SHERMAN OAKS—The Valley Film Festival (VFF) presented awards to its participants this November 13 in Sherman Oaks. The festival, founded and organized by New York University alumna Tracey Adlai, honors local filmmakers and offers opportunities to network with peers while enjoying new films. Thirty-four different shorts and features were screened in front of an audience from November 11-13.

Tracy Adlai and Aaron Kaiser, emcee and host. Photo courtesy The Valley Film Festival.

In its 11th year, the Valley Film Festival, a nonprofit organization, began as a way to showcase the talent of the San Fernando Valley. Though Hollywood is world-renowned for movies, many famous films have been shot or have studios located in the valley. VFF is the first film festival of its kind in the area, but not exclusive to local talent alone. Submissions are accepted both from the surrounding areas and internationally, including Spain and the United Kingdom.

This year’s submissions, including feature length films and shorts, were shown in Whitefield Theatre on the corner of Ventura and Sunnyside. The intimate size and location elevated the atmosphere and mood at the prize ceremony. Chris Roth, a film editor involved with the VFF since 2007, told Canyon News, “The festival is a great opportunity for filmmakers to network. This doesn’t happen in Hollywood.”

The audience awards, chosen by viewers who came that weekend, reflect the general appeal of the shorts or features. The winners for Audience Awards were as follows: Best Alumni Short: "Mine," directed by Greg Thompson; Best Dramatic Short: "Ghosts of Syllables," directed by Javier Grillo-Marxuach; Best Comedy Short: "Fish!," directed by Mark Eccleston and Damian Samuels; Best Girls On Film (a category devoted to female directors): "Beyond Essays," directed by Jules Dameron.

Adlai and the other panelists used a fair, intensive judging process to score and choose the winners in the 10 Degrees Hotter section, named so “because it’s always 10 degrees hotter in the Valley,” said Adlai. The winners for the 10 Degrees Hotter section include: Best Documentary: "Adventures in Plymptoons," directed by Alexia Anastasio; Best Short Flim: "The Secret Friend," directed by Flavio Alves; Best Feature: "Bad Actress," directed by Robert Lee King.

Tracy Adlai and Aaron Kaiser, emcee and host. Photo courtesy The Valley Film Festival.

There’s a sense of belonging within the group. “It’s definitely community-oriented,” Greg Thompson, one of the winners that night, said to Canyon News. “Other festivals are disjointed, unlike tonight’s,” he added. “I feel very relaxed screening my short here,” fellow director and producer Ester Brym told Canyon News. “The films are also of substance and quality,” several directors remarked.

Everyone involved, regardless of their role, was in good spirits and wholeheartedly praised the festival. "For me, it means more, because it's the first time that a film of mine is screened in L.A.," said Giannis Georgiou, the director of "Two Broken Hearts," who submitted his short from the U.K. “[The whole experience] was fantastic,” Eddie McGee, former Big Brother winner and co-star of "The Human Race," to be released in 2012, added.

Tracey Adlai’s mother, Marciana Saint-Jean, has supported her throughout her career. “I’m so happy [Tracey’s] efforts paid off.” Adlai, who graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of Arts, promotes and encourages alumni to network and get involved. Because the VFF is not-for-profit, they depend heavily on hardworking volunteers who sacrifice their spare time to help make the festival possible.

 “[The festival’s] about appreciating and highlighting the Valley and its hidden talent,” Adlai told Canyon News after the event. The VFF will return to the San Fernando Valley next year, marking its 12th year screening independent films from both the valley and other parts of the world.

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