Valleyfest was a movie lover’s paradise.

The film festival, hosted by Regal Cinemas and Euphoric Productions Inc.,

came to a close Sunday night. However, before the final awards were handed

out, patrons enjoyed a variety of independent films and parties

galore.

Valleyfest showed a great kick-off party on Wednesday night at Barley’s in

the Old City. Tickets and passes gained one access to an evening of music

and good company with other Valleyfest patriots. The party kept everyone

happy with free pizza and good tunes as the blues band,Slow Blind

Hill, played the night away.

Thursday saw the first night of screenings with a few short films as well

as the first feature film. At the end of the day, the filmmakers held a

mixer at the Cinema Grill with a special showing of the short film

Nausea, which featured a local cast and crew.

Friday saw the first full day of screenings, featuring two films, lots of

shorts and some documentaries that ran from 10 a.m. until midnight.

Saturday took claim to some very interesting happenings. As with all

organized events, some things are bound to go wrong, but the Valleyfest

staff managed to pull together and solve the dilemmas that were incurred

with professionalism and ease. The workshop “Independent Production,” which

was scheduled for Saturday, was delayed until Sunday morning, but was then

later canceled due to Mr. Wentworth’s inability to attend.

Amidst all this ruckus, Alex Murphy, who headed “The Business of Film:

Revisited- Emphasis on Rights and Clearances” workshop, was kind enough to

step forward and take Mr. Wentworth’s place as keynote speaker at the

awards ceremony on Sunday. To top off the day’s activities, a general mixer

was held at Grady’s Restaurant on North Peters Road.

Sunday was the final day of Valleyfest with the animation block, a

documentary, and a film in the morning and afternoon. In the evening,

Valleyfest held the Award’s Ceremony at the Fairbanks Roasting Room. Alex

Murphy did a great job as keynote speaker as the staff and patrons said

goodbye to Valleyfest 2000.

All in all Valleyfest was definitely worth the time and money. Some great

independent films that may have otherwise never been seen anywhere were on

the big screen with a captive audience. Some of the most memorable films

were Grazer, the story of a junk food fanatic who falls for a health

nut; Last Chance, the story of the struggling relationship of a

husband and wife who run a small café; and The Hook-Armed Man, a

short film about a sociopath who seeks redemption and reform through the

graveyard shift at a gas station. Anyone who is going to be in town this

time next year should make plans to attend Valleyfest.