Independent films from around the country have come to Knoxville.

The new millennium marks the second year for Knoxville’s independent film

festival, Valleyfest, presented by Euphoric Productions, Inc. and Regal

Cinemas.

This year Valleyfest promises to be quite an exciting event. The festival

takes place over a four-day period which begins today and continues through

Sunday, March 12. Valleyfest will be showing nine feature films, 43 short

films, seven documentaries and seven animations by filmmakers from all

over. All screenings will be shown at the Regal Cinemas’ Downtown West

Cinema 8.

A wide variety of genres will be shown, including comedies, dramas and

experimental films that are not quite as mainstream and deal with mature

topics or include an edgier film-making technique.

A festival just isn’t a festival without festivities, and Valleyfest is no

lightweight in this department. There will be a party Friday at Cinema

Grill. This gathering will feature a special screening of the short film

Nausea – a project shot entirely on location right here in Knoxville

and utilizing local cast and crew. The Cinema Grill’s kitchen and bar will

be open for business as usual during the party.

Sunday will see the Awards Dinner and Ceremony at Fairbanks Roasting Room.

Academy Award-nominated Producer Peter Wentworth will be a speaker at the

dinner.

Along with all the films and festivals, there will be plenty of workshops

for anyone interested. Many different categories of workshops will be

hosted, including, “Writing Screenplay,” “The Business of Film – Emphasis

on Rights and Clearances” and “Independent Production.” All workshops will

be held Thursday at the Wyndham Garden Hotel on Market Place Lane.

Tickets for each feature film or block of shorts are $6 and will only be

available prior to each screening, and workshop tickets are $10 each. But

if you’re interested in going to see the entire event, all access passes

that allow entrance to all festivities and screenings are available at all

Cat’s Music locations in Knoxville and Oak Ridge.

For more information, including synopses of the films and a schedule, you

can log on to www.valleyfest.com or call 865-971-1792.