LIVE FROM MEMPHIS

Beware the Sivads of March! Our spooktacualr tribute to Memphis' beloved television ghoul boasts a powerful lineup of newcomers and all-stars. Here's what you'll see at the latest fest, part of the four-day tribute to WHBQ's classic TV Horror Host.

"The Chronicles of Memphis, The Vampire" dir. Anupam 'Al' Lahiri
"Dead End" dir. Dennis Pullen
"Once Upon A Time In Memphis" dir. Joey Thorsen
"Gothy Gothington Meets Red Rodd, The Beast from Space" dir. Bea Ess
"The Not Very Well Known Sivad" dir. Jon W. Sparks
"Horror Host, Part I" dir. Mike McCarthy
"Sixty Six" dir. R. Jason Rawlings
"Que Sera, Sivad" dir. GB Shannon
"Terror Tube" dir. Craig Morris
"Mystery Meat" dir. Harmony Stewart
"Sometimes" dir. Andy Bond
"It's Not A Waste of Time" dir. Adam Remsen
"Horror Host, Part II" dir. Mike McCarthy

What an amazing lineup! What more do I need to know?

What: Li'l Film Fest 13: Beware the Sivads of March
When: March 27, 2010, 2 PM.
Where: Brooks Museum of Art

Presented by:
Memphis & Shelby Co. Film & Television Commission
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Audiographic Masterworks
Indie Memphis

Sponsored by:
Lens Rentals
Memphis Sound Lab
The Warehouse
Goner Records
Moonshine Lighting

Special Thanks to our wonderful Jury!!
Alex Orr directed the feature film BLOOD CAR, which screened at Indie Memphis in 2007.  He is currently working as a gypsy for television.
John Hudgens recently released AMERICAN SCARY, a feature documentary about classic TV horror hosts, and is also known for his Lucasfilm-approved STAR WARS parody films. He is currently in production on BACKYARD BLOCKBUSTERS, a documentary about fanfilms and fan filmmakers.
Kyle McKinnon is Lead Programmer for the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.

Event: Li'l Film Fest 13: Beware the Sivads of March (competitive screening of several local short films)*
Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 2 pm
Location: Brooks Museum
More info: http://www.livefrommemphis.com/lilfilmfest

*This installment of Li'l Film Fest is being presented in conjunction with the larger "Sivads of March" event organized by Mike McCarthy and John Beifuss.  A four-day event celebrating the life and work of Watson Davis (a.k.a. Sivad), the legendary WHBQ-TV horror host of the 60's and 70's, the weekend will include films, art, and live music at various venues around midtown.  For more info: http://www.guerrillamonster.com/memphis/SIVADS/index.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb 2, 2009
CONTACT:
Sarah Fleming
Live From Memphis
(901) 523-9763
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.livefrommemphis.com

Live From Memphis is pleased to announce a Call for Entries for the next Li’l Film Fest.  Deadline for entries is March 5, 2010.

Gooooood evening! It is time to celebrate and pay homage to Memphis' Monster of Ceremonies, Sivad! In carnivorous conjunction with the Sivads of March Festival, we give you Li'l Film Fest 13: BEWARE! The Sivads of March.

From 1962 to 1972, Sivad worked his ghoulish charm on Memphis as the vivacious vampiric host of WHBQ-TV's "Fantastic Features." The show showcased the best in the B-movie boudoir of  sci-fi, horror and fantasy, such as the creepy classics "The Blob," "Attack of the Mushroom People," "Attack of the Puppet People", "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" (a.k.a. Rebel Without A Cause, but with Paws).

Your task, if you dare accept it, is to create your best short in the vein of Sivad and his repertoire of campy creeptacular collection of movies. Three tasks are required of you (1) include a minimum of 8 instances of ambitious alliteration - verbal, visual, anywhere, anyhow, (2) make use of the secret ingredient: smoke or fog and last but not least, (3) include a minimum of one likeness of Sivad in your film. The rest is up to you. You can do whatever you want, as long as you keep it under 5 minutes.

You are also required to submit notations (please attach to your entry form) of your film's fulfillment of the three requirements. Your notations will only be seen by Live From Memphis staff and the judges. This is for the sake of saving time and assuring that your film will not be disqualified.

