VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - A new South Georgia film festival is bringing Burt Reynolds to Valdosta for the weekend.
WTXL ABC 27's Valerie Mills shows us why the RKDS Film Fest attracted Reynolds to the area.
Reynolds told the crowd Georgia is his lucky state at the opening RKDS Film Fest event on Thursday.
He was honored with a key to the City of Valdosta and a proclamation deeming July 12 as Burt Reynolds Day.
The director of the festival says Georgia is the top filming location in the country. However, south of Macon and Savannah, that's not the case.
"I wanted to come up with something to change that and I thought the only way to do it is highlight the area, the filmmaking in the area, and what better way of doing it than bringing a mega star like Burt Reynolds," said Roy Kirkland, the RKDS Film Fest director.
Reynolds has starred in nine movies filmed in Georgia. He said he wants to inspire local college students to pursue their dreams in their hometown.
Kirkland says the goal is to expand the local film industry and attract filmmakers to the southern part of the state.
Organizers are expecting nearly a thousand people at the RKDS Film Festival. They say it's the first time South Georgia films have truly been in the spotlight.
Eleven fillms will be shown at the three-day festival. All the films have ties to South Georgia.
On Thursday night, hundreds came out to enjoy Smokey and the Bandit, Celeste and Sixteen.
"This is the best film festival I have ever attended in my entire life," said James Moser.
Festival directors say the second annual RKDS Film Fest will be back next year.
