The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF) is very excited to announce its slate of films and events for the 17th annual Festival. San Luis Obispo County will once again play host to hundreds of visiting filmmakers, celebrities and movie buffs during the Festival’s five days of films, special events, filmmaking panels and parties, from March 9 to March 13.

This year, the Festival kicks off with a Sneak Preview event at the brand-new Galaxy Theatres in Atascadero, on Saturday, March 5.

Not only will the theatre be open to Festival attendees for the first time ever, but the Festival will be previewing two films that have yet to be shown in public in the U.S.: a Canadian documentary, "Na Nai'a," "Legend of the Dolphins," and "IFC'S Super," starring Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to open the Galaxy Theatres and enjoy the luxury of having a new state-of-the-art theatre complex for the run of the Festival,” said Festival Director, Wendy Eidson. "We have a great lineup of films playing there, with a focus on 50 years of classics, great musicals, westerns and dramas from the '20s through the '60s, with local and Hollywood personalities to introduce each film."

The Festival will open with several world premieres and a variety of films made by tri-county area filmmakers as part of the Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase, sponsored by Pacific Eye. These opening night films include "Lynching Charlie Lynch" with Mr. Lynch and filmmaker Rick Ray (10 Questions for the Dalai Lama) in attendance, and "Killing Memories" by SLO filmmaker and Vietnam vet, Peter Pepper.

Other film highlights throughout the Festival include excellent new award-winning documentaries, "The People Speak," "Wretches and Jabberers," "Voices Unbound: The Story of the Freedom Writers," and "City LAX: An Urban Lacrosse Story."

Filmmakers will be in attendance for lively Q&A sessions and several members of the HighRoad/HTC bicycle racing team will be on hand, with team owner Bob Stapleton for screenings of Chasing Legends, based on the team's amazing success in the 2009 Tour de France.

There will also be many provocative and entertaining new narrative features and short films, including Thanks, starring comedienne Rita Rudner (who will be in attendance with her husband/director, Martin Bergman), Nothing Special starring Karen Black and Barbara Bain, and Pound of Flesh starring Malcolm McDowell and Timothy Bottoms. The short film "God of Love," nominated for an Academy Award this year, will screen twice, as will short film "Lab Rats," written by Shell Beach resident Louis Rosenberg and feature film "Polish Bar," directed by San Luis Obispo resident, Ben Berkowitz.

Another new addition to the Festival this year is the Chicks 'N Flicks program, headquartered at the Monday Club in San Luis Obispo. The program will celebrate the success of women in the film industry from the early silent days to the present, with a series of films, panel discussions, workshops and wine tastings.

This program was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.  Special guests include author Mollie Gregory ("Women Who Run the Show"); actresses Karen Black, Barbara Bain, and Virginia Madsen; UC Santa Cruz film historian Shelley Stamp and many directors, producers and writers with films in the Festival this year.

Central Coast wines and the beauty of San Luis Obispo continue to be a major lure to out-of-town Festival guests.  

"We are very thankful for the increased support of the San Luis Obispo TBID (hospitality marketing fund) that has allowed us to expand our marketing reach to the huge number of film and wine lovers to the north and south of our county," said Board President Paul Metchik.  “In the past five years, the percentage of tourists attending the Festival has grown to 20 percent, and we hope to see that growth continue, with the Festival developing into a major regional event.”

Red Carpet Events are always an important part of the Festival. Besides the Sneak Preview event on March 5, Surf Nite in SLO will be back for its sixth year at the Fremont Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo, on Friday, March 11.

This year's event will feature the award-winning film, "The Westsiders," directed by Joshua Pomer. This edgy new documentary focuses on the rise and fall of The Westsiders surf tribe as seen through the eyes of three best friends from the original "Surf City: Santa Cruz, California."  Best friends Daryl "Flea" Virostko, Shawn "Barney" Barron, and Jason "Ratboy" Collins bonded by common tragedy and their love of surfing.  As always, a fun and stimulating Q&A is planned after the screening of the film, as well as a pre-screening meet-and-greet at SLO Brewing Company.

On the Closing night of the Festival, March 12, the Fremont Theatre will once again host the 2011 Independent Film Awards. Major media sponsors will present cash awards in five categories, as well as three Audience Awards. Also, Alan Arkin, last year's King Vidor Award recipient, will return to host the presentation of the 2011 King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking to this year’s honoree, to be announced soon.

Following the awards, the Fremont will play host to America's first Ultimate Laughing Contest, MC'd by Canadian filmmaker Albert Nerenberg, director of "Laughology." Contestants will be judged by local "Laughter yoga leaders," and the evening will end with a screening of the new documentary, "Laughology."

A Hollywood & Vines Event on Thursday, March 10 at the Galaxy Theatres - Atascadero will feature a "Mama Mia" Sing-along, with pre-screening party in the two VIP Lounges for ages 21 and over. An Abba-themed costume contest is planned as part of the festivities.

On Saturday, March 12, Avila Beach will host the third annual Movie in a Day Marathon, with amateur filmmakers competing to make a short film in only seven hours, from conception to finished film. Films are based on a logline given immediately before shooting begins. Crews of four will fan out through downtown Avila Beach and the Avila Valley to shoot their films and completed films and prizes will be presented on Sunday, March 13, in Avila Beach and at the Downtown Cinemas in San Luis Obispo. This special workshop is sponsored by the Avila Beach Community Foundation.

And on March 12, the SLOIFF will celebrate youth filmmakers at the Filmmakers of Tomorrow Showcase, at the Galaxy Theatres, with two screenings of short films by young people aged 10 to 18. Films being screened were submitted from youth filmmakers all over the country, and are eligible for cash prizes.

The SLOIFF will be headquartered this year at 848 Monterey St. (near Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa) and will be the designated meeting spot for visiting filmmakers and other Festival-goers. It is also the will call/ticket office and will feature a large Silent Auction running before and throughout the Festival with items and services from generous local donors. The Festival Headquarters opened on Feb. 21 and office hours will be posted online.

Film passes and tickets for select events are on sale now, online at www.slofilmfest.org and at the SLOIFF HQ beginning Monday, Feb. 21st. Film lineup and schedule are currently online at slofilmfest.org and Festival Guides hit the streets on Thursday, Feb. 24.