The Oxford Film Festival is committed to not only showing quality films, but also to rewarding the filmmakers who've worked so hard to make them. We reward each winner with their own statuette. The Academy Awards might have their coveted "Oscar," but only winners of the Oxford Film Festival competition will be able to get their hands on a "Hoka." This means that in addition to receiving the respect of their peers, this yearís winners will be individually awarded statues to commemorate their achievements. The model for these unique award statues is the legendary Chickasaw Indian princess, Hoka. Famous locally as the namesake of the Hoka Theater and the subject of a celebrated series of paintings by Oxford artist Bill Lester, Hoka was an even greater figure in the Oxford of the past. "I came across Princess Hoka in the history of Lafayette County and was impressed that the first name on the land deed is a Native American, and a woman at that," said Ron Shapiro, owner of the now-defunct Hoka Theater. "I believe she represents Native Americans, women and independence in a very positive way." The task of sculpting the award statues fell into the capable hands of renowned sculptor and Ole Miss art professor Bill Beckwith. Oxonians might recognize Beckwithís work from the life-size William Faulkner statue that occupies a bench in front of Oxfordís city hall; or they might have peeked into Beckwithís spacious sculpture studio adjoining the popular Taylor Restaurant and Grocery. Since no pictures of Hoka have survived, Beckwith relied on his own imagination and the inspiration of Native American folk music to create a likeness that was, to him, "Öpowerful, feminine and self-contained." "I depicted her as a young Chickasaw Indian girl wrapped in a deerskin," said Beckwith, "Which is probably not accurate to the time period she lived in. The Chickasaw had lived with the white man for 300 years by then (the early-to mid-1800s) and had taken on their style of clothing." The statues themselves are 12-inch polymer sculptures painted to imitate bronze, using a method known as patina. The faux bronzing was even convincing enough to fool visitors to Beckwith's studio. "I had a mailman come into the studio and he couldnít believe the statues werenít bronze until he picked one up and felt how light it was," said Beckwith. Pieces such as the Hoka statues are personally significant to Beckwith, who has a fascination with, and a deep respect for, Native American culture. "I think they had a better way of life than we do now," said Beckwith, "We get so egotistical about the progress weíve made, but I donít think it has all been for the best." The award statues aren't Beckwith's first foray into American Indian subject matter; he has also been commissioned by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma to create a likeness of the revered Chief Piomingo. Whether a person is carving the features of a famous historical figure from a slab of clay or shooting a high concept, low-budget art film, Beckwith encourages people to tap into their creative sides. "I think God smiles when you're creative," said Beckwith. "You're happier, everything is better. It's like the Christian idea of being reborn." | 
