March 7, 2023 - Now entering its seventh year, the Grand Motoring Film Festival has established itself as North America’s premier event celebrating the intersection of the automotive and cinematic arts. And for the second year in a row, this iconic event is handing the keys to the most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers in the automotive world with its second juried awards program.  Vying for honors during last year’s Grand Motoring Film Festival, 20+ film finalists representing remarkable cinematic explorations of automotive culture were screened over two days.  Each brought a unique perspective on the cinematic arts with two films having their World Premieres, and two more having their North American Premieres.   

“Last year was our first year inviting filmmakers to submit films for consideration, and while I was expecting a good response, I never anticipated the wealth of talent that was shared with us, from all parts of the globe,” said event founder Guy Smith. “It shows not only the sheer amount of great automotive films out there, but the hunger for a showcase like this.”
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With this year’s event looking to top last year’s in both prestige and elegance, Grand Motoring Film Festival is actively seeking out bold new cinematic explorations of the automotive arts, regardless of length or format.  Priority will be given to films that have yet to premiere and would debut during the festival. 

Grand Motoring Film Festival finalists and winners represent the best documentaries, web videos, brand films, TV shows and more, and entries across the landscape of automotive culture are invited to submit. If your work shares our love of horsepower, make plans to join us November 2-3 on Hilton Head Island for high octane screenings and awards program!

Serving as our esteemed judges representing film and television, automotive, and media industries are some of the biggest names in cars and industry leaders from all points of the automotive spectrum, including former editor and publisher of Autoweek Dutch Mandel, Pixar Animation Studios Creative Director of Franchise Jay Ward, “Death Race 2000” star Simone Griffeth, and Silodrome.com founder and senior editor Ben Branch.   
Expanding their roster of judges in 2023, the Grand motoring Film Festival has announced the appointment of additional jurors.

• Tara Klein: Creative Director at Hearst Autos whose 14 years in automotive media have given her a front-row seat to the transformation of the automotive landscape.
• Michael Harley: VP of Marketing & Communications at Hennessey Performance, and  automotive industry veteran who has held key roles at Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power and Associates, Autoblog, Autotrader, and Autobytel.
• Steve Chavez: 30+ year creative veteran of the advertising industry, currently the US CCO for Bastion, an independent agency network overseeing brands like Mazda, GMC, Buick and Toyota.
• Ian Jones: SVP, Managing Director Qualfon, has led creative campaigns and consumer experiences in the automotive industry with key roles at Autoweek, BBDO, and Leo Burnett for brands including GMC, Buick, Dodge, and more.

The seventh annual Grand Motoring Film Festival will be held No. 2-3 in Hilton Head Island’s at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, with a VIP welcome reception, awards program, and headliner film screening, and at Coligny Theatre where films and shorts will be screened along with exclusive Q&A experiences with the filmmakers.

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About Grand Motoring Film Festival:
Returning for its seventh extravagant celebration of automotive movie magic, the Grand Motoring Film Festival welcomes film fans back to the world class Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Thursday, November 2.   This two-day star-studded event, which celebrates films and shorts that capture the thrills of the automotive world, has become the ultimate kick-off to the Concours weekend with its signature mix of red-carpet elegance and high-octane excitement.   The Grand Motoring Film Festival will commence at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Thursday evening November 2nd with an elegant VIP reception featuring some iconic celebrities of the automotive world as well as static displays of classic and collector cars.    When the curtain goes up, film fans will be dazzled by short works, world premieres and a feature film that cuts across genres in showcasing the intersection of automotive and cinematic arts. Adding to the excitement of this year’s event will be the juried awards show, bestowing honors on the year's top motoring films.   Attendees can also expect to meet some of the stars and enjoy a Q&A with some of the creative forces behind the films.  A second day of screenings and filmmaker panel discussions will take place Friday Nov. 3, 2023 at Coligny Theatre from 10:00am - 5:00pm.   Full schedule of films to be announced.

The 2022 Grand Motoring Film Festival wrapped its two day event that coincided with the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance weekend.  Attendees were dazzled by short works, world premieres, and feature films that cut across genres that showcased the intersection of automotive and cinematic arts.  A number of awards were presented to top films including Documentary, Narrative, and Student film categories.  Official Selection films were screened Nov. 3 + 4 with a number of filmmakers in attendance.
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The awards program was new for the 2022 event with ’Blink of an Eye’ directed by Paul Taublieb – Thursday’s headliner film – winning the coveted ‘Best of Show’ award. Producer Pam Miller was on hand to accept the trophy, Miller also took the ‘Spirit of Motoring’ trophy for her documentary film ‘Betty Skelton: Boundless’.

