The 2023 Southern Screen Festival will be in person in Lafayette, LA and will have limited programming still available virtually for anyone who would like to experience the festival.

Schedule of Events:

November 16, 2023

7:00 PM: Opening Night Social

It's opening night of the 13th annual Southern Screen Festival, and like every year, we are starting the festivities with an evening of socializing over champagne and raw oysters! It's our favorite pairing to kidk off the upcoming weekend full of screenings, sessions, and socials!

$20 cover for 1 glass of champagne and raw oysters
Festival Pass Holders get in free + 1 glass of champagne and raw oysters
Champagne and oysters with VIP Wristbands
(NOTE: Must be 21+ for champagne)

Location: Wild Child Wines

November 17, 2023

5:00 PM: Let’s Produce Producers with Rachel Nederveld
Producing skills are essential to every film, but when you are doing everything yourself it’s hard to know when it ends and directing begins. But as you grow your career, a producer can become invaluable. This workshop will cover what producing is and what all the different producing roles mean. We will also break down the producer roles for an indie fiction film, a commissioned documentary, and a commercial to understand the differences.

5:30 PM: Short Fiction Writing Challenge Winner Announcement + Reading
Join us as we announce the recipient of this year's short fiction writing challenge and give a live reading of their story based on this year's theme: "A STORY OF PERSEVERANCE"!
This year's Writing Challenge recipient will also receive $250, a Festival Pass w/Food + Drink Wristband, and their story will be published in the Louisiana Literature Journal and online with The Current.

6:00 PM: Louisiana Writers Panel
Join M.O. Walsh, Stephanie Fournet, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, and moderator, Jack Bedell for an inspiring and insightful discussion with a panel of accomplished creative writers as they share their experiences, techniques, and journeys in the world of storytelling. From crafting compelling characters to navigating the publishing process, our panelists will offer valuable perspectives across a range of genres and writing styles.

7:05 PM: Little Richard: I Am Everything
Runtime: 98 minutes
Director: Lisa Cortés
Throughout his life, Little Richard careened between religion, sex and rock 'n' roll. A treasure trove of archival material brings to life a revolutionary figure, one who reinvented popular music as the ultimate form of self-expression.
 
8:45 PM: Friday Night Social with Kid Charleroi + Music Videos
Vibe with us at our Friday night social showcasing the talent of Kid Charleroi, plus two of their music videos!
Doesn't Get Better (4:12 mins) - A small town musician explores the many avenues of stardom with one question in mind, does it get better than this?
Daytime Moon (3:17 mins) - In a mesmerizing one-take music video for Kid Charleroi's 'Daytime Moon,' set against the breathtaking backdrop of Louisiana's Lake Peigneur, dancers frolic through a dreamlike landscape, making wishes as the daytime moon casts its spell, blurring the line between reality and enchanting fantasy.

Location: Acadiana Center for the Arts

November 18, 2023

11:00 AM: Artist Round Up Brunch
Step into a world of creative camaraderie at our Artist Round Up Brunch. This event is designed to foster a vibrant and supportive community for artists of all disciplines. Join us for a morning of inspiration, collaboration, and delicious bites to start your day off right.

12:30 PM: Shorts Series 1

The Capitalist (16:19) - Brian, a veteran of the hospitality world, is starting a new venture into marijuana distribution when his private poker game is infiltrated by an enterprising young man.

Angels (8:00) - A woman is caring for her sick mother when a meteor falls from the sky and lands in their field.

Chopped Liver (8:24) - Barbie is preparing for a dinner party, but Dan comes home with some unappetizing news.

Congratulations (10:00) - On the day of her mother's wedding, 15-year-old Delia seeks clarity about a strange moment the night before with her soon-to-be stepfather.

Spooky Crew (12:00) - From bumps in the night to urban legends and lights in the sky, The Spooky Crew are on the case!
Boscoyo Fleaux - Louis Michot Feat. Dickie landry (5:00) - A Cajun musician’s rumination on receiving and preserving his ancestral wisdom by embracing modernization when reimagining Louisiana French traditional music, reflects the lore of an ivory-billed woodpecker facing extinction.

Young Boy (9:23) - A young boy dealing with a hard family situation is offered an opportunity to find hope again in the form of a wish.
We Forgot About The Zombies (3:46) - Two dudes think they found the cure for zombie bites.

2:15 PM: Animation is for Everyone with Gurleen Rai
An introduction to hand drawn, frame by frame animation using easy to find materials. Participants will be given the opportunity to try an easy animation technique and complete a simple animation. Open to all ages.
Gurleen Rai is an animator and designer. Her films have screened internationally and her animated mini series, Rosie & Joe aired on FXX. A self taught animator, she's passionate about sharing simple but effective animation techniques.

