Albany FilmFest 2012: Still Open for Entries from Filmmakers of All Ages

[Editor's Note: This story has been re-posted because it included the wrong information about when this festival takes place. Mark your calendars for the correct date, March 3.]

"We’re the little film festival that could," said Jeremy Allen, program coordinator for tiny Albany, California's innovative cable station, “and we’re back to do it again this year.”

The East Bay Express called the “one of the top five events not to miss in the East Bay” when it premiered. “It took on a life of its own—Academy Award winner Les Blank was one of our judges—and succeeded way beyond our expectations,” said Allen. “This year will be even better.”

Albany FilmFest 2012 is calling for independent short film and video entries from filmmakers of all ages to premier at a juried festival on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Winners will vie for cash awards and trophies.

“This is a great opportunity for first-time filmmakers as well as professionals to showcase their work,” said Allen. “In fact, last year’s Grand Prize winner, Zoe Salnave, was a local student who entered and won with her first documentary film, Come to the Table, which was also screened at the White House.”

All genres are welcome. Categories include Narrative Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short (all 30 minutes or less), and Tiny Films (under three minutes). “We also have A special category, ‘My Own Private Albany,’ inviting filmmakers to show us their personal vision of our one-square-mile city,” Allen said. And just like last year, there are two special youth categories for young filmmakers.

Selected films will be screened for audiences at the festival, shown on KALB, and streamed on demand on Albany’s website, accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.

“Get started now!” said Allen. “We can’t wait to see what happens.”

For more information, visit http://www.Albanyfilmfest.org.