After an opening gala and ribbon cutting of the new Baton Rouge Film Trail on Thursday night, the first Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival digs in on Friday, with short film and feature screenings, panels and workshops.
Taking place at the Manship Theatre through the weekend, the event celebrates the artistic and cultural value of the indie and genre-focused talent surrounding Baton Rouge while also fostering a vibrant, interconnected independent film community, according to the BRUFF's mission statement.
The new film trail, accessed via the SetJetters app, leads users on a virtual adventure to more than 100 locations in the city where portions of films were shot. A plaque was unveiled at The Manship which lists the films using that venue, including "Pitch Perfect," "Blaze" and "Red Flag."
"Walk in your favorite stars' footsteps and visit iconic filming spots using the SetJetters app," A Visit Baton Rouge Facebook post explains. "Plus, keep an eye out for 15 permanent markers across the city highlighting must-see movie and TV scenes."
Oh, the townspeople do talk, including Sarah Malfara and Camilla Susser, portraying local women, in a scene from 'Ada and the Doc.' Matison LeBlanc's short film on a notorious Louisiana murder case will be screened at the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival.
Here's what's in store at the film fest over the next three days:
FRIDAY
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Main Theatre, screening of "Crossword"
12:30 to 2 p.m.: Hartley/Vey Theatre, Animation & Documentaries Shorts Block featuring "Candy Lady," "Glowing Pulse," "Jan Beauboeuf: The Creative Spirit," "Shakespeare for All Ages, "Gorgeous Journey," "Amber" and "Relax"
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Workshop Studio, "From LA to LA — Filmmaking in and from the South," panel presented by New Orleans Video Access Center
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Main Theatre, Shorts and Pilots Block, including "R&R," "BOYS," "Ayo, Check Up!", "The Warmest Color Is Blue," "This Is Us," "Flavor of the Month" and "Gary Screams for You"
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Hartley/Vey, "Why We Need a Federal Film Office," panel presented by Film USA
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Hartley/Vey, "Louisiana Film Tax Incentives - Legislative Updates," panel presented by Film Louisiana
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Hartley/Vey Workshop Studio, "Directing Independent Films," workshop presented by NOVAC
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Main Theatre, "Senior Prank" film screening
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre, Student Shorts Block with "Orientation," "There Are Flowers Outside the Door," "Lucid," "When a Doveweed Blooms," "Contact" and "Cinephiles"
8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: Main Theatre, "Off Ramp" screening
10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.: Hotel Indigo (hotel sponsor), BRUFF After Hours event
SATURDAY
10:30 a.m. to noon: Hartley/Vey, "Funding Your Short Film: Crowdfunding, Fiscal Sponsorship & Building Creative Resources," panel
10:30 a.m. to noon: Main Theatre, Genre Shorts Block with "The Traveler and the Troll," "Platanero," "Captain Bartleby," "Nervous Ellie," "Indian in the Box" and "Paloquemao: The Vampire Market"
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Workshop Studio, "Filmmaking with Puppets," workshop
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Main Theatre, "Time Travel is Dangerous" screening
1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Hartley/Vey, Panavision Camera Demo, workshop
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Main Theatre, Louisiana Genre Shorts Block with "No One Goes Unseen," "Holy Roller," "Red Tops, "TRIP," "Evangeline" and "Benediction"
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Hartley/Vey, "Ruggo — A Cinematic Staged Reading," panel
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Main Theatre, "F***TOYS" screening, mature audiences only
10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.: Main Theatre, Secret Screening (An out-of-the-box experience!)
SUNDAY
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Main Theatre, Louisiana Shorts Block with "Emergency Contact," "Ruby," "Hardhead," "Vice," "Donor," "Almost Forgot to Swim" and "Ada and the Doc"
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Workshop Studio, Workforce Development Panel presented by NOVAC
Noon to 2:30 p.m.: Hartley/Vey, "Gamma Rays" screening
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Main Theatre, "FanBoy" screening
2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Workshop Studio, Producing Indies Workshop presented by NOVAC
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Hartley/Vey, "Finance in the Film Industry," panel
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Main Theatre, "Re-Election" screening
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Main Theatre, BRUFF Awards
10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.: Main Theatre, Closing Night Party
Ticket prices to the festival range from $15-$75, with a complete festival pass also available. For more info, visit www.batonrougeunderground.com.