After months of writing, planning, casting, shooting, directing, editing and dozens of other tasks, Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking students are ready to show their films to the public.

Along with the students’ thesis films will be seven alumni films, eight high school films and six 2011 award winners’ films, said Rue, the institute’s program director.

“We have more than 30 films for the whole festival. We had so many really good high school submissions — more than 40 from across the state,” Rue said. “Our class this year is very interesting. It’s smaller than other years but packed with talent.”

An indication was the screen writing awards given by Dan Gordon. He usually gives three, maybe four but his year, he gave seven, she said.

For the full story, see the Friday, May 18, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.