere at julesc@jonesboroughtn.org.