Our Mississippi Home
Lights, Camera, Mississippi: UM Students Shine in Inaugural Festival
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The Mississippi Film Society’s first film festival celebrated creativity from across the state, but the University of Mississippi was all over the credits.
The Stranger Than Fiction Film Festival showcased eight feature-length films, two Mississippi-produced short films and an introductory workshop. The events were Saturday and Sunday (April 12-13) in the historic Capri Theatre in Jackson.
Programming included a Sunday screening of the short film “Jason Bouldin: Corporeal Nature,” directed by Tanner Goodeill, an Ole Miss junior majoring in film production, and “Eudora,” a documentary on renowned author and longtime Jackson resident Eudora Welty by Mississippi filmmaker Anthony Thaxton.
“The festival is sponsored by the Mississippi Film Society, so I thought it would be incomplete without Mississippi voices,” said Ryan Parker, the society’s executive director. “Mississippi has a rich cinematic legacy, and I’m excited to platform two Mississippi filmmakers that are contributing to it, and who have direct ties to the university.”
Goodeill, from Boerne, Texas, was drawn to the concept of transferring stories from one generation to the next. That interest led him to choose Oxford portrait painter Jason Bouldin as the subject of his 12-minute documentary, an assignment for a documentary class taught by John Rash, UM assistant professor of film production and Southern studies.
“We read that his father was a really famous portrait painter, and we were fascinated by that relationship – how the torch gets passed down in such a specific art form, the pressure that can come with that and what it must’ve been like for him to lose his father after all those years,” he said. “When we met with him, he was incredibly open and had such a unique story to share.”
Goodeill worked with Madeleine Perkins, another Ole Miss junior from Waco, Texas, to plan, direct, show and edit the project.
“Working on that documentary with Tanner and Mr. Bouldin was such a rewarding and a new experience,” said Perkins, also a film production major. “I grew up loving documentaries and watching them all the time and so working on my own was pretty surreal much less having it play in a film festival.
“It was also really interesting to learn about a local artist and how much they have impacted their community.”
The screening was a rewarding experience, Goodeill said.
“This was the biggest audience that something of mine is screened to, so that’s exciting because it’s playing before a feature length documentary,” he said. “The film community is being so supportive, and in Mississippi, it seems like it’s just as tight as the art community. It’s cool to see artists supporting artists.”
The festival’s opening day included an Introduction to the Film Industry workshop, co-hosted by the Mississippi Film Office and the university’s Department of Theatre and Film.
The workshop was designed to introduce Mississippians to the many types of work available within the film industry and the applicable skills they might offer, said Sarah Hennigan, associate professor and head of the Ole Miss film production program. It included a hands-on session highlighting work performed by the grip and electrics departments on a film set, using equipment from the university’s film production studio.
“I hope that this is the start of something that can endure and that future versions grow to include more days, locations and, of course, films,” Parker said. “Hopefully, future festivals will include entire blocks of programming for Mississippi filmmakers.”
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Our Mississippi Home
Cruisin’ the Coast: Where Memory Meets the Open Road
SUMMARY: Every October, Mississippi Gulf Coast comes alive with Cruisin’ the Coast, a classic car event that blends history, community, and passion. Since its start in 1996 with 374 cars, it has grown to over 8,400 vehicles, filling towns like Biloxi and Gulfport with gleaming chrome and roaring engines. More than a car show, it’s a gathering where strangers become friends, stories are shared, and traditions passed to wide-eyed children. The event embodies the Gulf Coast’s resilient spirit, showing how passion and creativity keep history alive and inspire generations, making Cruisin’ the Coast a vibrant celebration of life and legacy.
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Our Mississippi Home
The Hummingbirds’ Last Hooray of Summer
SUMMARY: Hummingbirds have been abundant and busy in Mississippi recently, preparing for their long migration south. Observing their energetic buzzing and feeding on blooming flowers highlights their determination and tiny, powerful presence. These encounters brought joy and a peaceful connection with nature. To celebrate and educate about these remarkable birds, the first annual North Mississippi Hummingbird Festival will be held on September 13, 2025, at the June Wheeler Memorial Hummingbird Garden in Southaven. The event features vendors, food trucks, and free talks, aiming to foster community spirit and conservation awareness. It promises a festive send-off for hummingbirds migrating south for winter.
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Our Mississippi Home
Southern Miss Faculty and Student Contribute to Groundbreaking NOAA-Funded Plastic Cleanup
SUMMARY: Southern Miss marine science professor Dr. Kristina Mojica and Ph.D. student Rachel Lancaster joined the largest marine debris removal in Southeast Alaska, supporting NOAA’s Ocean Plastics Recovery Project that removed 3,600 pounds of debris daily. Their research on marine plastics included collecting samples for the first global snapshot of nano-plastic contamination. Mojica’s lab developed a novel method to detect nano-plastics, advancing pollution monitoring. The expedition’s findings will feature in a 2026 Mississippi Aquarium art exhibit, raising awareness of micro- and nano-plastic pollution through community-driven installations. Mojica’s work combines scientific research with education and public engagement to address environmental challenges.
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