The Short & Sweet:
Theme: BEWARE! The Sivads of March! (Must adhere to the 3 tasks listed above)
Secret Ingredient: Smoke or Fog
Duration: 5 minutes or less?
Entry Deadline: Postmarked Friday March 5, 2010 (in hand by Monday, March 8th)
Entry Fee: $10.00
Festival Date: March 27, 2010, 2 pm
Location: Brooks Museum
Prizes: Grand Jury Award ($500); Audience Choice Award (door$$)

GET THE ENTRY FORM HERE!!

For more information, please visit: http://www.livefrommemphis.com/lilfilmfest

Additional filmmaker resources:
The beginning of the ‘Fantastic Features’ program, with intro by Sivad:
http://www.livefrommemphis.com/component/jomtube/video/931
Chronological listing of every movie shown by Sivad:
http://myweb.wvnet.edu/e-gor/tvhorrorhosts/sivadsho.html
Sivad bio (scroll down, listed alphabetically):
http://myweb.wvnet.edu/e-gor/tvhorrorhosts/hostss.html

About the Awards
Our “Grand Jury Award” will be accompanied by a customized, thematic trophy and $500 in cash prizes presented by The Memphis & Shelby Co. Film & Television Commission.  The “Audience Choice Award” will come with a trophy and the prize money is $cash$ from the door, so the more people that come to the festival the bigger the pot!

About Li'l Film Fest
Li’l Film Fest is a quarterly, theme-based film festival, focusing on highlighting our local talent while showcasing interesting happenings around town. Our goal is to encourage and inspire Memphis filmmakers while engaging a local audience in order to strengthen our artistic community.

“How does Li’l Film Fest work?”  It’s pretty easy. Basically, we here at LFM will pick a theme, then we’ll announce that theme to you, and then you get to go out and make a short video (or film if you want to be fancy) using that theme – the rest of the content is up to you.

“Why is it a ‘li’l’ fest?”  Two reasons: One, we have one every quarter – that’s FOUR festivals a year. How fun is that?  And two, when we say “li'l” we mean it - your film must be 5 minutes or less.

“Is there anything else I should know?”  Geez, you ask a lot of questions, but the answer is “Yes.”  There are 2 awards given at each festival, the “Audience Choice Award” and the “Jury Award” both of which receive a trophy and a CASH prize!!  And if that’s not enough incentive for you each winner has a guaranteed spot in the next Indie Memphis Film Festival!  So keep that in mind when you’re rolling those cameras.

About Our Sponsors
The Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission
The Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission is committed to making every facet of your film project go smoothly.  They posses a solid track record in the industry and have been widely recognized and honored for their efforts.
The Brooks Museum of Art
The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the state of Tennessee, located at the heart of Memphis in historic Overton Park.  In association with Emerging Pictures, a New York-based film company, the Brooks screens award-winning independent films every month in the Dorothy K. Hohenberg Auditorium.
Indie Memphis
Now in its 12th year, Indie Memphis utilizes Memphis’ rich cultureal history to serve as a connecting point for regional filmmakers from all corners of the country – and provides a showcase for films celebrating Southern stories and storytelling.
AudioGraphics Masterworks
AudioGraphics Masterworks is the source in Memphis for all of your CD and DVD manufacturing, mastering, design, and printing needs.

Congratulations to everyone who screened at this past Li'l Film Fest 12 - you helped us have the biggest festival yet and we couldn't be more proud!

Special congrats are due to John Romer's film "It Stays Growing" for taking home the Grand Jury Award (along with $500 cash) and to Corduroy Wednesday's "Bohater Pies" for snagging the Audience Choice Award (along with $600+ in door monies!).

We also presented several special mention awards in the following catagories:
Best use of Theme: GB Shannon (Pure. Uncut.)
Best Acting: Biannca Shannon (It Stays Growing)
Best Editing: Laura Jean Hocking (Algeria)
Best Directing: Jason Rawlings (Wax and Wane)
Best Cinematography: John Romer (It Stays Growing, he also shot Piggly Wiggly)
Best supporting actor for his appearance in 3 seperate films: CHOMP the Pig (5 Days, Piggly Wiggly, iSarah)

Also, a special thanks to all of the volunteers that turned out to help - you guys are awesome!  And, again, thanks to Robin Salant for her unyielding attention to trophy design and for providing all of the filmmakers with stock footage!

