DURANGO, Colo. – Fans of cinema delight. The Durango Independent Film Festival returns to the Historic Downtown for a five day-run beginning Feb. 27.

More than 100 diverse films – from features to short shorts – will be screened at the Gaslight and Abbey theaters, with additional filmmaker events and salons adding to the festivities.

“It is a wonderfully diverse film festival run by the community for the community,” said Sophie Hoyt Parrott, DIFF committee member in charge of Feature Films. “It opens people’s minds to some topics that they wouldn't otherwise know about, and brings great film, not just the blockbusters to town.” 

The films, which were both submitted and solicited, were selected by the DIFF screening committees from a field of more than 300, and chosen for a variety of reasons, including a “fit” with Durango audiences.

“One of the new things we did was come up with the top five reasons filmmakers should submit to our festival,” said Joanie Fraughton, Festival coordinator. “And that ran on Indiewire.com, which is a national independent filmmakers web site that they review to get the news about film festivals.”

The online notices were posted during larger festivals such as Sundance, AFI Fest in Los Angeles and Telluride. Plus the committee placed advertisements in Filmmaker magazine to get the word out to as many independent filmmakers as possible.

According to Parrot the committee sought, “Diversity and raw talent from the film makers, sometimes with topics stirring up a little controversy. We like to have a mixture of screenings so that there is something for everybody, and every age group. I admire a film that has a great story, flows beautifully, has superb acting and is shot well by the director. Scenically beautiful films with great soundtracks are a plus, but if the story is good enough, then that can carry the film alone.” 

“We have a lot of great films this year,” said Fraughton. “There are not as many features, and we tend to be a little heavier on the docs this year. And we have three great short programs this year. Michele (Malach) and her team have split them up into experimental and animated shorts, conflict shorts and relationship shorts. They found that they grouped together by theme, a common thread. And there are a lot of shorts playing in front features this year.”

Of the feature-length films, Parrot sites “Ninas Mal” (Bad Girls) as one of her favorites.

“It is the first feature film to come out of Buena Vista Columbia Tristar Pictures, which is a brand new merged company from Mexico,” said Parrot. “It is about exploding emotions, rebellion and femininity.” 

She also lauds “The Passage,” the first feature film directed by Mark Heller, and produced by Lynette Howell of Silverwood Films, both of whom attended drama school with Parrot in England. Reportedly visually stunning and a film that touches all the senses, “The Passage” is of the caliber to go nationwide, according to Parrot.

“We do have an important feature film called ‘Road to Victory,’” added Fraughton. “This has been a topic that’s been in the news – the steroid use. It’s very interesting.”

She also stressed the good balance with the documentaries, a wide variety to appeal to a diverse range of moviegoers. Children’s programming is included, as is a reprise of the “schools program,” where DIFF will be taking films to Durango High School and Ignacio Intermediate. School children will also be attending screenings on Friday at the DIFF venues.

“So many community members are involved with the festival in some way, be it on the board of staff, a volunteer or a sponsor,” said Parrot, highlighting Presenting sponsor Glacier Club and Abbey sponsor Three Springs. “Local restaurants and businesses also join in and enjoy hosting parties, dinners and generally spreading the word. The festival creates a buzz, which Durango needs in order to keep up with the other festivals in surrounding areas. We are growing bigger and better every year thanks to everyone's generous support and involvement.”

Economically, the DIFF is a boost to the town at a traditionally slow period. As of this posting more than 240 rooms had been booked, and though it is difficult to gauge how many individuals will be viewing films, the colloquial “butts in seats” number is expected to exceed the 4,627 of last year, according to Fraughton.

“We were up 21 percent last year over ‘06,” she said, noting that seven of the shows sold out. “I think we’ll be up and have more sell-outs. We’ve pre-sold more passes than in the past and with the number of filmmakers coming… We have 41 films being represented this year.”

The filmmakers, who hail from throughout the world, often come with something of an entourage, and many never knew Durango existed.

The only DIFF "staff" are Kaiya Dewey White (L), administrative coordinator, and Joanie Fraughton, Festival director.

“It’s fun to get them here, and they love it,” said Fraughton. “Last year we had some filmmakers go up skiing for the first time ever, and you can still pull that video up on their MySpace page.”

“Film makers travel far and wide to attend the DIFF due to our fabulous location,” confirmed Parrot. “There are also some local filmmakers who will be in this year’s festival so we are able to give them a plateau to audiences and other industry folk who may help with exposure.”

Indeed, DIFF is a competitive festival, featuring local and national jurors including producer/director Bill Kern, filmmakers Mark and Chris Bonn and Natalie McMenemy, AFI Fest (Los Angeles) director of operations and productions. Local celebrities Charlie Dierkop, Charlie Langdon and Ericka Curlee are also on the list

“We’ll also have a newcomer to our area who has moved here from Los Angeles, Michael Haddad,” said Fraughton. “He’s the author of The Screenwriter’s Sourcebook and contributing editor to Hollywood Scriptwriter magazine.”

Awards will be presented Sunday at an event reserved for the filmmakers, sponsors and invited guests.

Festival-goers will have opportunity to “meet the makers” at the free events held throughout the town (see insert below), and they will be on hand at their films for post-screening Q&A from the audience.

When attending DIFF films, consensus is to buy a pass and arrive early. Sponsors, providing they arrive 20 minutes prior to show time have first priority seating, along with those who purchas full pass for $199 and are considered “First Tier.” The 10-punch pass holders are Second Tier and next to be seated. Fraughton sees the 10-punch pass for $75 as the best value.

“Even if you think you’re only going to come to four or five films, you can bring a guest on that punch pass,” she said. “Go to (the official ticket office) Magpie’s beginning on Monday and buy a punch pass, or they are available on-line (www.durangofilm.org) through Sunday, Feb. 24.”

Individual tickets are $8 each, and a new offering is the Two for Ten (dollar) coupon – an incentive for two people to attend showings at either 9 a.m., 9 p.m. or noon.

Free Movie Night, sponsored by the Durango Herald, will be held Wednesday, and is open to the community. Originally four films were slated to be screened, but Fraughton added a fifth.

“I got a phone call from this filmmaker from Ireland,” explained Fraughton. “And we had accepted his film last year, and the whole committee loved it – this quirky little Irish film. But the premier needed to be in Dublin, and it got pushed back to after our festival so we couldn’t get it.”

The film, “Speed Dating,” is currently on the national festival circuit and available, but DIFF’s programming was complete when the filmmaker called. Because of the quality of the film, however, it was added to Free Movie Night at 4 p.m., and that will be the only showing of the film.

Recognized for its “outdoor” activities, Durango had never been thought of as “movie town” per se, and when Eric Burke organized the original festival in 2001, some had doubts that it would succeed. However, as DIFF committee member Michelle Mallach, who was involved with the first festival, noted in an earlier interview when the festival was restructured as the DIFF in 2006, “People (in Durango) are starved for culture and if you provide it, they will come.”

To review the program on-line, visit www.durangofilm.org, or during the festival, visit the kiosk (beginning on Monday) at the corner of Main Ave. and 5^th (across from the Gaslight) for event information and printed programs.

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indiana@durangodowntown.com