Historic downtown Macon hosts an internationally creative scene this weekend (Feb. 18-21) as the 5th annual

Macon Film Festival

lives up to its reputation of featuring independent films. This year, 10 different countries have submissions to the film festival. Actors

Illeana Douglas

and 30 Rock's 

Jack McBrayer

are just two of the celebrity guests expected at the spectacular cultural event.

The 5th annual

Macon Film Festival

(MaGa)

kicks off Thursday with a screening of  "The Candidate" followed by the

Best in Show

award renamed after macon native and Academy Award winning actor

Melvyn Douglas

. 

Illeana Douglas

who is Mr. Douglas' granddaughter, will be present for the dedication. Later, her film, "Easy to Assemble", about an actress who "quits Hollywood" to work at Ikea, plays at the

Capitol Cox Theater

at 9pm, followed by a Q&A with Ms. Douglas.

Another highlight to the Macon Film Festival is the Georgia premiere of

Steve Balderson's

STUCK!

The film which was shot in Macon, tells the story of a woman named Daisy who is falsely accused of murder and sent to prison. It's styled in the genre of classic women's prison movies but with a modern spin. The film's stars are Karen Black, Jane Wiedlin (formerly of the GoGo's) Pleasant Gehman, Starina Johnson and the

divine

Mink Stole! 

fashionado