Eric Roberts.

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Actors Sonny Shroyer and Eric Roberts are the scheduled stars for the Second Annual RKDS Film Fest.

The film festival is schedule for July 6-14, at the old Valdosta High Performing Arts Center, 3101 N. Forrest St., according to organizers.

Films, celebrity guests and forums will take place during the nine-day event, organizers said.

In August 2018, RKDS Film Fest began receiving more than 1,500 film submissions from around the world and was Certified Gold by Filmfreeway, the number one film festival and film submitting company in the world, organizers said.

The RKDS Film Fest received notice thanks in part to Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds, who was the 2018 featured guest for the inaugural event.

Reynolds died several weeks after the Valdosta festival.

The film festival is set to begin by paying tribute to Shroyer, a Valdosta resident, with “An Evening with Sonny Shroyer,” Saturday, July 6. Shroyer will be on stage to talk about his career in film and television, organizers said.

Academy Award and three-time Golden Globe nominee Eric Roberts is scheduled to attend Friday, July 12, for “An Evening with Eric Roberts.” His feature film, “The Perception,” will be shown before his appearance on stage, organizers said.

For the younger crowd, RKDS Film Fest will host Russell Horning, better known as the Back Pack Kid, Saturday, July 13.

Horning became an international sensation with his dance, The Floss, which has been performed with pop stars Katy Perry, Rhianna, etc., organizers said.

Horning will be on stage to talk about his instant success and will be performing during “An Evening with Russell Horning a.k.a. Back Pack Kid.”

During the event, filmmakers Roy Kirkland and Doug Sebastian, who are also the festival organizers, will present a mini-documentary, “Burt Reynolds: The Last Film Festival,” remembering the Hollywood legend.

The nine-day festival will feature more than 100 films submitted from around the world. Many submissions include Georgia premieres with filmmakers introducing their films.

Two of the major attraction films include “The Perception” featuring Roberts and also starring Nick Bateman and Elena Ghenoiu.

The other is one of the most talked-about films titled, “Skin,” which won the 2018 Oscar for best short film and directed by Oscar winner Guy Nattiv and stars Ashley Thomas, Jonathan Tucker and Danielle Macdonald.

Other films scheduled to be shown feature Deborah Divine, Geraldine Chaplin, Rutger Hauer, Michael Madsen, William Baldwin, Franco Nero, etc. All of the films were submitted by the filmmakers to the RKDS Film Fest, organizers said.

The Second Annual RKDS Film Fest is sponsored and supported by the Georgia Film Commission Office in Atlanta, organizers said.

“Having their support is extremely important and needed to help us in our efforts to grow the film industry in Valdosta and South Georgia,” Kirkland said. “Our goal has always been to create more films and to encourage our business and local government leaders to recognize how big this industry is, how much we are missing out and how important it is to support our efforts.”

RKDS Entertainment and Media said in a statement it continues seeking support from investors and city and county leaders to help create a film studio that will attract major and independent film companies that are presently filming in middle and north Georgia.

“The 2019 RKDS Film Fest is grateful to receive the support from our community and area partners, Carolina Skiff Boat Manufacturing Company, Waycross, Coca Cola United, Austin’s Cattle Company, Wild Adventures, Stan’s Grocery Outlet, Fairway Outdoors, Valdosta Daily Times, Best Western Plus Valdosta and Lowndes Valdosta Tourism,” according to organizers. “We invite other businesses and individuals to consider sponsorship as well. This year, sponsors will have the opportunity to set up displays and distribute their items to the general public promoting their businesses. One of RKDS Film Fest goals is for the local film industry and businesses to work together and to support each other so both will continue to grow.”

More information, visit www.RkdsFilmFest.com or www.ValdostaFilmFest.com.