Statesboro and Georgia Southern are hosting the inaugural Ogeechee International History Film Festival on March 24 and March 25.

Michael Van Wagenen, associate professor of history and public history coordinator says this is the first festival of its kind in the nation.

“While the Smithsonian Institution hosts an annual film forum to highlight work about U.S. history, the Ogeechee Film Festival is the only open-submission, international history film festival in the nation,” said Michael Van Wagenen.

GS’s departments of History, Writing & Linguistics, Communication Arts and Political Science & International Studies are partnering with the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB), Averitt Center for the Arts, the Statesboro Herald, the Clubhouse and Millhouse to bring the festival to the entire Statesboro community, according to festival organizer Regan Everett.

The first day of the festival will take place at the Averitt Center for Arts’s historic Emily Kelly Theater and will feature an advanced showing of producer and director Eric Stange’s latest film, “Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive.” Following the showing there will be a question and answer session with Stange.

Tickets for the showing can be purchased at the Statesboro Herald and SCVB or on Eventbrite.com

The second day of the festival will relocate to the Russell Union Theater and will include screenings both feature length and short historical documentaries. After each showing, filmmakers will hold discussion panels to talk about the experience of filmmaking.

All showings at the RU are free.

The final panel of the night will feature a discussion with “Celebrity Apprentice” executive producer Eric Van Wagenen. He will discuss his experience producing reality programming, as well as how he first got started in the business.

That evening, there will be a closing reception at the SCVB where filmmakers will be presented with awards. Tickets to the reception cost $10.

“Everett has spearheaded a unique event here at Georgia Southern,” continued Michael Van Wagenen. “She has put together an impressive program, and seven of the featured filmmakers will be at the festival to speak to us about their work. This will be a fantastic opportunity for those in our community interested in the arts and humanities.”

For further questions, please contact Everett at ogeecheefilmfestival@gmail.com.

The full festival schedule can be found on the festival’s website.