GLENDALE, Calif., Feb, The 168 Film Festival, one of the pioneers behind the "speed filmmaking" phenomenon sweeping the nation's film production and theater/arts communities, will return to the landmark Alex Theatre here Sat. Mar. 24 as part of a two-day exhibition of 60 short films communicating a variety of thought-provoking and personally uplifting stories inspired by passages from the Bible, it was announced by 168 Hour Film Project founder and executive director John Ware.
For this year's "Decisions and Destiny"-themed edition, "the 168" -- named for the number of hours in one week, which is exactly how long the filmmakers have to shoot and edit their work -- has added an additional evening playdate Fri. Mar. 23 at the Stars Art Theatre to accommodate the expanded program.
The weekend screenings of what represents the 5- to 10-min. films' first public exhibition will be capped by a star-studded awards presentation Sat. Mar. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Alex, determined by a panel of industry judges that includes director Cory Edwards ("Hoodwinked") and television producer Marilyn Gill ("BET Live," Eddie Murphy Productions).
Like the popular 48 Hour Film Festival now in its 10th year, the five-year-old 168 is a timed filmmaking competition, with "just enough room for the filmmakers to put the finishing touches on their submissions so the pieces don't look rushed," according to Ware.
Adds producer and 168 board member Ralph Winter ("X-Men," "Fantastic Four"), "It's like a management retreat and you've got 168 hours to figure how to work together."
With Hollywood studios actively embracing more spiritual themes (e.g., "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Evan Almighty") -- even establishing whole divisions such as Fox Faith -- the 168's filmmaking teams, both past and present, pro or amateur, are discovering an industry increasingly more receptive to their work.
Many 168-produced films over the years have gone on to win awards at other festivals, such as director and Mike Figgis' "Time Code" camera operator Jim O'Keeffe's 2004 Best Film "Max" (Damah Film Festival 2004 Best Short Film up to 15 min., Sabaoth International Film Festival 2004 Best Short) and director Jason Rodriguez' 2006 entry "Day of Reckoning" (International Family Film Festival 2007 Best Dramatic Short).
And while the 168 can boast "Home Improvement" producer David McFadzean and TV's "Smallville" writer and co-producer Luke Schelhaas among its past judges and contestants, respectively, it also counts complete outsiders such as a doctor, sand sculptor and a standup comic among its filmmaking alumni.
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