Have any photos from the event?!?
Send photos to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

visit the official Li'l Film Fest website.

Live From Memphis™ presents LI’L FILM FEST 12: Free Footage!
MEMPHIS (Dec 14, 2009) – Live From Memphis is pleased to present Li’l Film Fest 12: Free Footage.  The festival will be held this coming Saturday (Dec. 19, 2009) at the Brooks Museum of Art.  Screening starts at 2pm.  Please arrive early as we're expecting quite a crowd :)

THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST LI'L FILM FEST EVER!

List of Films and Filmmakers:
Black Fist, dir. Kristopher Steward
Algeria, dir. Laura Jean Hocking
Gooder, dir. Jason Davenport
Assault on the Senses, dir. James R. Kimball
(5) Days, dir. Ryan Azada
Who's There?, dir. Adam Remsen
Egg That Car, dir. Kevin Fowler
Wax and Wane, dir. R. Jason Rawlings
Prestidigitation, dir. Daniel Felts
Adam and Me, dir. Donald Meyers & Adam Remsen
iSarah, dir. Cat & Fish
The Egg, dir. Carl E. Walters
To Mega Therion, dir. Hunter Duesing
Breakable, dir. John Pickle
Piggly Wiggly, dir. Morgan Jon Fox
Tempo, dir. Robin Salant
Pure. Uncut, dir. Ryan Parker
It Stays Growing, dir. Johann Romer
Bohater Pies, dir. Corduroy Wednesday

The Short & Sweet:
Theme: Free Footage
Duration: 5 minutes or less
Festival Date: Dec. 19, 2009, 2 pm
Location: Brooks Museum
Prizes: Grand Jury Award ($500); Audience Choice Award (door)

Our Grand Jury Award will be a customized, thematic trophy and $500 in cash provided by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission and Indie Memphis. The Audience Choice Award winner will be awarded a trophy and the cash collected at the door, so the more people who come to the festival, the bigger the pot!

As always, special thanks to our sponsors:
The Memphis Tourism Foundation
The Memphis & Shelby County Film & Television Commission
Indie Memphis Film Festival
The Brooks Museum of Art
Audiographic Masterworks

And a big shout out to our Jury!!  You guys are awesome :)

KYLE PATRICK ALVAREZ
Kyle Patrick Alvarez is a Los Angeles based film director, writer and editor. His feature directorial debut, EASIER WITH PRACTICE, won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast at the 2009 Indie Memphis Film Festival and was nominated for Best First Feature at the upcoming Spirit Awards, where he was also nominated for the Acura Someone to Watch Award award.

KRIS SWANBERG
Kris Swanberg was one of the filmmakers and actors in the 2005 film KISSING ON THE MOUTH. In 2006, she directed the short documentary BATHWATER and produced her own web series, BOYS AND GIRLS. Her feature IT WAS GREAT, BUT I WAS READY TO COME HOME screened in competition at the 2009 Indie Memphis Film Festival. Along with her husband, Joe, she produces and stars in the YOUNG AMERICAN BODIES on IFC.com. Kris lives and works in Chicago where she owns her own ice cream business, Nice Cream.

SCOTT TEEMS
Scott Teems was born and raised in Lilburn, Georgia. His short films include A DEATH IN THE WOODS and several others that have screened at festivals across the country. He is also a commercial director, helming popular viral video campaigns for corporations such as IBM, Cisco, and Disney. His feature directorial debut, THAT EVENING SON, won the Best Narrative Feature award at the 2009 Indie Memphis Film Festival and received Spirit Award Nominations for Best Supporting Male (Raymond McKinnon) and Best Supporting Female (Mia Wasikowska).

See you Saturday.....

Live From Memphis™ announces LI’L FILM FEST 12: Free Footage!
MEMPHIS (Nov 11, 2009) – Live From Memphis is pleased to announce a Call for Entries for the next Li’l Film Fest.  Deadline for entries is December 4, 2009.