3:45 PM: Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint
Director: Tomas Gomez Bustillo
Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint (84 mins) - In a tiny rural village in Argentina, a pious yet insatiably competitive woman discovers that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood.

6:45 PM: Born To Fly
Director: Brennan Robideaux
Born To Fly (96 mins) - Born to Fly tells the intimate story of Mondo Duplantis and his rise to fame from child prodigy to the greatest pole vaulter of all time. By the age of 21, Mondo had broken the world record and won Olympic gold, accomplishing the lifelong dreams of a passionate child. At the same time, this film is a classic coming-of-age tale - which sees a young man’s unrelenting drive clash with his ability to navigate this new world.

Location: Acadiana Center for the Arts

9:00 PM: After Party with Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble
Step into the Acadian Superette for a night of vibrant energy and dancing as we extend the magic of the festival into the night with a live performance by Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble!
Curley Taylor and his band, Zydeco Trouble, hail from the heart of Creole country in Louisiana. Curley's soulful, bluesy vocals and the band's hard driving zydeco beat blend to create their unique style of zydeco and blues that keeps audiences dancing. It's always a party when Zydeco Trouble comes to town.
$10 cover for general public
Festival Pass Holders get in free
Tito's Vodka and food with VIP Wristbands

Location: Acadian Superette

November 19, 2023

12:00 PM: Shorts Series 2 (73 mins)

Scraps (27 mins) - In rural 2003 Montana, two closeted teen boys navigate skateboarding, harsh small-town judgment, and a summer of unexpected young love.

Home Of Evangeline (8:14 mins) - Current residents of St. Martinville, LA tell the story (or stories, rather) of revered folk hero, Evangeline in their own words.
Interrupting The Earth (12:27 mins) - ‘Interrupting the Earth’ takes us to the heart of the Eastern Texas trail ride scene, providing a joyous and moving snapshot of female-led trail riding club ‘Texas Regulators’ as they unite to preserve their roots and create a lasting legacy.

Belle River (10:51 mins) - Belle River is a film about Louisiana and its peaceful inhabitants, both threatened with extinction by the emergence of the climate crisis.

Rising Dawn (14:13 mins) - Set in the world of baton twirling, Rising Dawn is a coming of age sports dramedy that follows Dawn as she discovers the self confidence needed in order to deliver a powerhouse baton solo.

1:45 PM: Filmmaking Ethics with Sarah Racheal Wainio
Representing What's "Real" | Media literacy, Authorship, and an Ethics of Care
This session will give a brief overview on what considerations there are before starting a project, what you can do once you're in development, production, or post production, and offer a series of questions you can ask yourself in order to encourage more ethical decision making throughout the process.

3:15 PM: Your Fat Friend
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: Jeanie Finlay
Made over 6 years, director Jeanie Finlay charts the rise of writer and activist Aubrey Gordon from anonymous blogger to NYTimes best selling author and beloved podcaster. Her aim? A paradigm shift in the way we see fat people and the fat on our own bodies.

5:15 PM: The World of Foley with Michael Lyle
What is Foley? Who was Foley. Why do I need it? Why should I care? While relatively few people are aware of how Foley fits into the film making process, it is an essential part of creating a soundtrack. Without quality Foley, a film’s sound simply falls flat. This fun workshop will introduce you to the wide world of recording live sound to picture. Through the use of video, Foley props and real life experience, you will be guided through the sound editing process. The information gathered will enable you to walk away from the mix stage with a great sounding film.

6:45 PM: Joyland
Runtime: 127 minutes
Director: Saim Sadiq
Explores the many sides of love and desire in a patriarchal society. Gentle and timid, Haider (Ali Junejo) lives with his wife Mumtaz (Rasti Farooq), his father, and his elder brother’s family in Lahore, Pakistan. Following a long spell of unemployment, Haider finally lands a job at a Bollywood-style burlesque, telling his family he is a theater manager, when in actuality, he is a backup dancer. The unusual position shakes up the steadfast traditional dynamics of his household and enables Haider to break out of his shell. As he acclimates to the new job, Haider becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman Biba (Alina Khan) who runs the show an unforeseen partnership that opens his eyes and ultimately his worldview, in ways both unexpected and intimate.

Location: Acadiana Center for the Arts

9:00 PM: Wrap Party with Louis Michot
That's a wrap on Southern Screen 2023! Join us for a night of celebration with a live performance by Louis Michot. It's our last chance to toast to the incredible talent, dedication, and creativity that made the weekend a resounding success.

Location: Blue Moon Saloon

Date: November 16 - 19, 2023

Location:

Wild Child Wines, 210 E Vermilion St, Lafayette, LA 70501
Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W Vermilion St, Lafayette, LA 70501
Acadian Superette, 600 Lamar St, Lafayette, LA 70501
Blue Moon Saloon, 215 E Convent St, Lafayette, LA 70501

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