Festival Highlights Valley Films

The 11th Annual Valley Film Festival takes place at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks from Nov. 11 to 13. This year more than ever, the festival highlights films made in and around the San Fernando Valley area, said organizer Tracey Adlai. The comedy “Bad Actress,” a drama, “Few Options,” and the documentary “We Gotta Get Buscemi” are among the locally made feature films screening during the festival. Less expensive and easier to use cameras and equipment may be the reason more work being produced by independent filmmakers, Adlai said. “The Valley in general is an entertainment hub to begin with,” Adlai said. For many years the Valley Film Festival took place in September at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood arts district. In 2010, the festival moved to November and to a new location due to a scheduling conflict. Adlai is a graduate of the New York University film school and started the festival after realizing she wasn’t cut out to be a filmmaker. The annual event is Adlai’s way of staying connected to and promoting local filmmaking. A few films screened at past festivals were later released on DVD. The Valley Film Festival receives funding from Community Partners, a nonprofit charity, and in-kind donations from area businesses. While Sherman Oaks has welcomed the festival into the neighborhood, Adlai said she has struggled to find the ideal venue. Her preference would be a theater with about 200 seats and a lobby able to accommodate large groups of people for networking and panel discussions. “Part of the festival is hanging out and networking before and after the screenings,” Adlai said. “You cannot do that when you are in a traditional theater.” The Whitefire Theatre is located at13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. — Mark R. Madler