We've decided to mix things up a bit for this round.  As some of you may remember, the very first Li'l Film Fest, held in 2006, was based around footage of the Baptist Hospital implosion.  We've always wanted to bring back the "free footage" aspect of that first fest, and that's what were doing this time.

So, here's the deal: Contestants will be provided with 3 clips of less than a minute in length. You are required to use a minimum of 10 seconds of each clip in your final edit. The rest is up to you. You can do whatever you want, as long as you keep it under 5 minutes :)

The Short & Sweet:
Theme: Free Footage
Duration: 5 minutes or less
Entry Deadline: Postmarked Friday Dec. 4, 2009 (in hand by Monday, Dec 7th)
Date: Dec. 19, 2009, 2 pm
Location: Brooks Museum
Prizes: Grand Jury Award ($500); Audience Choice Award (door)

SD versions of the three clips are available for download at livefrommemphis.com/lilfilfest.  Data DVDs with HD (or SD) versions of the clips will be available for pickup at the Live from Memphis offices at 1 S. Main St., Memphis TN 38103, until November 27, 2009.  (Just call to come by 901.523.9763).

Our Grand Jury Award will be a customized, thematic trophy and $500 in cash provided by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission and Indie Memphis. The Audience Choice Award winner will be awarded a trophy and the cash collected at the door, so the more people who come to the festival, the bigger the pot!

As always, special thanks to our sponsors:
The Memphis Tourism Foundation
The Memphis & Shelby County Film & Television Commission
Indie Memphis Film Festival
The Brooks Museum of Art
Audiographic Masterworks

Please click the pictures below to download each clip.  Please be aware this is not a quick process - the average download time for each clip is about 30 min.  If you have any issues, please contact Sarah at 901.523.9763.

Click to Download Clip 1, Runtime 00:30

Click to Download Clip 2, Runtime 00:34

Click to Download Clip 3, Runtime 00:54

Please be aware that the average download time for each clip is about 30 min.  If you have any issues, please contact Sarah at 901.523.9763.

For more information about Li'l Film Fest 12, including the Entry Form and complete rules, please visit http://www.livefrommemphis.com/lilfilmfest.

Stock footage courtesy of r salant.

That's right... there's not only one, but two Li'l Film Fest screenings happening at the 12th Annual Indie Memphis Film Festival.

Li'l Film Fest 11: Musical Horror is this Sunday at the Brooks Museum of Art at 5:30pm.
We'll be screening eleven never-before-scene films that you don't want to miss...
Plus, this screening will occur before a live panel of judges - that's right, the judges will be in the audience, watching the films for the first time... just like you :)
Who are these judges you ask... well, you may have heard of some of them, but if not you should check 'em out 'cuz they're all super cool dudes.

Li'l Film Fest 11 Judges:
Joe Swanberg (Cinematographer, Director, Actor) - Alexander the Last screens Friday at 7:45, and The Mountain, the River and the Road screens Friday at 5:45
Craig Brewer (Writer, Director)
Cory McAbee (Actor, Director) - Stingray Sam screens Friday at 7:45.
GET TICKETS TO THESE FILMS HERE!

Li'l Film Fest 11 Films:
The Tell-Tale Shitty Music | directed by Kristopher Steward & Hunter Duesing
Fool Hearty | directed by R. Jason Rawlings & Dave Godbout
You Better Behave | directed by Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury
Threnody | directed by Jon W. Sparks
Thriller | directed by Anupam 'Al' Lahiri
Spacecrane 2010 | directed by HG Ray
Orange Delight | directed by Donald Meyers
Unstable | directed by Wesley Catlett & Justin Houston
Dark Fountain | directed by Harmony Stewart
OCD | directed by Joe Fragale
Frankenstein vs. Dracula: the Opera! | directed by Adam Remsen
*Because the "Audience Choice Winner" gets the door money, your tickets will have to be purchased at the event.  Thanks for understanding.

So, like I said, there's not just one does of Li'l Film Fest, but 2!!  Erik Jambor (Director of Indie Memphis) has put together a best of 2009 program... so be sure to check out these lovely li'l films....

