2026 Macon Film Festival

TITLE: In the Shadow of the Mountain
DIRECTOR: Nathan Knox
TRT: 71:00
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: In the Shadow of the Mountain follows John Adams, a first-time playwright from Southwest Virginia, as he stages his ambitious Civil War musical in a small Southern town. What begins as one man’s creative leap becomes a collective act of courage, as the diverse cast commits to giving life to a painful, divisive moment in American history. For Adams, the story is personal—his own ancestors enslaved people and carried them into battle. For the ensemble, the project is more than performance: it is a chance to reach audiences across political and racial lines and foster empathy where division has long taken root. Blending rehearsal struggles, performance footage, and candid reflections, the film captures how a community of artists used theater to confront legacy, invite dialogue, and remind audiences that unity is still possible, even when history’s weight feels heaviest.
RATINGS: None

TITLE: Summer Lost
DIRECTOR: Timothy Hall
TRT: 88:00
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: A man attempts to keep his terminal illness a secret while attending a wedding, but an unexpected romance reshapes his future as well as his past.
RATINGS: Adult Situations

TITLE: December, Day Zero
DIRECTOR: John Robert Hammerer
TRT: 7:55
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: A recovering alcoholic comes face-to-face with his bartender ex-girlfriend when he attempts to drop off a Christmas gift at her bar.
RATINGS: None

TITLE: Hostile Work Environment
DIRECTOR: Dawn Jones Redstone
TRT: 7:55
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: When fridge politics spiral out of control, Liza isn’t sure if her passive-aggressive co-worker is just a jerk or actually undead. With barricades, microaggressions, and donuts on the line, survival in this office comedy gets gross.
RATINGS: None

TITLE: The Pick Up
DIRECTOR: Karen Wang
TRT: 19:05
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: Drew, a New York City school teacher, sets out one morning to collect items for her upcoming wedding. When she shows up at the doorstep of her old high school crush, Caleb, she impulsively invites him to join her for the rest of her pickups. What begins as an awkward catch-up eventually turns into heartfelt confessions, leading both friends to revelations about their past and future selves.
RATINGS: None

TITLE: Turn Off
DIRECTOR: Brent Ogburn
TRT: 14:50
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: ‘“Turn Off” follows Ryan, a 30 something alcoholic, as he faces his current reality and his past while navigating daily life in rehab. We’re introduced to the characters surrounding him, including one eccentric middle-aged hippie, Cal. Ryan frequently finds himself outside his comfort zone, disgusted with the weirdos in the place and thrust into sharing some of his story with the group. Ultimately he must make a decision: participate in healing practices and risk the fear of self-discovery, or abstain and prolong his healing process or worse, relapse.
RATINGS: Language, Violence, Drug Use

TITLE: Do Right Man
DIRECTOR: Gary L Baker II
TRT: 11:06
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: Ten-year-old Henry joins his father for a quiet night at a small-town bar. When a jealous man’s rage boils over, he and a warm-hearted waitress are caught in the violence, forming a quiet bond that offers the guidance he’s been missing.

TITLE: Crime & Parody
DIRECTOR: Will Thwaites
TRT: 87:00
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
SYNOPSIS: Nearly a decade before Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert came under attack for their political humor, an unknown comedian from Ohio finds himself in even more serious trouble for making fun of the government. Crime & Parody opens with the story of Anthony Novak, an amateur comedian who creates a parody Facebook page mocking his local police department. The page is satire, but the police take it very seriously. They raid Anthony’s home with guns drawn, throw him in county jail, and charge him with a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison. In the years that follow, Anthony fights in court to defend his First Amendment right to criticize the government. With support from The Onion, his case is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, just as debates around free speech and political expression are reaching a boiling point in America. Anthony’s case helps raise two questions that continue to grow more urgent: how do you hold the government accountable when they violate your rights, and what responsibility does law enforcement have to its citizens?
RATINGS: Strong Language, Adult Situations

TITLE: Larissa
DIRECTOR: Alireza Shah Hosseini
TRT: 90:00
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Iran
SYNOPSIS: LARISSA tells the story of a young Afghan refugee girl sold—along with her family—to a powerful landowner, Davood Kan, in Iran. Forced into backbreaking work alongside dozens of undocumented migrants, Larissa’s intelligence and beauty draw the landowner’s attention. Pulled from the fields, she is promised protection and privilege — but at a devastating cost. When she resists his escalating abuse, the illusion of safety shatters. What begins as a quiet attempt to endure becomes a perilous struggle for dignity. Told through a raw and intimate lens, LARISSA is not just the story of one girl but a reflection of countless hidden lives. It confronts the exploitation, silence, and systemic violence faced by Afghan refugees in Iran and other countries, while honoring the resilience of those who refuse to be erased.
RATINGS:  Violence, Adult Content, Strong Language