Festival to Showcase Filmmakers’ Work

Independent filmmakers will be in the spotlight at the first-ever Channel Islands Indie Film and Video Festival Nov. 13-15.

Organized by Es Tiempo Productions--a group of filmmakers, writers, actors, artists and community supporters--the event will showcase work by aspiring filmmakers in film and video formats.

Screenings will be held at the Paseo Camarillo Cinemas, Oxnard College and the Teatro Inlakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard, according to Luis Guereca, festival director.

“This is to showcase the work you may not see anywhere else,” Guereca said. “Some of the films I’ve seen have unique storytelling. We want to show a good variety of work, from student filmmakers to independent filmmakers.”

The festival will include a presentation of the 1950s film “Salt of the Earth,” a movie about the plight of Latino workers in a small New Mexico mining town.

Written by the late filmmaker Michael Wilson of Ojai, the film will be screened in its original 35-millimeter format. A tribute to Wilson--who made the film despite being blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee for his alleged communist ties--will take place.

Filmmakers will also screen “Touch Me,” a new independent feature film about a young woman about to enter a new relationship when she is told that a past lover is dying of AIDS.

All proceeds of ticket sales for “Touch Me” will be donated to a local AIDS organization, Guereca said. For a screening schedule and tickets, call 385-7844.