In other news, Festival Executive Director Mark Compton and Creative Director Sky Terrain have just returned from teaching courses in film and media at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this summer. The study abroad program was arranged through TnCIS (Tennessee Consortium for International Studies) and included students from several colleges. Artistic Director Amelia Fry also attended EIFF and met with filmmakers there. One of the highlights of her visit was meeting Brian Cox who starred in Red. SOAPIFF will entertain visitors from Scottish Screen and the Film Archives of the National Library Library of Scotland this August.

ETSU

East Tennessee State University, a Festival Co-sponsor of the Southern Appalachian International Film Festival, is located in Northeastern Tennessee in Johnson City, Tennessee, the heart of the Southern Appalachians. Festival screenings begin in campus theatres November 13. Courses offered by the University will include study of Festival films. Contact the East Tennessee State University Film Studies Program for further information about credit courses coinciding with the Festival.

PSTCC

Films will screen at campus theatres of Pellissippi State Technical Community College from November 17 - 23. The College, a Sponsor of the Southern Appalachian International Film Festival, is located in East Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, the gateway to the Smoky Mountains. Courses offered by the College will include study of Festival films. Contact PSTCC Media Technologies for further information about credit courses coinciding with the Festival.

KMA

The Knoxville Museum of Art will screen Appalachian films in collaboration with Pellissippi State on November 21 and 22. The Musuem is located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, in the World Fair Park. Filmgoers will join the fun and enjoy the music of Live After Five, featuring bands presented each Friday by Bluegill Productions. The Museum is hosting an exhibition of American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Tradition in the Appalachian theme coinciding with the films. Contact Knoxville Museum of Art for further information about exhibitions and other events at the museum.

Environment
This year's films include a selection focused on the environment. Emminent threats to the environment and natural habitats have motivated a new activism for the production of films about the danger to nature and communities that face the devastating consequences of ignoring damage to the environment.

Movies, Music and Mountains
Come! Join the festivities this November! Movies, Music and entertainment. Festival movie screenings are FREE TO THE PUBLIC at all theatres!

For the opening gala last year Phil Pollard and the Band of Humans kicked off the Festival at The Charles in downtown Johnson City with a lively grandstand blast of their raucous post-modern dada-esque Parade of delirious rhythm and blends, and Jaz Dorsey on piano accompanied the voice of Norma Leadingham in songs from classic films. During the GALA, SOAPIFF presented the Mary Jane Coleman Award to three recipients. This year the Award went to Bill Landry, creator of over 1900 films in the acclaimed Heartland Series, Appalshop, for support of all forms of culture in the Appalachian region including many independent films, and Anne Pope, Co-Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, for her outstanding work supporting film and video production as Tennessee Film Commissioner during Governor Sundquist's administration. Also during the evening, Phil Pollard and the Band of Humans performed a new composition for the screening of the classic silent film Nosferatu. Guest filmmakers arrived for the event from New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Winston-Salem and San Francisco. Check back for announcements about events, films and more information as this year's Festival approaches.

Smokies photo by Gay Bryant.
Appalachians photo by Chris Kinser.