Friday Screenings:  November 4 will see additional screenings and Q&A sessions with filmmakers at Coligny Theatre from 9:00am to 3:30pm with short and feature length films. Thursday Showcase event pass holders will have priority seating for Friday screenings. There is no admission fee for Friday screenings however a donation to charity suggested.
The Film Festival’s closing film “Betty Skelton: Boundless” will show on Friday afternoon at 2:00PM. 

Grand Motoring Film Festival official selections represent the best documentaries, web videos, short films, with entries across the landscape of automotive cinema.   Films and videos were reviewed by an esteemed group of judges representing film and television, automotive, and media industries with awards to be given out on November 3, 2022. 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - JUNE 1, 2022 - This year’s Grand Motoring Film Festival will once again raise the bar for fans of the cinematic and automotive arts. For the first time, the festival is actively seeking out bold new cinematic explorations of the automotive arts, regardless of length or format, to be judged by a panel of experts for the top prize of the event.
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“The festival has always been a way for us to celebrate that intersection between cars and film, so it’s a genuine thrill to extend that celebration to the filmmakers themselves,” said GMFF founder Guy Smith. 

Grand Motoring Film Festival finalists and winners will represent the best documentaries, web videos, brand films, TV shows and more, and entries across the landscape of automotive cinema are invited to submit. Films and videos will be reviewed by an esteemed group of judges representing film and television, automotive, and media industries with awards to be given out on November 3, 2022.​​​​

AMELIA ISLAND, FEBRUARY 22, 2022 – During the 1970s, there were few legends of Detroit’s underground street racing that were greater than that of the “Black Ghost.” A 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, the Black Ghost dominated races before sinking mysteriously into the night.  An intriguing documentary, “The Black Ghost: Street Racing Legend” will highlight this year’s Grand Motoring Hangar Night, which will include a series of automotive short films and an appearance by the real life Black Ghost itself.

It’s part of an evening of automotive and cinematic artistry that enters its sixth year bigger and better than ever. Held March 3 this year at the Amelia Aerodrome at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, the Grand Motoring Hangar Night will offer fascinating films, static displays, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and cocktails amid red carpet sophistication.

Returning as presenting sponsor for the Grand Motoring Hangar Night is MonroneyLabels.com. Offering meticulous reproductions of original automobile window stickers, MonroneyLabels.com puts the power to research a used car in the hands of buyers and sellers, and has supported the festival since the beginning.  “We have had a wonderful relationship with this event, and we’ve been proud to be part of its growth,” said MonroneyLabels.com founder Ned Nielsen. “It’s a fantastic kick off to Amelia, and a wonderful opportunity for us to put our brand front and center with the right audience.”

While there’s already so much happening at this year’s Grand Motoring Hangar Night, Smith teases that a few more surprises are in store.

The Grand Motoring Hangar Night returns to the Amelia Aerodrome at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport March 3. Sign up for the GrandMotoring.com newsletter to receive ticketing info and latest updates. For more information, visit WWW.GRANDMOTORING.COM

* Advance registration and ticketing required – no ‘day of’ tickets will be available.

Grand Motoring events presented by MonroneyLabels.com at Amelia and Hilton Head welcomed a record number of attendees in 2021.

Bringing together automotive and cinematic arts, audiences enjoyed watching “The Secret Race Across America” on the big-screen, chronicling the illegal, underground transcontinental race to break Cannonball Run records from New York to Los Angeles.

Upon arrival to the Grand Motoring Hangar Night at Amelia, attendees were greeted by a new HondaJet Elite and an Acura NSX – along with a number of special automobiles highlighted by a pair of BMW M5’s, a ‘Back to the Future’ DeLorean replica, pre-production Dodge Viper, and the Barn Find Hunter’s 1939 Ford Deluxe Woodie.

A number of cars that participated in Hagerty’s Amelia Island or Bust and the Coastal Motoring Tour rallies were on display.  Many exhibiting grit and grime from their long journeys to Amelia Island!

