Photo provided

Along with the many independent films to be showcased at the upcoming California Independent Film Festival (CAIFF) to be held at the Orinda Theater April 22nd through the 25th, the festival will also screen thirty three-minute short films created by Bay-area filmmakers in just 24 hours.

The Iron Filmmaker Contest, which has been a part of the festival for the past eight years, is a high energy, zany competition open to anyone with a video camera from industry veterans to the video neophyte. With a contest model similar to the Iron Chef competitions ubiquitous to the television scene, the Iron Filmmaker Contest will challenge filmmakers to create a three-minute film that includes three secret ingredients. "It's really exciting for these filmmakers to see their movies on a big screen like the one in Orinda's main theater," states Beau Behan, Program and Promotions Director for the CAIFF.

Contestants will be given the list of three ingredients at the contest kick-off on the morning of April 17th. "They have until the next morning, 24 hours later, to create a film where these three elements are evident," states Behan; contestants return the following morning to turn in their completed films in a DVD format. The films will be judged and a winner, runner-up, and audience choice prizes will be awarded. "This definitely fosters the growth of the young filmmakers out there," adds Behan.

Contestants must register online at the CAIFF website to participate (www.caiff.org); the first thirty registrants will have the opportunity to compete and have their short film screened at the festival.