The College Town Film Series returns this month, beginning Thursday evening at 7 p.m. with a showing of “Blade Runner” at the Douglass Theatre in downtown Macon.
Now in its 28th year, the series is an annual collaboration between Middle Georgia State University, Mercer University and Wesleyan College. The event is intended to bring together students, faculty and community members to explore films that fit into the series’ theme: “Underground.”
Admission is free for students with a valid college ID, and general admission is $5.
“This is really about creating a space to talk about film in a town hall kind of setting,” Patrick Brennan, a professor of English and film studies at Middle Georgia State University, said. “It’s much nicer than talking about movies online, where people are anonymous and not always polite.”
Each year, faculty representatives from the three institutions choose a theme and select films that reflect it. Mercer University Assistant Professor of media studies Jackie Pinkowitz suggested “Underground” because of the meanings, implications and weight the word holds.
“I liked it because of its wide applicability, not only applying to a film’s subject matter, but also its mode of production, politics, aesthetics and audiences,” said Pinkowitz. “Underground has many connotations and denotations that are helpfully broad, yet evocative.”
“Blade Runner” will be put on by Wesleyan College’s Tom Ellington, who teaches political science. The three-week long film series will continue on Feb. 12, when Pinkowitz will present the 1973 film “The Spook Who Sat By the Door.” The final installment will air on Feb. 19 with “I Shot Andy Warhol,” released in 1996 and presented by Brennan.
“This year’s lineup spans genres and decades, showcasing cinematic works that illuminate unseen forces and unconventional perspectives that challenge the mainstream,” Brennan said, quoting the event’s press release.
The faculty presenter will lead a post-film discussion to engage the audience at the end of each film. Students from each institution are not directly involved in the planning process of the film series, but will help to direct and facilitate the conversations.
Brennan enjoys the community aspect that his annual event brings to Macon and the three colleges.
“It’s different watching these films with an audience,” Brennan said. “People react to moments you might have missed at home.”
Since its founding in 1999, the series has aimed to foster conversation and connection across campuses and to create a public space for film education in Macon, explained Robert Burham, one of the original board members of the annual event.
Burham said the festival also reflects the Douglass Theatre’s broader cultural and educational mission. Originally envisioned as part of downtown Macon’s revitalization efforts, the College Town Film Series continues to draw students and faculty into the city’s historic cultural district.
“It’s fun and a great excuse to get out of the house and visit historic downtown Macon,” Brennan said. “Plus, you never know, you might learn something.”
Clara Kurczak '29 is majoring in journalism at Mercer University. She loves capturing moments and bringing stories to life with her camera and pen. When she is not working on articles, Clara enjoys listening to music, spending time with the people she cares about and reading anything she can get her hands on.
