By MICHAEL GINGOLD

Joe Bob Briggs is going back to the drive-in in July, and he’s looking for new movies to bring with him.

Joe Bob’s Drive-In Jamboree will take place at the Mahoning Drive-In theater in Lehighton, PA on Friday-Sunday, July 16-18, and the first night will be devoted to Mutant Fest, a showcase for low-budget exploitation films made outside traditional financial support systems. Filmmakers are invited to submit both features and short movies, with no entry fee, via Film Freeway between now and May 1; two winning features and 10 shorts will be shown on the 16th, with Joe Bob hosting.

“The purpose of the festival,” he says, “is to bring attention to films that have no marketing budget. Some of these guys mortgage their homes to make the film, then discover they can’t get into the major festivals without spending several thousand dollars on the various fees charged—fees required simply for ‘consideration,’ guaranteeing nothing. We have a team set up to screen films continuously right up until the film submission cut-off date of May 1. We also have an educational component, with industry professionals conducting practical seminars on filmmaking with impossibly low budgets. These are basically ‘how to get stuff free’ classes.”

Virgil Cardamone, partner and chief programmer for the Mahoning Drive-In, adds, “We are thrilled to be able to showcase incredible indie talents and support young filmmakers with Mutant Fest each season! What could be cooler than seeing your work presented by Joe Bob Briggs and splashed on the legendary Mahoning screen!?”

The Jamboree will also include a live double-feature version of Joe Bob’s popular TV show, a family-friendly event with live zombies and monsters and daytime events such as bands, contests, vendors, sideshow attractions, and much more. For more info about the Mahoning Drive-In, which will have a full line-up of genre and other movies screening starting in April and throughout the summer, click here.