Join the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art for a night of fun, food and film as it hosts the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m.

The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a group of filmmakers, either from the south or producing films about the south, that travels on a regional tour to promote its independent films. This provides an opportunity for the filmmaker to discuss the major themes of the film with an audience.

This event is free and open to the public. Not only is this a great opportunity for the filmmakers, but the Auburn community can benefit from it as well.

“It’s a chance for the audience to get away from their DVDs, their televisions and their computers and come experience the film as a group,” said Sarah Whitley, intern at the museum. “It’s a way for the audience to connect with the filmmaker.”

The film being featured on Feb. 7 is “The Toe Tactic” by Emily Hubley. It follows the mission of a woman who travels to an alternate universe after her father’s death. It explores the interaction between humans and magical realms, while focusing on themes such as truth, memory and time.

This particular film has a slightly complex plot and has been shown at film festivals, including Sundance and South by Southwest. It was also the first-time recipient of the Brendan P. Kelly Award at the Newport International Film Festival.

Following the film, coffee and dessert will be served, and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions concerning the film.

The museum has hosted this tour before and will feature more independent films in the next couple of months. On March 6, the museum will show “A Good Man” by Bob Hercules and Gordan Quinn, and on April 10, “My Perestroika” by Robin Hessman will be featured.

Since independent films are produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system, they don’t always receive a lot of attention. However, the museum seeks to highlight the independent filmmakers’ efforts and feature their talent.

“The museum, being a non-profit organization, likes to support all different types of art whether it’s paintings, drawings, from dance to music to poetry,” said Whitley. “We like to give the Auburn arts community a diverse range of different types of art.”