Well, we just enjoyed our first (and hopefully not last) film festival for Break-Up, Date and I couldn't be happier.  The movie played to a crowd of between 25-40 people on each screening (which doesn't sound like much, but for this Fest, that's a good sized crowd).  Heck, the movie could have had an audience of 5 and I'd be happy, so long as  a) they stay in their seats and don't become so bored or offended that they get up and leave in a tizzy, and b) they have a good time.

If my audience is happy, I'm happy and it seemed to me that everyone was happy.  Sure, we didn't win any Jury or Audience awards, but I'm just glad there were some butts in some seats.  Furthermore, people laughed at all the right places and seemed to really care about the characters on screen.  What more could I ask for? 

The Q&A sessions afterwards were fun.  On the Saturday screening, I was aided by co-producer Jean Rattle.  The screening was also attended by friends, family and singer-songwriter-participant Kitty Mortland.  On the Sunday afternoon, it was Jean, composer James Eric and documentary participant Doug Wilkinson-Gray.  People generally asked about the whereabouts of the people in the film and how we found them, how we discovered Cuddle Party, what was learned from the experience of making the film and how it came to be in the first place.

I look at this Festival as a test screening of sorts, since it really is the first time the movie played to the general public.  I think maybe a couple sequences can be trimmed a bit, but overall the movie seems to flow nicely with the crowd.  I think it really does live up to its description, that of a "romantic comedy in documentary form." 

I should also say that it's incredibly humbling to be a part of a strong line-up of documentary films playing at this festival.  I was able to see the very funny, charming and, at times, even dark Weiner Takes All, a doc about weiner dog racing and the  dogs' fanatical owners;  An Alternative to Slitting Your Writsts, which is like The Bucket List done right, as a young man makes a list of things he wants to do with his life while delaing with depression; the incredibly moving Jury Award winner Indestructable, about a man delaing with ALS, a fatal neurodgenerative disorder;  finally, A Soldeir's Peace, the Audience Award winner, about a US soldier who comes home from Iraq ready to protest the war by walking across the Republican state of Utah. 

These were the only films I was able to see while at the Fest, but I hope to see more on DVD in the future, if possible (or, even better, at another fest).   It's quite an honor to be in this company of brave, honest and talented filmmakers.

It was also a pleasure to be be preceeded by a the short film Janis: A Daughter's Portrait, but Sara Peak Convery (not Convoy), a wonderful experimental piece about Sara's mother talking about how she met Sara's father.

I also want to thank Nat Dykeman for putting together a wonderful film festival.  It was great having most of it in one central location.  The price of admission for the public was a real bargain and the atmosphere was very inviting and fun.  Great job all around to the LCFF staff and management.  Applause!!!

A big thanks to everyone who came out, either to see my movie or to support local film festivals and independent filmmakers. 

We're not alone!