Lights! Camera! Downtown!.. a Film Fest hits the River City

By Angela SpearsFirst Coast NewsJACKSONVILLE, FL -- A star studded event kicks off in Jacksonville today. For the second year, the Jacksonville Film Festival is back in the River City. The theme is Lights! Camera! Downtown! You can see more than 60 films at 6 different venues.The Film Festival is getting bigger. Organizers say it has the potential to make the River City the Hollywood of the South again. There are a variety of films and documentaries. Organizers say this year there are movies from the Women of the Avant-garde, a celebration of female filmmakers on the cutting edge of experimental film and movies that spotlight Mexican films and filmmakers. You will only be able to see some of them this weekend. Also, some first time producers and directors will show their work. Christopher Coppola has been in the business for more than 20 years. He's made 8 movies. He feels film festivals are the best avenue for independent movies. His flick will be shown tonight at 10:30 at the Florida Theatre. It's called "The Creature of Sunnyside Trailer Park." It features some 1970's stars, like Lynda Carter, from "Wonder Woman" and Shirley Jones, from "The Partridge Family." Coppola says he's kind of nostalgic, that's why he put stars from shows he loved in the film.That name, Coppola, probably sounds familiar. Christopher comes from a famous family of actors and filmmakers. His younger brother is Nicholas Cage. His uncle is Francis Ford Coppola, director of the Godfather movies. It doesn't stop there, his cousin Sophia Coppola wrote and produced "Lost in Translation." Let's keep the connection going, Bill Murray starred in the Oscar nominated film and he will be in town for the Jacksonville Film Festival.During the four day festival, you can see films at the Florida Theatre, Ritz Theatre/LaVilla Museum, the Cumber Museum, San Marco Theatre, Theatre Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Arts. There are even workshops on screen writing and independent filmmaking at the festival. It all kicks off tonight at the Ritz with "An Evening with Oscar... Micheaux." He was a movie producer and director. You can see his silent film, "Body and Soul." This was Paul Robeson's screen debut. Then you can head to the Florida Theatre to watch Coppola's movie.Organizers of the Film Fest says there is something for everyone. Films, both short and long, documentaries and lots of parties. The cost to see one screening is $5 and screening passes are $35, that includes 10 screenings. You can also purchase All Access Passes, that gets you into the films and the parties, for $125. Just call the Florida Theatre Box Office at 904-355-ARTS.