Aspiring filmmakers got a chance to show off their work to several Georgia Southern students participated in this year’s Statesboro Film Festival on April 11 at the Averitt Center for the Arts.

Nelson Miller took home the top prize of “Best Picture” with his short film “Beautiful Things” at the Statesboro Film Festival Thursday night.

Eight films were showcased in the Emma Kelly Theater and awards were given afterward, Matthew Bankhead, the festival coordinator, said.

“We had the same amount of films submitted as the previous year. I feel that each year that the quality of films continues to improve. Our hope is that the program will continue to grow,” Tim Chapman, executive director of the Averitt Center, said.

“There are few events in the ‘Boro that celebrate artist and the art of filmmaking more than the Statesboro Film Festival. It is provides a tremendous forum for film and communication arts students to display their talent,” DeWayne Grice, the festival’s master of ceremony said.

The Statesboro Film Festival was created to showcase local talent to community and provide them with a venue to show their work that may not receive otherwise, Bankhead said.

Grice said, “This is a phenomenal opportunity to experience a large film festival in the Boro. It is not quite Cannes but the energy and enthusiasm is very much the same.”

This year’s films included the following:

-The Bridge by James Minick

– Beautiful Things by Nelson Miller

– Chance by Christian Washington

– Toast by Alysia Marion

– Game Over by Jake Taylor and AnnNell Byne

– Packinghouse by Alysia Marion

-Taking Chances by Brian Burns

– Provenance by Jake Taylor, AnnNell Byne and Alayna Baer.