Just South and Sideways of Sundance in the Cowboy Wine Country town of Paso Robles, California,  promoter Benford Standley is bringing back his unique independent film festival for a second-year run.  Last year's festival was honored to host actor-director Clint Eastwood, Oscar-winning film editor Joel Cox, producer Nigel Sinclair, and a wide slate of fantastic independent films and filmmakers. Four days of films and music in 2008 featured greats like Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Johnny Rivers, Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin, Kevin Bacon, Kyle Eastwood, and many others. 
 
For the festival's second year, plans are four hours of 'live' Internet 'streaming video' broadcasts.  Multi-platform Social Network outlets will include YouTube, FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, and more, with a broad-spectrum of coverage in these new media.  thePDFF has also formed an alliance with B-Side Entertainment, and their audience of 4-million users, with a highly interactive film programming and festival schedule service, the Internet work and cutting edge of the festival has
given it a top position on the web when you google "digital film festival" the PDFF.com is on top of the world, and a true multimedia online event.
 
With four World Premiers, and in typical P.T. Barnum-fashion, Standley is gathering a parade of music acts few similar festivals can boast of.  Friday and Saturday will set the stage with a theme of 'MUSIC IN FILM', with the MUSIC IN MEDIA AWARD going to the legendary producer Joel Diamond, and the likes of Dave Somerville, co-founding member of the world famous Diamonds, as MC for a Doo-Wop Saturday with Gary Busey, Chris Montez, Sonny Curtis, and special guests.  Another special music treat is an appearance by Dr. Wachtang "Botso" Korisheli, to receive the Paderewski Life Time Achievement Award.
 
Friday's music is with the Jack Tempchin Band and special guests, and actor/activist/musician Max Gail, comedian Charlie Hill, John Andrew Parks with actor Robert Carradine, and more special guests.  Award winning magician, Rich Ferguson, will be appearing--like magic him self--throughout the festival.  A special tribute to the 'father of the electric-guitar', Les Paul, is planned, with the help of Steve Miller Band guitar player Kenny Lewis.  (Paul was to have been part of the festival, but recently passed away.)
 
From the world of film and media, the likes of , Oscar nominated actress Kathleen Quinlan, Max Gail, Gary Conway; Academy of Television Arts and Science board member Conrad Bachman; show business legend Oscar Arslanian; award winning filmmaker Chris Felver; media entrepreneur Chris Andrews, marathon runner Tim Boreland, George Wilkins, composer in residence at Walt Disney, and many other Characters of the biz of entertainment.
 
But another very important part of the Digital Film Festival this year, as the theme for Sunday and Monday, is a focus on 'THE STATE AND FATE OF CHILDREN'.  The Festival will screen some powerful documentaries that show the suffrage of abused and neglected children and youth; cover the subjects of autism, runaway, homeless, and missing children; and honor some great filmmakers, journalists, and producers who cover these urgent concerns on film, television, and the Internet.  Festival Producer Standley is deeply dedicated to shedding light in the darkness for millions of homeless, runaway, and missing children, the abused, the autistic, and those who fall between the cracks, sadly, in historic numbers, here in the United States. 
 
"In the spirit of 'We Are The World', 'Farm Aid', and other great events where artists and creative people gather to help raise money and awareness for important causes, we shall ride that train," he said. "Film and media can help educate and bring about the awareness and understanding needed to help."  Among the guests who will 'face the dragon' of child-abuse in panel discussions and as speakers will be:
    
Ken Kragen, a former Paso Robles resident, co-creator and executive producer of 'We Are the World' and 'Hands Across America' for the homeless, will be honored with the festival's Humanitarian Award, for his work in entertainment, and efforts to help so many in need with his beneficial projects.  Mark Lunsford will be a keynote speaker. He became a national spokesman and a true American hero to so many for his endless work for child safety after his 9 year-old daughter Jessica was raped and murdered by a convicted sex-offender. The result of his work was Jessica's Law, which has been enacted by California and 39 states.  Another keynote speaker is Erin Runnion, the mother of kidnapped and murdered Samantha Runnion. 
 
This powerful forum includes, Dr. Lois Lee, Director of 'Children of the Night' in Los Angles, her associate, Oscar and Globe awards-nominated actress and children's rights advocate, Kathleen Quinlan, William Bronston M.D., CEO and founder of Tower of Youth, and principal architect of the Digital Arts Studio Partnership Program, Maureen Blaha, Executive Director of the National Runaway Switchboard, Rich Ferguson Magician and Kid advocate, Phillip Hain, Ex. Dir, Los Angeles Autism Speaks, Alison Hurst, Venice Outreach Dir, Stand Up For Kids, Lori Lite, Author and Dir. of Stress Free Kids, Vikky Mullin, Dir. of Singing Hands, Paso Robles, Max Gail Actor, activist and media expert,  Aaron Guerraro, Hollywood Dir, Stand Up For Kids, Julianne Yamamoto King, Dir/Producer Beautiful Son, Diane Nilan, Pres, Hear Us Inc., Dir. My Own 4 Walls, Judy Ranan, Executive Dir. of Stand Up For Kids, John Reid, Executive Dir. of Child Help AND MANY MORE CONCERNED OVER THE STATE AND FATE OF CHILDREN