Macon Film Festival to open 19th year with international premiere of ‘Red Fever’

The Macon Film Festival will open its 19th year with the international premiere of the documentary “Red Fever.”

This year’s festival runs from Aug. 15-18. According to a press release, the documentary screening is possible through a partnership with the Fire Starters Film Festival , which celebrates Indigenous filmmakers.

“Red Fever” comes from directors Catherine Bainbridge and Neil Diamond and will premiere on Aug. 15. The film looks at how Indigenous cultures have been reduced to stereotypes by mainstream popular culture. The festival will also feature a  documentary short called “ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ (Meet Me at the Creek)” from director Loren Waters, which highlights a Cherokee elder’s lifelong fight to restore Tar Creek in Miami, Oklahoma, and the interconnectedness and values of the Cherokee Nation.

According to a press release, opening night will culminate with an after party at McEachern Art Center, featuring an art exhibition by Muscogee (Creek) artists including Jamie Bennett, Johnnie Diacon and Kenneth Johnson.

The Firestarters Film Festival began in 2023 and showcases film and art made by Indigenous filmmakers, with a focus on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation experience. According to the release, the festival grew out of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI), which is a group of citizens working to expand the current site of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon into Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve.

“We are incredibly honored to partner with the Fire Starters Film Festival for our opening night,” said Macon Film Festival Board President Justin Andrews in the release. “‘Red Fever’ and ‘Meet Me at the Creek’ are profound films that highlight critical issues and celebrate Indigenous cultures. We are excited to share these stories with our audience and support the movement to designate Macon’s Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as a national park, setting a precedent for collaborative management with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.”

Tickets for the Macon Film Festival can be purchased online .

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