Li'l Film Fest: best of 2009 screens Wednesday, Oct. 14th 9pm at Studio on the Square.
GET TICKETS HERE!!!

From Li'l Film Fest 9: Memphis - Fact or Fiction?
Journeyman directed by Arnold Edwards
An Exemplary Look at Memphis, Tennessee - Free of Charge! directed by G.B. Shrewsbury
El Regalo (The Gift) directed by Angel Ortez
Milhouse & The King directed by Alex & Clay
Weird Tales of Shelby Forst Vol. 1 - Thrill Hill directed by H. G. Ray
Snipe Huntin' directed by Eric Swartz
Chuck, From Craigslist directed by Morgan Jon Fox
CottonBallLand directed by Corduroy Wednesday

From Li'l Film Fest 10: Family
Sunday directed by Val Overstreet
Dinner at the Olson's directed by Don Meyers
Family Heat! directed by Andy Strong
Meet the Grotz directed by Rich Kimball
Son of… directed by J. Lazarus Hawk
Downer directed by Jason Rawlings and Jason Davenport
Monday directed by Eric Swartz

From Li'l Film Fest 11: Musical Horror
Lil Film Fest 11 Jury Winner (TBD)
Lil Film Fest 11 Audience Winner (TBD)

Live From Memphis™ announces LI’L FILM FEST 11: Musical Horror
Call for Entries!!

MEMPHIS (June 09, 2009) – Live From Memphis is pleased to announce a Call for Entries for the next Li’l Film Fest.  Deadline for entries is August 28, 2009.
Please see “the Short & Sweet” below for all the details.

We’re mixing things up a bit this time around.  This next festival will screen as part of the 12th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival (Oct. 8-15, 2009)!!  Thanks as always to Erik Jambor and all the other people at Indie Memphis who continue to support our efforts.

Also, as part of screening at Indie Memphis there will be a live panel of Judges.  Three respected industry professionals will be present at the screening and will be deciding the winner of the “Grand Jury Award” (which will be announced at the Indie Memphis Awards Ceremony along with the “Audience Choice” winner).

This whole being part of Indie Memphis thing is new to the Li'l Film Festival, so be sure to check back often for updates and info regarding dates, times, festival passes for filmmakers, etc....

The Short & Sweet:
Theme: Musical Horror
Special Ingredient: Orange
Duration: 5 minutes or less
Entry Deadline: Postmarked Aug 28, 2009 (in hand by Monday, Aug 31st)
Festival Date: TBA (festival will be in Oct. at the Indie Memphis Film Festival)
Festival Location: TBA (festival will be at Indie Memphis Film Festival)
Prizes: Grand Jury Award ($500); Audience Choice Award (door)

Our “Grand Jury Award” will be accompanied by a customized, thematic trophy and $500 in cash prizes presented by The Memphis & Shelby Co. Film & Television Commission and Indie Memphis.  The “Audience Choice Award” will come with a trophy and the prize money is cash from the door, so the more people that come to the festival the bigger the pot!

Both the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Choice Award went to Jason Rawlings and Jason Davenport for their film "Downer."  Congradulations!!

Li'l Film Fest 10 Winners!
photo by Tommy Kha

Several others walked away winners (well, really we're all winners ;) taking home "Honorable Mention" awards:

Best use of theme: "Meet the Grotz" dir. Rich Kimball

Best us of Special Ingredient: "Some People's Families" dir. Jessica Sprenkle

Best Credit Sequence: "Reunion" dir. Sharon Jones (aka Pandora)

Best Original Soundtrack: "Monday" dir. Eric Swartz

Best Use of a Wipe (but please, don't ever use it again): "Family Heat" dir. Andy Strong

Best Special Effects: "Son of..." dir. J. Lazarus Hawk

Thanks to all the filmmakers who submitted films to the Li'l Film Fest, we look forward to seeing more of your work.  And thanks to all the people who came out to support this event and all the LFM volunteers... we couldn't do it without you!!

Shelly Gillette (LFM Volunteer) and Helen Bowman (Actor)
photo by Tommy Kha

Look for Li'l Film Fest 11 announcements, coming soon...

Also, look for new films to be uploaded to the site in the coming weeks... until then, check out the Memphis Film Database.