Westcliffe Digital Film Festival Announces Official Film Selections for First Annual Indie Fest
The premiere festival for showcasing truly independent, self-financed films originating on Digital Video releases the lineup of films that will be shown during the festival, August 27-29, 2004 in Westcliffe, Colorado.

The festival jury announced today the official selection of films that will comprise the 1st Annual Westcliffe Digital Film Festival.

They include:
Nicolas Jenkins - Crutchmaster (9:00)
Tom Florek - Gangsta Knitter (2:00)
Peter Devin - Rock & Roll Superhero (90:00)
Will Hart - Suiscribe (2:53)
Kevin Bruce - Case of Illness (19:00)
Jeannine Ross - Florida Fights Back (52:00)
Nick Checker - Radio Rage (25:30)
Craig Cobb - Ron on the Roof (6:30)
Rick Lunn - Angel's Ladies (121:00)
Brian Carpenter - The Call (23:30)
David Lachman - Flower to Flower (6.30)
Ryan Moser - A Will to Survive (13:45)
Adam Ashby - Illusion of Thickness (9:30)
Mad Martian - Broccoli Man (2:30)
Lise Ramos & Albert Carvajal - Capicu (30:00)
Scott Griessel - Trust the Chicken (5:00)

The Westcliffe Digital Film Festival is a unique festival that showcases the newest, freshest filmmakers who self-finance their vision and create truly independent feature and short films on digital video.

The festival will be held on Friday through Sunday, August 27-29 throughout Westcliffe (about 1.5 hours southwest of Colorado Springs).

It is different from most other film festivals--it has no sponsors, no gift bags, and no 4-star hotels (like Sundance and other Hollywood-lite festivals.)

This fest features real independent filmmakers, great films, lotsa parties, guest panels, more great films and sleeping under the stars at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

And most importantly, 100% of the profits from the festival go back to the filmmakers in the form of grants!

"I can tell you that the films that we have received as submissions are some of the most original and quality independent films I’ve ever had the pleasure to screen," said festival director, Kenneth Wajda.

One highlight will surely be the short film, “Trust the Chicken” from Green Valley, AZ filmmaker Scott Griessel. It’s a comedy, described as one man’s search for the truth. And does he ever find it. (Truth is a Fowl Master!)

Another film is New York filmmaker Nicolas Jenkins’s Crutch Master, a short documentary film about Bill Shannon, a NY performance artist/dancer whose disability is the soul of his career.

Gangsta Knitter, a music video/comedy from Tom Florek of Lambertville, NJ, combines rap with knitting to hilarious results.

A timely documentary is Jeannine Ross’ Florida Fights Back, a documentary on the debacle that was the Florida 2000 presidential election, told from the point of view of the residents.

From Stamford, CT, Peter O. Devin’s film Rock & Roll Superhero, about one person’s attempt at superstardom, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

From New York filmmakers Lise Ramos & Albert Carvajal comes Capicu, a romantic comedy that dares to correlate the game of dominoes to the complexities of love.

Thomas Richter, a Los Angeles filmmaker, debuts The Call, a thought-provoking thriller, at the festival.

Many of the filmmakers will be on hand at the festival to discuss their films and will be part of guest panel discussions on the new trends in cinema.

And there will be great parties to rub elbows with the filmmakers. Sangrita in Westcliffe will be the location of Friday’s opening night party and Sunday’s closing brunch. A BBQ is set for Saturday.

Screenings will take place in locations throughout Westcliffe. And Saturday night features an outdoor screening under the stars against the backdrop of the 14,000’ peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains.

The complete schedule of film screenings, parties and other events is online: http://WestcliffeDigitalFilmFestival.com
and if you’re a film lover, this is one local cinema event not to be missed.