For the 18th year, the Beaufort International Film Festival will roll out the red carpet this week to welcome movie buffs, filmmakers, and even a few actors, from all over into the little hamlet of Beaufort, SC.
Produced each year by the Beaufort Film Society, the annual Beaufort International Film Festival pays homage to the wealth of Hollywood movies that have been filmed in the Beaufort area over the past 40 years and looks to spread the word about today’s independent filmmakers.
Considered to be one of the top film festival’s in the world, for six days the town is transformed into a mini-Cannes, seeing famous faces attending in the past including Powers Boothe, Tom Berenger, Gary Weeks, Andie MacDowell and Vanna White.
This week’s event will be no different in packing its own star power with famous actor Gary Sinise scheduled to attend the festival on Saturday, a day after he and his Lt. Dan Band are scheduled to perform a free public concert aboard MCAS Beaufort.
Here’s all you need to know to have a great time enjoying the 18th Annual Beaufort Film Festival.
The Opening Night Reception will be held on Tuesday, February 20th at USCB Center for the Arts from 530 to 730pm. After the conclusion of the reception, attendees can enjoy a special concert: “Bubba’s Mama Sings the Blues” performed by Dr. Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers from 8pm to 9pm. Tickets are available here.
Film screenings will take place daily on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A list of film selections can be found here.
Also on Saturday, a very special Awards Presentation Ceremony will be taking place on Saturday, February 24th at 730pm. Enjoy An Evening With Gary Sinise/Pat Conroy Lifetime Achievement Award presentation at the USCB Center for the Arts. Tickets to this award presentation/ceremony are $25 each, and can be purchased here.
The Awards Ceremony, which concludes the 6 day affair, is scheduled for Sunday, February 25th at 3pm at the USCB Center for the Arts, with a cocktail hour beginning at 2pm. Tickets are required and can be purchased here.
Sinise will be awarded the “Pat Conroy Lifetime Achievement Award” in a special ticketed presentation on Saturday evening.
The “Behind The Scenes Award” this year will be given to Linda Lee, current president
of the Carolina Film Alliance, who possesses a long working relationship as a scout for the South Carolina Film Commission which led to Location Managing 6 feature films, 2 M.O.W, a documentary series, and numerous commercials throughout the 90’s, culminating in the Mel Gibson hit film The Patriot. Linda’s more recent work includes scouting for Reckless, Identity, South of Hell, Vice Principals, The Sinner, Halloween, and OBX.
Also, Jonathan Flora will be a special presenter at the festival. Jonathan is an award-winning Writer, Director and Producer with over 25 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry including more than 20 years with Walt Disney Studios HE, working on Disney, Marvel Studios, LucasFilm, and Miramax titles, which includes the blockbuster Marvel and Star
Wars franchises receiving numerous Clio, Key Art, Promax, and film festival awards.
