Before FFF came about 10 years ago, Mary Riser screened 24 quality films to the community every year for 14 years. It all began because Riser believed the Fairhope community deserved to see culturally diverse films that allowed viewers to experience new perspectives that were largely underrepresented in box theaters. Now, with lots of grassroots support, over 200 volunteers help to make FFF a huge success year to year.
Past festival attendees are film luminaries Prudence Farrow, Talia Shire, Paul Sorvino, S. Epatha Merkerson, Michael O’Neill, Scott Lumpkin and Timmy Thompson of Cross Creek Pictures, among others.
Alabama has a rich cinematic history and many films have been filmed in the Fairhope area, such as Get Out, Our Friend, Close Encounters of The Third Kind, Hush, The Lost Boys, Under Seige, Alabama Moon, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things and others.
“Fairhope was founded as an artists’ colony and art remains extremely important to the community. Nowhere do all genres of art come together as they do in filmmaking and our citizens appreciate this fact. FFF is a valued and viable source for the screening of contemporary, quality films in Alabama. Many residents and those who travel to the festival consider it the ‘art event of the year’, ” says Riser.
Location: Fairhope Film Festival office, 122 Fairhope Ave., Ste. 1, Fairhope, AL. Contact 251-202-9119, email Office@FairhopeFilmFestival.org or visit FairhopeFilmFestival.org.
