2012 Indie Grits Film Festival

Indie Grits Festival, hosted by the Nickelodeon Theatre in Columbia, S.C., will be held April 19 – 29, 2012. The festival offers Southern filmmakers unique exhibition opportunities and festival attendees will find 10 days chock full of a combination of engaging cultural events unmatched in the Southeast. “In addition to the films, Indie Grits has grown to include the best music, food and craft Columbia has to offer, and this year, we‘re excited that our festival will expand to 10 days. Join us for the festival and you‘ll find plenty to see, make and do in Columbia,” said Andy Smith, Executive Director of the Nickelodeon Theatre. In its sixth year, Indie Grits empowers all levels of Southern filmmakers with an independent mentality and far-reaching artistic scope. In 2010, Indie Grits was also named one of the world‘s 20 coolest film festivals by Movie Maker magazine. Films will be shown each evening of Indie Grits. In addition, attendees have several opportunities to experience art, performing arts, music and events around Columbia. For the first time, Indie Grits is delving into the tech realm and Converge SE‘s participation in the festival will offer web designers and developers an unmatched learning and networking experience. SCHEDULE of INDIE GRITS EVENTS (in addition to films shown each night): April 19: Indie Grits Opening Party, 7 p.m. o

Location: 701 Whaley o

The Indie Grits opening party is in conjunction with the Preview Party for 701 CCA‘s Columbia Open Studios April 20: Spork in Hand Puppet Slam at Indie Grits, 7 p.m., Day 1 o

Puppeteers from across the Southeast converge for two gloriously gritty evenings of experimental short puppetry and object theater. The puppet slam at Indie Grits will feature an evening of raucous and ribald, thought-provoking and awe-inspiring performances. o

$10 in advance, $20 at the door The Olivia Tremor Control concert April 21: 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios, Day 1 o

Location: In artists‘ personal studios around the Midlands o

www.columbiaopenstudios.org, @701CCA, #COS2012 o

Visit with individual artists in their private, working studios, while learning about their backgrounds, tools and techniques, and how their personal stories impact their art. The public will have the opportunity to purchase participating artists‘ works at zero mark-up. Spork in Hand Puppet Slam at Indie Grits, 7 p.m., Day 2 (see above) April 22: Slow Food at Indie Grits, 4-7 p.m. o

www.SlowFoodColumbia.org, @slowfoodcolumbia o

12+ chefs from Columbia‘s top farm-to-table restaurants will serve epic tastes at a “Sustainable Taste of Columbia” party with wine, beer and music. Each chef‘s dish must feature at least one locally, sustainably produced major ingredient. 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios, Day 2 (see above) April 24: Quintron Off Menu with Kristian Niemi, Slow Food at Indie Grits event o

Location: Rosso Trattoria Italia (4840 Forest Drive) o

Take notes as one of Columbia‘s greatest restaurateurs shares his cooking tips. April 25: South Carolina Philharmonic at Indie Grits o

www.SCPhilharmonic.com, @SCPhil o

Location: Drayton Hall, USC o

Indie Grits organizers have commissioned four new silent films to play along with the Philharmonic‘s performance—a unique collaboration. April 26: ConvergeSE public event and happy hour April 27: ConvergeSE, Day 1 o

www.ConvergeSE.com, @ConvergeSE o

Location: IT-oLogy (1301 Gervais Street, Ste. 200) o

ConvergeSE is a melting pot of web designers and developers with varying ranges of experience. Sessions in mobile web design, marketing and business development. April 28: Crafty Feast o

Crafty Feast is an all-day juried festival focused on handmade crafts. Indie Grits Closing Party and Awards Converge SE, Day 2 April 29: Filmmakers Brunch Screening of all Indie Grits award-winning films Stay tuned to www.IndieGrits.com for more information on each Indie Grits partner event as the festival schedule is finalized. For more information or images, contact Andy Smith at andy@nickelodeon.org. Find Indie Grits Festival on Facebook and on Twitter @NickTheatre, #IndieGrits.