Magnolia Independent Film Festival coming to Starkville this weekend

If you have found yourself bored watching movies at home but cannot go to any movie theaters, you are in luck this weekend.

Saturday night at 6 o’clock, the Mississippi Horse Park will be hosting a movie drive-in for the 2021 Magnolia Independent Film Festival.

The Magnolia Independent Film Festival is the first and longest-running film festival in the state entering its 24th year of existence.

“It’s important for us to provide the Golden Triangle community with an event or experience that promotes quality film and art,” festival director Bailey Berry said.

When you go to Saturday’s drive-in at the Horse Park, you will find food trucks from Pop Porium, Riley J’s Streatery, Get Rolled Ice Cream and Deja Brew.

You will also find two screenings; the first featuring ten short films and one feature film, the

other screening will be a late-night one that starts at 10:45 that will feature two short films and one feature film.

If you are unable to make it to the drive-in on Saturday night, Berry said that there is a virtual option.

Until March 13, three feature films and 39 short films will be available to view via Eventive in an on-demand format when you buy a pass for the price of $25.

“The virtual festival started on February 25 and people are able to purchase passes until March 13. Once someone purchases a pass whether it is today or on the 13th, they will have two weeks to watch the films. So, the latest that you could have access to the films will be on March 27, two weeks after the 13th,” Berry said.

The films are categorized by animation, family-friendly, comedy, horror, drama, and short documentary.

Bricklee Miller is the Facility Director for the Mississippi Horse Park, and she is excited to host the movie drive-in on Saturday.

“So, Bailey contacted me about possibly doing that film festival at the Horse Park instead of doing it at the theater and also make it a drive-in, so we were really excited about that,” said

Miller. “It going to be a lot of fun. So, you’ll come in through a set of gates that will be open, the screen will be set up in front of Barn 3. When you park, you’ll tune into an FM radio station. They really thought out of the box to be able to keep this festival an annual event and I commend them for that.”

Tickets for the 6 o’clock drive-in are $30 per car which covers both the sets of screenings. However, if you wish to only attend the 10:45 screening, you can purchase a ticket for the late-night screening for $10.

To order your ticket, you can purchase them on the Magnolia Independent Film Festival’s website.