There is plenty of hustling going on at your average film festival, but this was something different. Guerilla marketing hit SILVERDOCS yesterday when the woman in the photograph showed up to promote Jon Hotchkiss’ latest project, Obscene Movie. If you are fans of Penn & Teller or “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher” (where he was one of the original writers), you probably recognize his name. Hotchkiss wasn’t present, but the promotional attempt seemed to get a less than warm reception at the Cinema Lounge, where the manager politely asked them to leave (and they politely complied).

It definitely got people’s attention. People were asking if she was a real sex worker or a porn star, but I asked the first question that came to my mind–how do you walk in those crazy shoes? Apparently it helps if you take small steps.

We are now less than a week from the start of the 2008 SILVERDOCS Festival and Conference!

In this week leading up, I will be previewing some of the films and events that I find particularly exciting. In addition, I have an interview with Sky Sitney, the SILVERDOCS Director of Programming, which I will try to get up here in the next couple of days as well.

During the festival, I will be live-blogging some of the conference sessions, and covering some of the films and social events.

As always, the disclaimer is in full effect¹.

1. This is a festival to which I have a substantial connection. I have volunteered for the past two years and sat on this year’s Selection Committee. I wrote for the festival catalog and will likely be introducing some of the filmmakers and subjects at the festival. Feel free to adjust for my bias. My blog reportage and opinions, however, do not represent the views of AFI or the SILVERDOCS festival, the Selection Committee, or of any of their staff. No one should construe anything expressed on this site as being endorsed or supported by AFI, SILVERDOCS or anybody other than me.

The rumors¹are true! After ceasing blogging in late 2005, I am returning to live-blog the American Film Institute’s SILVERDOCS conference and festival.

SILVERDOCS is an international film festival that, in their own words, “celebrates the power of documentary to improve our understanding of the world.” The festival is set at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center right outside Washington, DC, and runs June 16-23rd. According to AFI, last year’s festival “featured 100 films from 43 countries presented to over 21,000 attendees, including the influential audiences of the nation’s capital and media professionals from around the world.” Having attended last year, I was struck by the enthusiasm and size of the audiences at both the festival and the concurrent conference.

In the interest of full disclosure, this is a festival to which I have a substantial connection. I have volunteered for the past two years and sat on this year’s Selection Committee. I wrote for the festival catalog and will likely be introducing some of the filmmakers and subjects at the festival. Feel free to adjust for my bias.

My blog reportage and opinions, however, do not represent the views of AFI or the SILVERDOCS festival, the Selection Committee, or of any of their staff. No one should construe anything expressed on this site as being endorsed or supported by AFI, SILVERDOCS², or anybody other than me.

While there are some details to be worked out as to approach and content³, keep an eye on this space in the coming weeks. Prior to the festival kickoff, I’ll be blogging on some of the films I think are particularly strong, and maybe even get in some interviews. In addition, at the conference itself, we might be trying out some new blogging-friendly technology and commenting on how it works in the live-blog setting.

1. OK, there are no rumors, but bear with me.
2. Read: They have the good sense to put as much distance between themselves and me as possible.
3. Video? Podcasts? Smell-o-vision? We’re working on it.