Peaberry Film Festival 2024: A Celebration of Cinema at The Historic Canton Theatre

Apr 29, 2024

The Peaberry Film Festival has wrapped up its second year at the Historic Canton Theatre, and what a weekend it was! From April 26 to 28, the festival brought together filmmakers, film enthusiasts, and the local community for a celebration of cinema.

A Premier Event for Film Lovers

Formerly known as the Etowah Film Festival, which ran for three years, the Peaberry Film Festival has established itself as a premier annual event for film lovers in the region. Each year, the festival showcases local and international films and features informative panel discussions, connecting filmmakers and audiences in a beautiful, historic venue.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Peaberry kicked off on Friday, highlighting young talent with a high school film showcase, followed by the family-friendly shorts "Canton Abbey," "Perfect," and “War Angel”. The evening continued with two inspiring documentaries, "Sweetwater" and "How to Sue the Klan", followed by an after-party at The Holler.

Saturday was packed with a variety of screenings and events. The Film Lab, in partnership with Kodak and Kodak Film Lab Atlanta, offered a unique opportunity for attendees to learn and get hands-on experience with Super 8mm and 16mm motion picture film. Following the workshop, attendees were treated to a screening of "Fallout" - a short experimental documentary shot on film.

It's also worth noting that The Peaberry Film Festival does not only limit entries to live action films. Fans of animation enjoyed a selection of fun, yet touching animated shorts. There truly is a film for every type of moviegoer at Peaberry.

Following the animation block, attendees were invited across the street to the newly-opened Local Color Studio for “Coffee with Creatives” - an opportunity to mingle with other festival goers in a creative environment, with food and refreshments provided. The afternoon also featured a meetup for filmmakers with trivia at Queenie's before attendees flocked back to the Theatre for a showcase of thought-provoking short films that had the audience pondering the question, "Are the Kids Alright?"

The evening ended on a lighter note with a comedy power hour, featuring winners from the Mighty Shorts April Comedy competition, which left the everyone in stitches.

Festival Programming Director, Brent Lambert-Zaffino, leads a panel discussion with filmmakers

That’s a Wrap!

Despite Sunday being the final day of this year's Peaberry Film Festival, there were no signs of the festivities slowing down. Sunday's lineup included a free screening of the 1980 comedy classic "Used Cars", a showcase of dark yet satisfying Georgia shorts, and a celebration of screenwriting with the KSU Student Screenwriting Competition.

The festival closed with the moving feature film "Guacamole Yesterdays." Shot in Georgia, the film follows a heartbroken woman who uses an experimental technology that allows her to revisit and manipulate her memories as a means to cope. The film was followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

The Historic Canton Theatre

The Historic Canton Theatre, with its rich film history, proved to be the perfect venue for this exciting event. Established in 1911 in the heart of Downtown Canton, the Canton Theatre initially showcased slides and silent films before undergoing ownership changes and being renamed the 'Bonita' in the 1920s. Renovations and expansions followed, transforming it into the 'Haven', where Canton's first talking motion picture, "Singing Fool," starring Al Jolson, premiered. In the late 1930s, it was revamped by the Martin-Thompson Theatre Company into the 'Canton Theatre,' boasting Art Deco design elements and modern amenities like air conditioning and heating. It was later acquired by the City of Canton and, in addition to hosting the Peaberry Film Festival, is the home to film screenings throughout the year, concerts, and live theatre productions. Keep an eye on the Explore Canton calendar to discover other events at this historic venue.


Fun Fact: You can spot the Canton Theatre in films and TV shows such as “The Founder,” starring Michael Keaton, and Apple TV’s “The Big Door Prize!” See the “Filmed in Canton” page to learn more about your favorite film and television productions that call Canton home.

2025 in Pre-Production

As we reflect on this past weekend, it's hard not to already be excited for next year's Peaberry Film Festival, which will return to the Historic Canton Theatre from April 11-13 for its third year. Keep an eye on the Explore Canton website and our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram) to get updates on next year’s Peaberry Film Festival, as well as everything else Canton.

Author

Michael Loizou

Digital Content Specialist; City of Canton, GA

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