Not to be outdone, the Grand Motoring Film Festival at Hilton Head added another a great evening of automotive camaraderie, food, drinks, classic and collector cars, but with an Eighties spin, featuring the Cannonball Run inspired ‘OutRun’ arcade game with short films Wolf of the Autostrada and Highway Violence.

Both were memorable events – made possible by you! 

Supercharged with a radical rush of ’80s nostalgia, the fifth annual Grand Motoring Film Festival presented by MonroneyLabels.com drops the green flag on the Hilton Head Concours weekend Thursday evening, November 4th at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

The throwback thrills on hand will include automotive short films that pay homage to the synth-driven day-glo flair that made the 1980s so bodacious. Static displays will spotlight the cars of the era that became legends like the Testarossa, Corvette, Pantera, 911 Turbo, and MX5!

Taking center stage during this night of retro elegance will be the feature film “The Secret Race Across America” celebrating the Cannonball run, the famous (or perhaps infamous) transcontinental race that inspired some of the era’s most iconic automotive movies.

Guests can get up close look at the types of cars that set transcontinental records and were made famous on the silver screen, dine on heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, enjoy red carpet extravagance and try their hand at an update of the pulse pounding racing games that lit up arcades during the ‘80s.

AMELIA ISLAND, FL, APRIL 27, 2021 – Since its inception in 2017, the Grand Motoring Hangar Night has thrilled audiences with the breathtaking confluence of cinematic art and automotive excitement. This year, however, the festivities kick into high gear with a slew of special events throughout the evening.

As the southeast’s premiere source for automotive films, Grand Motoring has screened some legendary movies such as “Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman,” “The 24 Hour War” and “Steve McQueen: The Man and Le Mans.” This year’s featured film, shown alongside a series of acclaimed shorts, takes moviegoers inside the illegal, underground world of U.S. transcontinental racing with “APEX: The Secret Race Across America.”

The first, Hagerty’s Amelia Island or Bust Tour, will end their multi-day rally at the event for the fifth consecutive year. Starting off outside of Baltimore on May 15, this rally will criss-cross the backroads of the southeastern U.S. before roaring into the finish line at Hangar Night.

The second rally is the Amelia Island region’s home-grown “Coastal Motoring Tour,” organized by Concours LLC. Launching from the legendary Brumos Collection, and running through some of the area’s most scenic highways and byways, the Coastal Motoring Tour will arrive just in time for Hangar Night.

“Every year we try to find some way to top the previous installment of Grand Motoring Hangar Night,” said organizer Guy Smith. “Already our fifth annual event is shaping up to the best ever, and we still have a few surprise announcements to make as we get closer to pulling back the curtain.”

Presenting sponsor for Grand Motoring Hangar Night will be long-time supporter of the event MonroneyLabels.com. Offering meticulous reproductions of original automobile window stickers, MonroneyLabels.com puts the power to research a used car in the hands of buyers and sellers. “We have been proud to support Grand Motoring Hangar Night since the very beginning,” said Ned Nielsen of MonroneyLabels.com. “We couldn’t think of a better way to salute the art of the automobile.”

In addition to inspired films, static displays and celebrations of automotive culture, guests at Grand Motoring Hangar Night will enjoy delicious cuisine prepared safely as well as stringent safety protocols, temperature checks and social distancing.

Advanced registration required. For more information, visit www.grandmotoring.com/amelia-hangar-night
When & Where: 6:00PM-10:00PM Thursday, May 20, 2021, at the Amelia Aerodrome, located off of Shannon Road, Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, Amelia Island Florida 32034. (Registered guests provided address and parking instructions.)

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC. MARCH 18, 2021 – Serving as a single platform for two highly popular automotive-themed film exhibitions, Grand Motoring will soon welcome patrons, sponsors and exhibitors along for the ride of a lifetime. A celebration of both the automotive and cinematic arts, as well as the films that bring them together, Grand Motoring will serve as a single platform for two automotive events.

The first, Grand Motoring Hangar Night, will be held Thursday evening May 20, 2021 at the Amelia Aerodrome on Amelia Island, Florida. Serving as the kickoff to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, this event is expected to sell out for the fifth consecutive year. The second, Grand Motoring Film Festival, will be held Nov. 4 at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island. This red-carpet event brings Hollywood glitz and glamour to the opening festivities surrounding the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.

Previously, the Amelia Motoring Film Exhibition and the Vintage Auto Film Exhibition had existed under the banner of Vintage Auto TV. Bringing both events under the umbrella of Grand Motoring not only streamlines ticketing and promotion for each event, it provides a one-stop-shop for the finest automotive film events.

