The 24th annual Valley Film Festival screened more than 70 films and hosted professional development panels for eight days this month. Juried Ten Degrees Hotter and audience awards were announced at a ceremony hosted at Hennessey Studios in North Hollywood’s Arts District. The district and San Fernando Valley are part of Los Angeles.

The Ten Degrees Hotter awards went to “The Ghost Trap” for best U.S. narrative feature, “Ciurè” for best international narrative feature and “American Pot Story: Oaksterdam” for best documentary feature. Short film honors from the festival went to “Broad Daylight” for best narrative short and “Speaking with the Ancestors” for best documentary short, with an honorable mention for the documentary “An Unlikely Mermaid.”

In summers, high temperatures in the daytime are around 10 degrees warmer than the rest of Los Angeles’ west side, according to Ivo Welch.

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The 2nd annual Vermont Film Festival, held from Thursday, July 25 to Sunday, July 28, was filled with three days of films. The festivities included comedic shorts, a lively DJ Dave Dance Party, an industry event, and the festival concluded with a wrap-up party on Sunday night.
Winners
Best Short Comedy
“Viva Extra” — Written and Directed by Kevin Samar

Best Short Drama
“10 Minutes to Showtime” — Written and Directed by Logan Keefe

Best Thriller
“Grafton” — Directed by Bryan Santiago

Best Documentary
“Bearing Witness: A Name And A Voice” — Directed by Dina Jane Rudick

Best Feature Comedy
“Mother Father Sister Brother Frank” — Written and Directed by Caden Douglas

Best Feature Drama
“The Ghost Trap” — Directed by James Khanlarian

Most Vermont
“Connected” — Directed by Chad Ervin

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Besides being the Centerpiece Film of The Maine International Film Festival, we will be in four other film festivals this summer. In between, K. Stephens will be doing book signings. See below for dates and times.