reported by Betty Paulsino, CyberScreenwriter.com

Showcasing over 50 independent films from around the world, the 2nd Annual Estes Park Film Festival will take place September 14-16 at the Historic Park Theatre in downtown Estes Park, Colorado. Built in 1913, the Park Theatre is one of the oldest movie theatres still operating in America. In addition to the Park Theatre, suspense and horror films will screen at the Historic Stanley Hotel, which is famous for its inspirational role in Stephen King's book & film, "The Shining." Student films will also screen at the Lake Shore Lodge as part of the Student Filmmaker Showcase.

Included in this year's line-up is the hilarious comedy "Life with Fiona" about Scott Parker (Greg Lobb), a lovable, put-upon office drone who's perpetually unlucky in love, as he pursues a random relationship with the free-spirited Fiona Cerny (Avery Clyde) that is alternately liberating and confounding to them both. Joe D'Augustine's "One Night with You" is about down-on-his-luck Jake Tarlow (Mark Boone Junior) who has to get reclusive writer Hunter Burnell (Michael Parks) to an important meeting in what will probably be the last great time of his life. Other feature films include the quirky documentary "Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea" about California's newest ecological time bomb, and at the Stanley Hotel Suspense & Horror Film Showcase "The 4th Dimension" will explore the dark and lonely world between dreams and reality.

Short Films include the poignant story "Trail End" about Hank (Barry Corbin) and his last ride across Kansas with the help of his best friend Chip -- an old Appaloosa. A lonely, high functioning mentally challenged man falls in love with a 900 sex-line operator, and through that call, both find redemption in the funny and inspiring "My Name is Wallace." At the Student Filmmaker Showcase "The Old Son" tells the story of an old man who comes back home and tries to reconcile himself with his family who are all immortal and never age. Other short films include Sheila Schroeder's newest documentary "Crunch!", the apocalyptic "Café at the Crossroads", and the mysterious "Twilight of Youth".

Many of the filmmakers will be on hand to introduce their films and will take part in a Q&A on the creative process of getting their films from script to screen. There will also be plenty of parties where you can mingle with the filmmakers and other film enthusiasts. Ticket information and the complete schedule of film screenings, parties, and panel discussions are available on the festival web site: www.estesparkfilm.com.