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By Savanah Weed

Chassidy Jade, a film editor, producer and indie director with over 10 years of experience, most noted for becoming the first minority senior editor for the NBA, has been named as the keynote speaker for Troy University’s YellowHammer Film Festival.

Born into a military family, her roots are in Delray Beach and Memphis. As a teenager, she worked under a beloved mentor and fell in love with being behind the camera. She began working local concerts and conventions and later went on to receive a college scholarship to The Arts Institute and graduated top of her class.

“When I graduated college, I really had to hustle,” she said. “I would sneak into concerts and clubs doing photography and videos, networking as much as possible just to show off my skills so people would take me seriously. It’s about who and what you know.”

Jade’s credits also include her work as an Assistant Editor on the Academy Award Winning Film “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Nike, Beats, Creed 3 and more.

Other presenters include Netflix animator Ty Primosch, University of Central Florida animation professor KJ Matheison, Santa Fe College film professor and filmmaker Eric Flagg and Florida State College at Jacksonville film professor and filmmaker Isaac Brown.

Other guest presenters will be previous winners from last year’s festival.

Those who attend the event live will enjoy free popcorn, festival t-shirt raffles and the opportunity to vote on the newest award, Audience Choice. The festival has received 416 entries and will be screening 50-plus films and animations created by high school and college students. Awards will include thousands of dollars in donated gift cards from film gear production company sponsors Rokinon, GlideGear and Tilta.

The YellowHammer Film Festival was made possible by a grant funded by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and a generous donation from The Alabama Film Office. Other sponsors include Vision Studios, The American Advertising Federation Montgomery & Dothan, Push Crank Press, STAMP Ideas, 1st Place Trophies, Sidewalk Film Festival and Troy University.

The day of schedule will follow the following sequence:

• Opening Remarks Noon – 12:30 p.m.
• TRACES (Children of the Holocaust) 12:30 p.m – 2 p.m.
• A Look Back: YH2 Winners 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
• Behind The Scenes with an Animator 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Netflix’s Nimona Deconstruction 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Keynote Speaker 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Student Film Exhibition & Awards Ceremony 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

A full schedule, presenter bios and the event registration form can be found online. Please register to receive the Zoom link if you plan on attending remotely.