George Lindsey UNA Film Festival

Southern hospitality at its best - best describes the festival!!!

Florence, Alabama, located on the Tennessee River, is one of the four cities which comprises the Shoals.  The Shoals is literally an entertainment Mecca with long roots which reach to the heart of rock and roll, southern rock, the blues, etc.  Oh!  It is the birthplace of Helen Keller, "America's First Lady of Courage," W. C. Handy, "The Father of the Blues," and legendary Sam Phillips, "The Father of Rock and Roll," who first recorded the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the list goes on.

The Festival receives national and international entries and awards a $3,000 prize to the "Best of Show" winner.  An award of $2,000 is given to the "Clyde 'Sappo' Black Sweet Home Alabama" winner which is the best film shot at least partially in Alabama.  All first place winners in each of the categories receive the minimum of a $100 cash prize or its equivalent in equipment or merchandise.

The list of previous festival guests includes Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine, "Sling Blade" star Lucas Black, character actor Stephen Root ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?") and actor-songwriter Donnie Fritts ("Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia") to makeup-effects artist Robert Hall ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), actor Cedric Pendleton (The Shield"), radio personality Mark Thompson (of "Mark & Brian" fame), photographer David Lee, recording-industry executive Mike Curb and music-video artist Ray Stevens.

Outstanding student films are recognized alongside such recent best-of-show winners as Shane Acker's Oscar nominated "9," Steve Guttenberg's "P.S. Your Cat is Dead," Hall's "Lightening Bug" and the Kathryn Tucker Windham documentary "Kathryn: A Story of a Teller."

The Shoals area has always been known for its creative people, maverick spirit and energy.  It is now building on its rich musical heritage by devoting many of its resources toward enhancing its emerging film industry.  In addition to Mr. Lindsey, the area has produced screen actors Lucas Black ("Sling Blade"), Michael Jeter ("The Green Mile"), Pat Buttram ("Green Acres"), Dewey Martin ("The Big Sky") and Glenn Shadix ("Beetlejuice").  These individuals have followed/are following in the rich cultural history of those who have found fame with the "Muscle Shoals Sound."  Among the artists that have recorded locally are:  Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Backstreet Boys, Lou Rawls, Little Richard, Andy Williams, Wayne Newton, Lisa Minnelli, Tom Jones, Wilson Pickett, The Drifters, Ray Stevens, Otis Redding, Alabama, Marty Stuart, Bill Haley & The Comets, Wet Willie, Dobie Gray, and many more.

University of North Alabama's library houses all of Lindsey's film and TV scripts as well as Borgnine's complete collection of scripts.  Other Hollywood celebrities - including "Fahrenheit 451" author Ray Bradbury, archivist and enthusiast Forrest J. Ackerman and film historian David J. Skal - have donated rare scripts and one-of-a-kind memorabilia from their personal collections.