Last year we debuted the new Green and Extreme Sports categories, and audiences were thrilled and informed by the outstanding films in these two competitions. This year, we are launching another new category, Faith-Based films.

The earlybird deadline is June 15, so take advantage of discounted submission fees by beating that date. (But don’t worry, the final deadline isn’t until September…)

Please see the submissions page for more details.

As of April, 7, 2010, Mammoth Mountain has received over 41 feet (493 inches) of snowfall this season including more than three feet of snow in the first week of April. With a current base depth of 11 feet to 15 feet of snow, Mammoth is experiencing the best snowfall season since the record breaking 2005/06 season, when over 50 feet of snow fell on the mountain.

Long known for snow seasons that stretch well into spring and summer, this will mark the 11th time that Mammoth Mountain has been open for skiing and riding on the Fourth of July within the last 31 years of operation.

Come up for the 4th Annual event this December and see what we’re talking about!

UPDATE (April 29) – Season snow total is now almost 45 feet!

Dive! Living Off America’s Waste

Every year in America we throw away 96 billion pounds of food.

That’s 263 million pounds a day.

11 million pounds an hour.

3,000 pounds a second.

The multi award-winning documentary Dive! will be screening in the 2010 LA United Film Festival. Inspired by a curiosity about our country’s careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, Dive! follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles’ supermarkets.  In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars worth of good, edible food – resulting in an eye-opening documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerilla journalism and call to action.

Dive! has garnered critical praise while raising important questions about hunger and waste in our society. This is Seifert’s first film and has been warmly received by audiences across the country, winning eleven festivals thus far, including the Boulder International, Sedona International, DC Independent, and Oxford Film Festivals.

You can see the trailer for the film here:
http://www.vimeo.com/7730865

For screening times and more information:
http://www.divethefilm.com/

Best Drama: In/Significant Others

Best Comedy: Ready Or Not

Best Documentary: My Run

Best Foreign Film: Bitter/Sweet

Best Narrative Short: Whose Dog Is It Anyway?

Best Documentary Short: On The Grind

Best Green Film: Dive!

Best Extreme Sports Film: Second Nature

Best Picture: Ready Or Not

That’s it! Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all of this year’s participating films and filmmakers. Stay tuned for more wrap up, stories, photos, etc…

Best Drama: In/Significant Others
Best Comedy: Ready Or Not
Best Documentary: My Run
Best Foreign: Bitter/Sweet

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all the great films that participated. Winning category films are screening today to determine the overall Best Picture winner — please check the schedule page or come to registration for showtimes.

The remaining winners, including Shorts, Green, and Extreme Sports, will be announced at the Awards Party tonight at Whitebark at the Westin.

In the drama category, In/Significant Others and Easier With Practice move on. In Comedy it’s Ready Or Not and 16 To Life. Documentaries going on are My Run and 9000 Needles. And in foreign, Bitter/Sweet and Speed Dating.

So round two is:
• In/Significant Others vs Easier With Practice
• Ready Or Not vs 16 To Life
• My Run vs 9000 Needles
• Bitter/Sweet vs Speed Dating

Screening times are on the schedule page.

Round two voting continues until midnight tonight (details available at registration or at the venues). Please remeber that you must see both films in a bracket in order to cast an eligible vote.

Congratulations to everyone, and good luck!

Rock Slyde, a film by Chris Dowling, is a film-noir comedy about a brilliant but clueless detective (Patrick Warburton), who finds himself in a turf war with an upstart quasi-religious cult leader (Andy Dick).

Cart, a short film by Jesse Rosten, is a fantastic and unique look at the secret life of shopping carts.

The Opening Night screenings will be held Wednesday, December 9, beginning at 9pm, at Mammoth Lakes Arts Center (549 Old Mammoth Road).

UPDATE: The films have been announced! Read the press release here. Congratulations to the selected films, and thank you to all filmmakers who submitted their work.