“We’re very excited not only to introduce this new branding, but to continue showcasing the adrenaline and artistry of automotive cinema,” said Grand Motoring founder Guy Smith.

Join us for the 5th annual Grand Motoring Hangar Night to kick-off your Amelia Concours weekend on May 20, 2021 and keep watching grandmotoring.com in the coming months for exciting announcements and updates on this year’s events..

Continuing on a tradition of pairing the cinematic and automotive arts, the Amelia Motoring Film Exhibition returns for its fourth consecutive year Thursday March 5 to usher in the Amelia Concours weekend.

This year’s featured film is the critically acclaimed “Blink of an Eye” by award winning director Paul Taublieb.

The documentary chronicles racing driver Michael Watlrip’s struggles of racing 462 races without a single win in NASCAR, while in the shadow of his successful brother Darrell, before being hired to drive for Dale Earnhardt, the most feared and iconic driver in NASCAR history. Culminating with Waltrip’s first win in the most tragic of circumstances.

The special one-night event moves to a new venue on Amelia Island and begins with a reception marked by light appetizers and cocktails from 6 p.m., giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy a display of classic and collector automobiles. At 7 p.m. films take center stage. Including the award winning short film “The Racer” that follows the life of a man who reflects on his passion for motor racing from the time he was a young boy. Premiering is short the film “Four Cam Jam” about a special event designed to celebrate and enjoy iconic Porsche four-cam models, plus the latest Hagerty “Why I Drive” and “Redline Rebuild”

The event will wave the checkered flag on the Hagerty Touring Series – Amelia Island or Bust Edition rally. The rally starts in Gettysburg Pennsylvania on February 29 and follows a scenic route that leads cars & drivers down the East Coast before arriving in Amelia Island on March 5. Participating vehicles will be on display during the event, giving guests a chance to get up close and personal with these marvelous machines.

Advance registration required and tickets ($25) can be purchased online at www.ameliamotoringfilmexhibition.com.

For those not able to attend the event, “Blink of an Eye” is now available on DVD/Blu-Ray and major streaming services, visit www.blinkofaneyefilm.com for more information.

When & Where:
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Thursday, March 5, 2020. The host venue, Amelia Aerodrome, is located off of Shannon Road, adjacent to the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, Amelia Island Florida 32034

Event Sponsors:
Hilton Head Capital Partners, Hagerty, Sandhills Motoring Festival, Road Scholars, Eight Flags Autosports, RaceLink, MonroneyLabels.com

Films begin at 7PM.  

For more info and tickets, please visit: http://www.vintageautotv.com/ NOTE: The Art Center Tickets are for reserved seats. Please pick out your preferred seating to make your purchase. You can also purchase tickets at the box office the day of the event, but you may not have the best choice of seating if you wait.

(You may also call or visit the Arts Center box office for tickets 843-842-2787, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.)

The Vintage Auto Film Exhibition is an automotive movie night featuring an evening of high-octane, BIG-SCREEN nostalgia!  This year we’re going racing with the Southeast premiere of BORN RACER, plus NO LIMITS and short film RUNNING WITH POP.

Our red-carpet style reception kicks off at 6:00PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and movie theater concessions along with a special display of classic and collector cars before the auto-centric films take center stage at 7:00PM.

A hit with film buffs and automotive aficionados alike, our third installment of this annual exhibition returns to Hilton Head’s Coligny Theatre.

Event Schedule: 
6:00 PM – Red carpet reception & automobile displays
7:00 PM – Screening begins

•  Running With Pop - A short documentary that discovers how a dilapidated barn-find car can create a powerful family connection.  This rescued and lovingly restored 1967 Camaro Convertible with strong local ties is back on the road after a few years of hibernation.  
• No Limits - IMPOSSIBLE IS JUST A WORD about ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, who lost his legs, but not his spirit in an almost fatal crash in 2001 and now tackles the 24 Hours of Spa together with Timo Glock and Bruno Spengler. Never before has a handicapped driver competed in a race on this level with able-bodied drivers. Directed by Tim Hahne.
• Born Racer - A narrative on the unforgiving world of professional racing and the unique individuals who inhabit it. Filmed with an all access lens into the world of FIVE-time IndyCar champion and Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing.

9:45 PM – Event concludes