To help spread the word about the PFS (Psychotronic Films of Savannah) Film Festival, I was lucky enough to get some questions answered by Jim Reed, Executive and Artistic Director of PFS.  Jim has truly created a paradise for lovers of foreign and obscure films from the past to the present.   

Here’s a teaser of what you can expect this year, and for years to come.  Jim even mentions possible plans for next years PFS Film Festival.

When did the PFS Film Festival first begin?
I've been curating an annual festival of unusual, noteworthy, and/or forgotten films here in Savannah since 2003. That's in addition to the weekly film screenings of a similar nature that my organization, the PFS of SAV, hosts year-round. All told, I present around 125 screenings a year here in town.

How many films are screening?
We're showing 16 films in one stretch. It's our biggest and most ambitious selection to date.

How long is the festival?
It runs for seven days, starting on Sunday, Jan. 22 and ending on Saturday, Jan. 28.

What makes the PFS Festival unique - in general, movie choices, & venue?
Most of the films we show as part of the festival you'll find nowhere else. They are not available on DVD, not found on Netflix, and have not shown (nor will they ever be shown) in regular, mainstream theaters in Savannah. So, in many respects, these are one-time-only opportunities to see these motion pictures in public in this part of the country.

Furthermore, I specifically seek out movies, which are either extremely good or extremely bad, and try to avoid anything that's just adequate or average. The Psychotronic Film Society champions films that very well made, but we also revel in the unintentional hilarity that can result from inept filmmaking, ridiculously low budgets or amateurish talent.

My goal is to showcase films that folks will likely remember for the rest of their life - either because they felt it was an important movie with a strong message or meaning, or because they laughed themselves silly wondering why anyone would ever spend any time or money on such a piece of junk!

The venue itself, Muse Arts Warehouse, is also very special to me and I think to others who have been there. While it's not "officially" a movie theater (it's actually a community arts space that plays host to all sorts of events, from plays and live music concerts to dance recitals, poetry readings and fashion shows), it has a huge screen, great quality picture and sound, stadium-style raised seating, and the cheapest concession prices you'll ever find.

They only charge $1 for fresh, organic popcorn, soft drinks and candy. That means for $12, you can see a movie at this festival, and get popcorn, candy and a drink. Beat that, Carmike!

What can people expect?
People can expect to be introduced to a world of cinema they may never have known existed. I spend tons of time and money each year researching and acquiring the rights to screen the widest variety of movies imaginable from all corners of the globe - from obscure suspense thrillers to award-winning comedies, and from eye-opening documentaries to hokey sci-fi and horror flicks. Whether it's a heartwarming love story or a deeply profound spiritual drama, as long as I think it's worth seeing, I'll show it.

They can also expect to meet other nice folks from the area who love movies. Over the nine years I have been doing this, there have been many lasting friendships that have started by folks getting to know each other before and after the films we show. That's a pretty cool thing to be a part of.

Do you hope the festival brings more awareness to PFS?
Definitely. Each year there are folks who come out to our Festival who have heard about the PFS of SAV for ages, but could never make it out to one of our weekly Wednesday night screenings at The Sentient Bean Coffeehouse on Forsyth Park, or our occasional Sunday series of first-run "Movies Savannah Missed" at Muse Arts Warehouse, because those shows did not fit into their schedule. I hope this event introduces our organization to more and more people each and every year.

What kind of audience do you expect to attract, and what kind have you attracted in the past?
Our films draw everyone from high school students to folks in their 70s and 80s. We show such a wide variety of movies that there may be some folks who only come out once or twice a year because they're only into horror movies made in Turkey or secret agent films of the '60s made in Italy. We have SCAD students, AASU students, college professors, waiters, divorcees, actors, aspiring filmmakers, tour guides, musicians, cashiers, antiques dealers, ministers, bartenders, and the list goes on. Pretty much, anybody who LOVES movies and is thrilled at the chance to finally see something they've heard about for years but could never track down, or wants to introduce their friends to favorite film of theirs.

Has the crowd gotten bigger since this started?
It comes and goes depending on what movie we're showing, but yes, over the years, our crowds have increased. Sometimes we'll show a film and there will be only 10 people there. Other times, it will be so full that we run out of chairs and people actually pay to sit on the floor because they are so desperate to see a particular film!

Since you show both great and terrible movies - will there be any movies you would declare terrible? And which ones do you think are over the top great?
If you mean films which are in the Festival this year, then DEAFULA is an example of a film that is so horribly made in almost every respect -from camerawork to acting to the script to the special effects- that it's almost painful to watch. You can't help but be embarrassed for most everyone involved. Yet, somehow, that also makes it painfully enjoyable, because you can appreciate and respect the effort and sincerity that went into making such a film.

For me personally, laughing at "bad movies" isn't about making fun of the people who made those films. Rather, it's about trying to find some sort of highly enjoyable redeeming quality in the work (even if it's not the quality the filmmakers originally intended). I see the act of reveling in a poorly made film to be a sign of respect, which is why I reserve that kind of treatment for only the TRULY terrible movies, not just the garden variety failures. They must be EPIC failures to qualify for inclusion in the Psychotronic canon.

What movie is your favorite?
In this festival, it would have to be a toss-up between PETEY WHEATSTRAW - THE DEVIL'S SON-IN-LAW, which is a low-budget independent "black exploitation" action comedy from 1977 starring the legendary, foul-mouthed black standup comic and singer Rudy Ray Moore (better known as Dolemite), and AU HASARD BALTHAZAR, which is a B&W French film from 1966 directed by the late Robert Bresson. That movie was named the 19th Greatest Film Ever Made by the British Film Institute, so just the dichotomy of those two pictures may tell you something about my personal tastes and how they guide the ethos of the PFS of SAV!

Are there going to be any interviews after the screenings?
Earlier in the week, we were honored to have a special appearance by Mike Malloy, who's a respected writer in the world of cult cinema. He was one of the producers of (and starred in) a film called THE SCARLET WORM, which we were lucky to host the Southern premiere of. It's a period Western made for around $25,000, which is something of an amazing achievement. He introduced the film and followed the screening with a lengthy Q&A with interested audience members. We'd like to do more of those sorts of things in the future if at all possible.

Are there any other activities that go on besides the screenings?
Well, in the past we have organized "after-parties" at local bars and restaurants, so that folks could have someplace to go and wrap up the night with discussions of the films, or just plain visiting. This year we did not organize any such official outings, because the schedule was simply too full. But next year, we plan on having a big closing night party to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Festival. It will be a big fundraiser with catered food, drinks, music and all sorts of other fun stuff. Keep an eye out for it.

By the way - I'd like to encourage anyone who wants to learn more about all our upcoming screenings to drop me a line at psychotronicfilms@hotmail.com. If they include their full name and email address, I'll be glad to add them to our official email newsletter which goes out a couple of times a month. They'll get advance notice on future events, and can register to win free passes, rare DVDs and more, and we'll never share their contact information.

There’s still time to be included in the Psychotronic Films of Savannah Film Festival excitement!  Tonight (Friday) they will be screening the 1961 film “Blast of Silence” at 6:30 and then the 1966 French film “ AU Hasard Balthazar” tonight.  There will be full day of films tomorrow starting at 2pm with 2010 film Small Town Murder Songs, 2010 Australian film “Machete Maidens Unleashed” at 5pm, and then the 2003 film “The Room” (apparently the Citizen Kane of bad movies).

You can learn more about the Psychotronic Films of Savannah Organization by visiting their website, as well as their facebook fan page.