Editor

DancesWithFilms, the only film festival championing the UN-celebrity of the truly independent film scene, arrives in Anchorage to OutNorth for four days of shorts that are currently setting the festival circuit on fire.

DancesWithFilms, the first U.S. festival to premiere KUSAH HAKWAAN – the first Alaskan feature film made by an Alaskan (Sean Morris) and shot entirely in Alaska – will bring a series of its best short films from 2007 to Out North ending with this year's Grand Jury Award winner A BOUT DE TRUFFE from the UK.

Year 10 of DancesWithFilms found the fest bigger and better than ever with over seventy films culled from more than a thousand entries around the world. Festival rules still require that all competition films have no "known" actors, directors, writers or producers. Working actors are not excluded, however. This ballsy motto and the brazen promise has done well for this feisty festival.

"We give enormously talented people a shot at being discovered," says Leslee Scallon, one of the festival's founders. "The other festivals are busy programming mostly celebrity oriented films. It's not that we're dissing celebrities, we're simply giving talented filmmakers a chance to be seen on the circuit."

The screening line-up includes: A BOUT DE TRUFFE, HAPPILY EVER AFTER, NEW TO LAUNDRY, STABBING STUPIDITY, TWILIGHT'S GRACE, ZACK'S MACHINE, PHOENIX AND TURTLE and the festival produced 2Minute, 2Step Short Film Challenge winner, JAMES LIPTON IS DEAD.

"We are thrilled to have DWF back at Out North!," says Michael Huelsman of the cultural arts organization, "this is our third year of what is always an amazingly fun and insightful glimpse into the world of independent cinema."

Past DWF alumni include Arie Posin & Zac Stanford of THE CHUMSCRUBBER; Kathryn Morris, star of CBS's COLD CASE; Dan Harris writer of X-2, SUPERMAN RETURNS and LOGAN'S RUN, Lauren Moews, producer of CABIN FEVER, which made over $20 million at the box office; Will Scheffer and Mark V. Olsen, creators of HBO's smash hit, BIG LOVE as well as having premiered short films that were later nominated for Oscars®.

On a final note, screenings are beginning to sell-out, so if you plan on attending make sure to buy tickets in advance. Tickets are $7 online or $10 at the door. It's not something you want to miss out on! For more information, please visit www.outnorth.org.

Synopsis and more information for all the films and DWF are on the DWF website at www.danceswithfilms.com

As DancesWithFilms alumni, Will Scheffer & Mark Olsen said, "DWF manages to keep its focus on heart and soul while still putting small films on the map."