Throughout its 16 years, the Oxford Film Festival has not been known to offer a variety of options when it comes to sports films, but next year will be different.

The Oxford Film Society announced it will offer a special screening of “It’s Time,” the dramatic telling of Ole Miss football player Chucky Mullins’ life. The movie will screen as part of the 17th Annual Oxford Film Festival’s opening night events on March 18 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Directed by Frank Waldeck and filmed in Mississippi, “It’s Time” chronicles the life of Mullins, leading up to the tragic on-field injury he sustained when he tackled Vanderbilt’s Brad Gaines on what seemed like a run-of-the-mill football play. The tackle led to Mullins being paralyzed from the neck down in 1989. Mullins eventually succumbed to his injuries years later, but has since become a symbol of hope for the Ole Miss football program and beyond.

“The Oxford Film Festival has always included a dedicated focus on the films made by our local filmmakers, as well as films that have told the stories that are close to home,” said Oxford Film Festival executive director Melanie Addington. “This is one of those stories that most everyone in Mississippi is familiar with and in many cases, has been touched by personally, in some way.”

The movie also covers the aftermath of Mullins unfortunate injury, and tells the story of how he and Gaines were forever linked together after that fateful late October day. Following the screening, there will be a discussion of the film with actors and some of the people they portray, including Gaines.

“It will be a wonderful evening for people in Oxford to come together to celebrate and honor a story and the people behind it that made a difference in so many lives – and continue to do so,” Addington said.

Tickets to the event are $75, and sponsorship packages are also available. Half of the proceeds will go to the Chucky Mullins Foundation, which awards scholarships to Ole Miss students with either physical disabilities or financial hardships. To purchase tickets or for more information, click here.