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20 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 7 MACON FILM FESTIVAL The 2017 Macon Film Festival opens July 20 with something totally different than past years. Savannah filmmaker Diana Reichenbach will debut her new full- dome formatted film "Star Dancer's Waltz" on the Museum of Arts & Sciences' Mark Smith Planetarium dome. The film, set to music by native Macon musician and R.E.M. member Mike Mills with fellow Macon native and violin virtuoso Robert McDuffie, will show multiple times to accommodate the crowd, with a reception throughout. Once the screening is complete, the museum will morph into an opening-night after party sure to rival those for which the festival has become known. Following the opening night's festivities, movies programmed expressly for the annual festival's 12th year will be screened daily at downtown Macon's Cox Capitol Theatre, Douglass Theatre, Theatre Macon and the Macon- Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The four- day festival will include special screenings and guest appearances by nationally recognized celebrities each evening. Additionally, 56 films from all over the United States, plus several international countries, will compete in categories including Music, Documentary, LGBT, Narrative Feature, Narrative Shorts, Southern and Student Shorts. Free filmmaking workshops will be held daily for anyone interested in the film industry, with subjects ranging from Composing For Film, presented by musician and composer Mark Chubb (two workshops, one for filmmakers; one for musicians), to Film Festival Secrets, presented by Christopher Holland, author of "Film Festival Secrets: A Handbook for Independent Filmmakers," to workshops covering techniques and practices for creating films for full dome projection presented by artist and festival guest Diana Reichenbach (two workshops, one for professionals currently producing work; one for individuals interested in learning what goes into creating work for full-dome projection projects). A Media Room, VIP/Filmmaker Lounge and Festival Headquarters will be open daily during the festival. The Festival's widely anticipated after parties, with food catered by local chefs and open bars featuring the Magatini, will pop up at a variety of hip venues each night. Passes are on sale now, with special discounts for Festie Bestie combo tickets, which offer admission to both the Macon Film Festival and Bragg Jam Music and Arts Festival, plus special events throughout the week between the two. A special $50 ticket is available for Thursday night's full-dome film and after party at the Museum of Arts & Sciences. The Macon Film Festival runs July 20-23. For more information about tickets and the schedule, please visit MaconFilmFestival.com. - RUTH SYKES MARYANN BATES Briefs 1. 2016 Macon Film Festival special guest Andrew McCarthy captivates the audience during Q&A following "Pretty in Pink" at the historic Douglass Theatre. 2. Last year's Sundance Institute Short Films workshop, held at the Tubman African American Museum, was one of the most popular during the 2016 Macon Film Festival. 1 2