SPECIAL FILM NIGHT OF LOCAL WORKS >>>

The 253Heart Music and Arts Film Festival is like the wily little brother of the Tacoma film family, taking place in the shadows of the city's more prominent film fests. But, as 253Heart Film Festival director Joe Rosati sees it, these films are important, and they should be seen - as they're not in either of the upcoming Tacoma or Gig Harbor film festivals.

"They're local films that have not been in any recent festivals and are done by some kids that have their finger on the pulse of current events around town," explains Rosati, who also is a local filmmaker and actor. "Some of them have been around for more than 10 years and are in the local section of Stadium Video."

The 253Heart Film Festival Friday night at the Varsity Grill kicks off the three-day Tacoma music and arts festival being held in various downtown Tacoma venues. More information is available on the festival's Facebook site.

One of the 253Heart films Chekov's Gun screened during the Tacoma Tortured Artists Film Festival in the late ‘90s - the festival Kristen Revis and James Hume, who owned and operated Club Seven Studios, produced from 1997-1999.

The other films scheduled to screen are:

• William Shatner Lent Me His Hairpiece (an untrue story)
• A First Time for Everything
• The Devil's in My Coffee
• Don't Run Johnny
• Kris Crews' 2-minute video of Galen Turner's recent bike jump through neon tubing
• And a video of several local visual artists and musicians centered on a group wall painting venture at Fulcrum Gallery

The film night is Rosati's attempt to connect the local film scene with the community, to pull a few films out of the ether and into the spotlight.

253Heart Music and Arts Film Festival

Friday, Oct. 1, 5-9 p.m.
Varsity Grill, 1114 Broadway, Tacoma
253.627.1229

LINK: 253Heart Music and Arts Festival feature story