The Oxford Film Festival announced today that it will be donating $8825 to the University of Mississippi Foundation’s Roy Lee Chucky Mullins Endowment to benefit student athletes at the school.
Oxford Film Festival will be donating half the sponsorship funds and some donated ticket sales from the postponed IT’s TIME special screening event from March of this year. Those sponsors include; Landers Auto Group, Methodist Rehab, Ray and Nancy Neilsen, Ron and Brenda Guins, and Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie PLLC, Attorneys. Additional ticket donations came via; Steven & Gay Case, John Darnell, Kerry Hamilton, Bruce Reynolds, and Ron Vaughan.
The event was to be built around the screening of Frank Waldeck’s IT’S TIME, a dramatic telling of the story of Ole Miss Rebel football player Chucky Mulllins, his tragic on-field injury and its uplifting aftermath, had been set with attendees including the filmmakers, cast, and real-life people portrayed in the film, intended to raise funds and awareness as part of this year’s Oxford Film Festival. Any other ticket holders were reimbursed. The festival will notify the public once the rescheduled event can occur.
Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington said, “Due to the current pandemic situation, we felt these funds would be better served helping students than just sitting and waiting. While we still plan to reschedule for a safer time, we wanted to make sure these donors are recognized for their efforts.”
Due to the safety issues which arose due to COVID-19, the film festival (and the IT’S TIME screening event) were postponed. Oxford FF made the successful pivot to a virtual and Drive-In screening presentation over the course of the late Spring and Summer. However, with in-theater screenings still on hold for the organization for the near future, the decision was made to do what they could do to lend aid and assistance during what remains a difficult time for many – especially students.
IT’S TIME tells the story of Ole Miss Rebel defensive back Chucky Mullins, who, in 1989, became paralyzed while making a tackle against Vanderbilt player Brad Gaines. Mullins and Gaines were forever linked due to the aftermath of that play and a relationship was born out of tragedy.
