2024 is the 15th year that the Imperial Theatre has hosted the POISON PEACH FILM FESTIVAL. Since the beginning, POISON PEACH has always been about supporting local filmmakers in a varitety of genres. This year, ALL of the films are created by Augusta-area film artists.
The feature on Saturday, January 6th, and the two features on Sunday, January 7th, feature a variety of regional acting talent. As with previous festivals, many members of the cast and crew are attending the screenings that weekend at the Imperial. This makes the festival a great place to meet and talk to film creators in the area, who have always been open to new ideas and talent.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2024
7pm- Feature presentation:
“ASSAULT ON FORT RIDGELY”
9pm- Short Film Showcase:
“Meep!”, “Don’t Walk Alone” and “Nervous Nathan”
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024
4pm – Feature presentation:
“SHERMAN’S MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS”
7pm – Feature Presentation:
“MORNINGSTAR”
On both days of the festival, the theatre entrance opens an hour before the start of the first film, and the doors to the auditorium are opened thirty minutes before the start of the first film. Please note that the admission price of $15 is for each day of the festival, not each film.
Saturday’s feature film is “Assault on Fort Ridgely”, directed by veteran historical filmmaker Christopher Forbes, an Augusta native. This film was shot mostly in Minnesota but has several connections to Augusta. The Augusta acting connection is William Adams (photo attached), who plays Dakota Chief Red Middle Voice, a major role that required Mr. Adams to be in Minnesota for six weeks from late August to early October of this year. Elements for the film were also shot in Hampton County, South Carolina, where Jerry Chesser and his grandson Gunner Bridgers, age 12, also played Dakota Warriors in the film.
“Assault on Fort Ridgely” was based on the book “Uprising”, written by Minnesota ten-term State Representative Dean Urdahl. Mr. Urdahl will be in attendance at the screening of the film at the Imperial Theatre and will be available for discussion immediately after.
Sunday’s first feature film is “Sherman’s March through the Carolinas”, screening at 4pm on January 7, and directed by veteran historical filmmaker Christopher Forbes, an Augusta native. Mr. Forbes also produced and directed “Sherman’s March to the Sea”, which had its first ever screening at the Imperial Theatre in January of 2022, as part of Poison Peach that year.
“Sherman’s March through the Carolinas” features a major discovery in acting talent. Her name is Shanita Wilburn (photo attached), and she is an Augusta resident. She has a large role in the film as a Freedman trying to make her way north through the South Carolina countryside, in the last few weeks of the Civil War.
Most people in the film are from the Aiken-Augusta area, including Eddie Rodgers, who plays C.S. General Hampton. Mr. Rodgers is a veteran of ten feature films and has been doing an impression of General Hampton for many years. Playing C.S. General Wheeler is Jerry Chesser, a resident of Hampton, South Carolina. His grandson, Gunner Bridgers, also plays a major role.
Also playing Freedmen are Melvin Stewart and Ruby Frazier Stewart from Savannah, Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart each have major roles in the film. Mr. Stewart is a veteran of more than 15 feature films.
Augusta resident Jezibell Anat plays C.S. Captain Mary Wilkins, a major role in the film. Ms. Anat has produced and directed many short films and directed her first feature a year ago, “Bass Reeves and Belle Starr”, now in distribution.
Sunday’s 7pm feature film is “Morningstar”, written and directed by Christine Williams, a resident of Augusta. This film was shot mostly in Aiken but also in Augusta and in Hampton County, SC.
Ms. Williams wrote and directed “Morningstar”, her feature directing debut.
The lead in “Morningstar” is a major discovering in acting talent, Bella Stofiel, a resident of Lugoff, South Carolina (photo attached). Ms. Stofiel plays Isabelle Carrington, a young woman in 1888 who is stranded in the wilderness of Wyoming Territory when the wagon train she is in is raided.
Most of the people in the cast are from the Aiken-Augusta area, including William Adams, who plays Shoshone Chief Sadee’a. Elements for the film were also shot in Hampton County, South Carolina. Jerry Chesser, a Hampton County resident, plays “Garvin”, the notorious villain in the film. Also from Hampton County is “Morningstar” bad guy Christopher Cooler.
Augusta resident Tom Ryan plays Mr. Boudreax, a large role as a suave and wise gambler. Augusta resident Jezibell Anat plays a ranch owner who offers to help Isabelle put her life back together. Ms. Anat has produced and directed many short films and directed her first feature a year ago, “Bass Reeves and Belle Starr”, now in distribution.