Film lovers will once again have a reason to head to Gordon State College this spring as the Gordon Cine Film Series returns to campus with a trio of free public screenings.
Now in its second year, the series is designed to give both students and members of the community a rich film experience. The headline event is set for Wednesday, March 4, at 2:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium with a screening of Weirdo: The Story of Five Eight.
The film traces Athens musician Mike Mantione’s return to the stage after a serious mental health struggle, telling the story of how the setback reshaped both his life and the band Five Eight. Filmmaker Marc Pilvinsky will be on campus to introduce the documentary. Attendees will also get a bonus acoustic performance by Five Eight.
Pilvinsky has described the project, saying, “This movie is a love letter to the act of creativity and the power of working with people that you love, even if they drive you crazy sometimes.”
The Gordon Cine Film Series first debuted in 2025 after Gordon State College Foundation Board member Dan White began exploring ways to expand humanities-focused programming on campus. He and Gordon English professor Stephen Powers, whose film courses—influenced in part by the British Film Institute’s renowned Sight and Sound poll—helped shape the vision for the series.
This spring’s schedule also included a February 25 showing of John Ford’s 1939 classic Drums Along the Mohawk in the Student Center Auditorium. One more screening is planned for March 25 at 6:00 p.m., with the featured film still to be announced.
All Gordon Cine Film Series events are free and open to the public. The program is funded through the Constance H. Chinery Performing Arts Fund, which supports arts and humanities initiatives at Gordon State College.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
