The Connecticut Film Festival, one of the more important regional events devoted to indie filmmaking, is taking its act on the road, with a series of weekend mini-festivals around the state. The first is taking place this weekend in the central Connecticut town of Torrington. All screenings are held at the historic Warner Theater, an art deco gem from the great era of movie palaces.

The 3 day program, which mixes up film premieres, industry seminars and reception events, began on Friday afternoon with a program of award-winning short films. In the evening, the Festival reprised one of its most popular titles aand winner of the 2010 "Connecticut Grown Film" Award, that recognizes local filmmakers. HARVEST is an autumnal family drama starring Academy Award nominees Barbara Barrie and Robert Loggia as well as Tony Award winner Victoria Clark and newcomer Jack Carpenter. The writer/director Marc Meyers and actress Barbara Barrie were on hand for the festivities.

Other highlights of the program include a special screening of the winners of  the Los Angelees Comedy Shorts Film Festival; a double feature of nature documentaries by  National Geographic filmmaker and photographer Jon Bowermaster; the family flick THE SUMMER OF WALTER HACKS;  the indie gem CLEAR BLUE TUESDAY, a collaboration of 11 New York City musicians and actors with director Elizabeth Lucas; . the local premiere of WHAT IF....., a family drama by director Dallas Jenkins, starring Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger and Debby Ryan; and a reprise of SAMSARA, which won the Best Cinematography Award for dp Christo Bakalov.

One of the innovative events is the launch of a program that highlights short episodic series being produced directly for the internet. These 3-5 minute episodes (webisodes) are being put together by both industry veterans and fledgling newcomers in a style that is a creative mix of music videos, episodic television and innovate short filmmaking.

For more information on the program, visit: www.ctfilmfest.com

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Circuit Editor