Frequently Asked Questions

What is Crossroads?

The Crossroads Film Society sponsors the annual Crossroads Film Festival each April in Jackson, Mississippi. We are a multi-cultural, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to international, national, and local film and video. We also encourage discussion and production for film and video, particularly as related to the cultural, educational and economic vitality of the state and region. We meet our society�s objectives through year-round programming, including special events, lectures, workshops, and the annual Crossroads Film Festival.

The mission of the Crossroads Film Society is to celebrate the art of filmmaking in all of its diversity and depth. The Crossroads Film Society will facilitate and promote a broader spectrum of film and video for the community, will present and honor films and videos related to Mississippi and the South, and will provide educational opportunities and facilitate general discussions for film lovers and aspiring film makers. Our long-term goal is to have our own facility in the city of Jackson, where we can hold our events.

During the festival each year entries from Mississippi and around the world compete to win cash and prizes in our categories: Youth, Student, Documentary, Short Documentary, Feature, Music Video, Experimental, Short and Animation. Over 70 films, which range from two minutes to two hours, will be shown.

The festival provides more than just films to watch. Film fans have the opportunity to meet many of the filmmakers and discuss the filmmaking process as well as take part in numerous workshops on Saturday.

If you are visiting from out-of-town, please contact our host hotel for special rates:

The Roberts-Walthall, downtown Jackson: 601.948.6161

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How can I find out about upcoming events?

Check the websites as often as you can. The Society website has information on year-round films and the Festival website details the annual festival. On the front page of each website you can submit your email address to join our email newsletter list where we send out regular announcements prior to upcoming events. You will be sent an email to confirm your wishes to be on the email list.

When joining the society you can also sign up for email and snail mail announcements, and volunteer on the membership form.

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Where can I find the Festival schedule?

View the festival’s schedule here.

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How do you decide what movies you bring?

The Screening Committee reviews and scores all entries for the Film Festival from December to February each year. Each submission is graded in ten different categories on a scale of 1-10 (Concept, Writing, Sound, etc …). Films with the highest average scores and recommendations are chosen for the festival. The Special Events committee researches and votes on year-round Society events not related to the Festival (i.e. Monday night Movies, etc…).

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How can I participate?

Any member of Crossroads may join the various committees responsible for events, programming, logistics and marketing.

The Special Events committee is responsible for all Society events not related to the Festival (i.e. Monday Night Movies, etc …).

The Festival committee is responsible for all aspects of the festival that occurs each April.

The Screening subcommittee reviews and scores all entries for the Festival from December to February each year.

The Membership subcommittee informs the members of events and encourages people to join.

The Volunteer subcommittee helps all the other committees with promotion, putting up fliers, selling tickets, and other logistics during the events.

The chair of each committee sits on the Board of Directors, which oversees and approves the overall running of Crossroads and ensures that the committees operate in accord with the Crossroads mission.

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Why should I join or donate to the society?

Crossroads exists by the generous support of our friends. The Crossroads Film Society relies on its membership and donations for a large part of its organizational budget. The extent and quality of its programming is directly related to membership and donations. To support the Crossroads Film Society and Festival send checks payable to “Crossroads Film Society,” P.O. Box 22604, Jackson, MS. 39225. Support levels are Individuals ($35), Film Buff ($100), Star ($250), Director ($500) and Producer ($1,000). Your donations support year round programming, workshops for kids of all-ages and helps us support our local film community.

For corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact Chris Spear at by email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or

P.O. Box 22604
Jackson, MS 39225

or by phone at 601.510.9148 or 601.613.6060. Membership benefits include discounts for screenings of Festival films, festival passes, and year-round Indie film series, as well as special free events throughout the year - including members-only film screenings and “Meet & Greet” filmmaker parties, members-only special events, free screenwriting workshops, and the chance to help decide what Crossroads does and screens. Your support also enables Crossroads to bring more films to you and helps support our local film community. Membership also includes subscription to our newsletters and special notices of upcoming events. Members are encouraged to participate in the Society and volunteer for committees that help make the festival and the society better each year.

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How do I join and what are the levels of membership?

Click here for membership info.

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Can I write off my Crossroads donations on my taxes?

Yes! We are an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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How do I contact someone about a question I have?

We can be contacted by email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) , P.O. Box 22604, Jackson, MS. 39225, or by phone 601-510-9148, or 601-613-6060.

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You seem to screen indie films only weeks before they are available on DVD. Why not sooner?

Most of the films shown during the festival represent the only opportunity you will have to screen them. These are often presented by the filmmaker at the festival and never obtain distribution for their film. Many of the non-festival indie films we bring have a limited number of prints and the film companies often allocate them to Cinemas who will show them for more than one showing. After the cinemas finish with them we are then able to rent a print. We do our best to get them to you as soon as we are able to acquire a print.

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Will you ever screen the films more than once?

As we grow as a Society, with your support, we hope to be able to.

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Why do the Jackson-area theatres not always bring indie movies that people want to see?

We at Crossroads are movie fiends, and we wish they would. Many of the smaller independent film companies have relatively few prints of their movies in circulation, however, and none of the area theatres is in the Jackson city limits. Hence, these companies see the ZIP codes of the suburbs and believe there to be only limited potential income from Flowood, Pearl, etc., compared to cities the size of New Orleans, Memphis or larger.

Crossroads is trying to change this perception, by organizing and informing our community. We try to show the local theatres that you and I will go see these films if they bring them. In the past, area cinemas have inconsistently brought in the occasional indie film and sometimes had little success with them. They will often only play them for one week and by the time people find out about them, or have put it off to see the new blockbuster, the indie film has gone.

As a growing grassroots film community we have to support these films by seeing them and getting the world out for others to go see them. It’s a labor of love and a work in progress. Crossroads is continually in touch with the area theatres, encouraging them to bring specific films that we all want to play in the Jackson area. We support all independent film in Mississippi, not just what we bring in.

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Beyond participation and becoming a member, what can I or my organization do to support Crossroads?

Financial support. Your public and private donations allow us to support independent film and filmmakers in Mississippi. We offer a la carte sponsorship for everything from one film, projector or educational workshop to special event parties during our festival. Your tax-deductable donation is much needed and appreciated.

Corporate sponsors and generous donors have enabled Crossroads to stage a four-day film festival of exceptional quality for the past ten years. Building on the festival’s success, we have grown our membership and expanded our film offerings to the community. As we plan for this year’s festival and beyond, we are seeking individual and corporate investors who share our goals of encouraging emerging filmmakers and bringing important, creative independent films to the metro area. Your support will also help us cement our role as the “film specialists” of the Jackson arts community, offering both our own special year-round film series and special events that support other arts groups. In the past, we have sought sponsorships only for the festival, but now that we are engaged in year-round programming, our fundraising efforts now include year-round visibility for our sponsors and participation in a wide variety of activities.

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