The 7th Annual Almost Famous Film Festival is almost here. All you have to do is take a theme, a line of dialogue, a prop and 48 hours and you too can be the next Grand Prize winner. The top 20 films will be screened March 3 at the AMC Arizona Center 24. I hope you’re making plans to join the party!
It all starts at Majerle’s Friday Feb. 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
At the kickoff party, this year’s theme, line of dialogue and prop will be revealed. Then you have 48 hours with your team to rehearse film and edit your entry. If you don’t have a team, you can join one at the party.  Don’t be shy, just come join the fun! 
I thought you’d like to hear the inside scoop from last year’s winner of the best actress award, Annie Boon, who is now “living the dream” in  Los Angeles. Yes, future stars, dreams really do come true and it could happen to you by joining the kickoff party at Majerle’s.
Boon said because of the A3F and the Phoenix film community she was able to jump right in, get an agent and work on three different sitcoms.  “From the kickoff party to the rehearsal to the shooting and editing, the entire experience was an overwhelmingly positive one.  The weekend is one I’ll never forget and I’m so grateful to have a short film to show for it.  I encourage every actor, especially those just starting out to participate in A3F. I’ve been on some major sets at Fox, Warner Brothers, Paramount and Sony. Without that experience from A3F and learning to work fast and communicate with fellow cast and crew I wouldn’t have landed on my feet. The festival definitely helped push me toward my goal and I am so grateful to Jae for that opportunity.”
Actually it’s not just the actors from the A3F Festival that are getting famous.
Diane Dresback, a writer, director and producer who has participated in several of founder Jae Staat’s festivals called me from the road where she was scouting locations for a major motion picture she wrote. Dresback and director Bivas Biswas are planning to start production later this month.
Biswas and Dresback worked together on Veil which placed in the Top 20 in last year’s 48-Hour Challenge.  Dresback said that the Almost Famous Film Festival was a great experience and gives artists a wonderful chance to network with other professionals and learn their craft.  Also, the support given by Staats as well as the professionalism and great showcasing made it a valuable experience.  In fact, she and her son are entering together this year so you can meet her and her team as well.
The great reviews just keep on coming.  Phil Bradstock, head of the Phoenix Film Office said A3F was a quality platform for artists to gain traction in the business and get themselves great exposure. Bradstock says “The Festival is top notch and helps Phoenix to be seen by L.A. as a great place to film.  Downtown Phoenix can look like L.A. and with our lower permit fees and experienced cast and crews we can provide a full service industry locally.  That means more jobs and money coming into our state and our local economy.” 
The management at Majerle’s agrees. Majerle’s is proud to sponsor The A3f for the seventh time because of the positive outlook it puts on our new urban Downtown. Manager A.J. Sulka says, “We want people to come and film Downtown and then stay and play here too.”  I don’t know about you, but I’m taking Sulka’s advice.
See you Feb. 18.  I’ll be the starlet in the corner watching all the action!!
For more info on signing up for The Almost Famous Film Festival please visit www.thea3f.net .