The Beaufort International Film Festival Eyes Another Landmark Year

Interview by Mark Shaffer

This February will mark my tenth consecutive Beaufort International Film Festival. Well, sort of. Truth be told, I’d have to drop a big, fat asterisk by the 2018 event. I made it to the opening gala, reconnected with old friends from previous festivals and made enough connections with the new crop of filmmakers to get the sense that something truly special was about to unfold.

Lowcountry Weekly is pleased to announce the winners of the 4th Annual Sea Island Spirit Writers Short Story Contest. Participation, like last year, was wonderful! The writers were asked to respond to the prompt “a half-eaten pastrami sandwich” in 750 words or less. There were so many great stories, we’re glad the Sea Island Spirit Writers did the judging so we didn't have to! Those judges were: Donna Armer, Katherine Tandy Brown, Emily Davis Fletcher, Ginny Hall-Apicella, and Jacqueline Markham. Thanks to everybody who entered a short story this year, and congratulations to the winners! And now, without further ado . . . the winning stories...

Linda Hilts’ “Sea to Shining Sea and Places in Between” will feature her favorite art mediums — watercolor, acrylic and pastel — during an exhibit from Nov. 5- Dec. 1 at The Society of Bluffton Artists gallery, located on Church Street in Old Town Bluffton. An opening reception is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. Nov. 11 at the gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

There’s a new kid on the block and he’s a thug. His name is Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria), and his sole purpose is to make my life miserable. OK, yours, too. He’s also known as “gripe weed” (no wonder why there) and he comes better equipped to replicate himself than Kudzu ever dreamed.