A pre-dawn dusting of snow fell on southern Oregon, wrapping Ashland like a gift.  Morning’s bright sun melted white back to green to reveal the start of the 10th Ashland Independent Film Festival.  By midday, the endless crisp, blue sky instead hung low, grey, and ominous.  A freakish snow squall swirled around the queue in front of the Varsity waiting for the first slate of films, then the clouds lifted and the world shone bright again. Those changes - from cheery to dreary and b...

5th Annual International Film Festival Summit December 7-9, 2008 Las Vegas Congratulations to the 2008 Excellence Award Honorees The Excellence Awards are the only awards that honor and pay tribute to the dedicated professionals and executives managing film festivals. Festivals continue to provide a vital intersection where the major stakeholders in the entertainment industry converge. For decades the tireless work of the film festival professional has made monumental impacts on the indus...

5TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SUMMIT DECEMBER 7-9, 2008 LAS VEGAS2008 Excellence Award Honorees were handed by Ernie Hudson at the Las Vegas HiltonThe Excellence Awards are the only awards that honor and pay tribute to the dedicated professionals and executives managing film festivals. Festivals continue to provide a vital intersection where the major stakeholders in the entertainment industry converge. For decades the tireless work of the film festival professional has made monumental ...

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7, 2008 11:00am Registration Opens 1:45pm- 2:00pm Welcoming Remarks & Introductions 2:00pm- 2:45pm Opening Keynote Presentation: Indie Films' Change Agenda Rick is the CEO of SnagFilms, a new digital distribution company founded by AOL Vice-Chairman EmeritusTed Leonsis, and backed by Leonsis, AOL founder Steve Case and others. Launched in July, 2008, SnagFilms gives everyone the latest in web tools to find, watch and share great documentary films and then engag...