FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

January 17, 2018

 

Contact:

Sherrill Hilton

409-210-9817

contact@galvestonislandfilmfestivalandconference.com

 

 

Galveston Island Film Festival reaches for the stars

 

Galveston is world-renowned for a lot of things – its sunny beaches, beautiful Victorian homes, vibrant downtown historic district and its laid-back residents.

 

Island native Sherrill Hilton is taking the city’s diversity to another level with the first annual Galveston Island Film Festival and Conference (GIFF-CON), set for Oct. 5-7, 2018.

 

“We’re an international film festival, so we are pushing for people from Galveston County and all over the world to submit their films, so their voices can be heard,” she said. “We want voices of every walk of life and from everywhere to be heard.”

 

For three days this fall, Galveston will be bustling as filmmakers, Hollywood executives, producers and stars soak in the sights and sounds of the island, and attend screenings and panel discussions.

 

The conference will cover just about every aspect of the film industry landscape, from distribution deals, to production incentives, and partnering with the Texas Film Commission.

 

A major goal of the conference is to assist filmmakers in choosing Galveston as a prime location for future movie projects. To that end, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the island on trolleys, golf carts and shuttles.

 

“Galveston is unique for being a coastal island, so the weather here is pleasing, and you have a lot more versatility in venues,” said Hilton, a director, producer, dancer and choreographer. She returned to Galveston last year after working 15 years in the Hollywood entertainment industry.

“We want to spotlight diverse up-and-coming filmmakers across the world,” Hilton said. “With our film festival, we want to compliment the island's other major events, like Mardi Gras-Galveston, the Lone Star Rally, Dickens on the Strand and the Historic Homes Tour.”

 

Tapping her Hollywood connections, Hilton has enlisted a stellar panel of judges to select the winning films in six genres: drama, action, comedy, fantasy/sci-fi, inspirational and musical/dance. The festival’s celebrity ambassador is actor/writer/producer Michael DeLorenzo, of “New York Undercover” and “CSI: NY” fame, as well as movies.

 

Hilton has assembled a star-powered production crew that includes Martel Shaw, an assistant director and point person for the festival; Oscar Garcia, director of photography and technical director; Chris Crane, director and post-director; Torthell Robinson Content Coordinator and Ricardo Perez, sound director.

 

GIFF-CON also will highlight the importance of diversity in the film industry, Hilton said.

 

“The festival will address issues of integration, diversity and new technology in the entertainment industry,” she said. “It will provide a platform for aspiring creators who are not yet in the mainstream, but use their unique voices to express their artistic points-of-view.”

 

For film submission details, as well as volunteering, sponsorship and investment information, visit www.galvestonislandfilmfestivalandconference.

 

 

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