This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

The Temecula Film Fest Is Like a Buffet of Fun

The Temecula Film Fest offers something for everyone.

The Temecula Valley International Film Festival again -- thankfully -- invaded our town.

Like you, I watched the signs on Rancho California with wonderment. For the past few years, I resisted acting on my curiosity. This year, I finally took the plunge.

Attending the festival reminds me of a buffet. There is literally something for everyone. Every genre and interest is represented.

My friend Sil and I approached it precisely the way I approach a food buffet. Imagine that. As in food, I opted for small portions. We headed toward the shorts.

It was a blast.

There were subtitles, various countries represented with their style of humor, comedies, ghosts, death, life, poetry and everything in between.

The best part for me by far was the visionaries who were in attendance in the theater and shared their back story. They gave the “why” to their story. This portion resonated so much with me that we missed one film because the previous viewing ran over, and hearing Sara Matin, the writer of Le Petit Chef, share her story made me frustrated that we were unable to see it.

There was one film in particular called Potters Field by Brad Crowe that caused sheepish laughter. It was expressed by delayed laughter. A holding of the breath even.

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

How do you laugh at death? I don’t know. We sure did. Especially when the lead character, Darryl, revealed his deceased brother in the passenger seat of his car in order to ride in the carpool lane.

I assure you it was laugh out loud funny. C’mon, haven’t we all wished there was a creative way to ride in the carpool lane on the 91 Freeway? I admit using a corpse is beyond extreme. None the less, it was hilarious.

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Three Guys and a Couch by Adam Ward was definitely a manly man’s movie. I loved veering into this mindscape. The roommate selection process was funny, crude, real, audacious and entertaining.

Kiddo by Michael Callahan was an unsettling film that displayed peer pressure and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. None the less, I enjoyed the diversity of films and applaud each of the writers that shared such complete thought stories in the length of television sitcoms. Makes me wonder why there are so many unreal reality shows on television if this is any indication of the talent that is out there.

There was an amusing story about the wiles of a woman called The Mischievous Case of Cordelia Botkin by Cat Youell that put a new look on Forrest Gump’s often quoted line, “Life is like a box of chocolates." If I type more, I may spoil it for you. This is a film that would translate very well on either television or an extended film.

This is a small sampling of what TVIFF had to offer. I highly encourage you to visit next year. The music coupled with the local and distant talent, people watching, great food and all-you-can-view films satiated my curiosity. I’m sure to be there next year.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?