WV Filmmakers Guild celebrates 25th anniversary

The West Virginia Filmmakers Guild is celebrating its 25th anniversary during the weekend of June 6-8 in Sutton, Braxton County (I-79, Exit 62) with an assortment of activities, including film screenings by WV filmmakers, recognition of founding members, workshops, and more. A welcome reception with wine and cheese kicks off the weekend on Friday, June 6 at 6:00 pm in the lobby of the Elk Hotel on Main Street.

Saturday events begin at 10:30 with the annual business meeting of the Guild at the Landmark Studio for the Arts on Main Street (pastries/coffee provided), followed by three workshops. One price gains admission to all three workshops — members pay $5.00 and non-members pay $10.00.

The first workshop on membership surveys is presented by Annie Harbison of the WVU College of Law, followed immediately by a workshop on the topic of intellectual property rights by attorney Kevin Levine of the firm Kay Casto & Chaney. Lunch is on your own, but the Guild encourages everyone to join together at La Dolca Vita, across the street from the theater.

After lunch, the last workshop will be presented by Pam Haynes and Jamie Cope of the West Virginia Film Office to discuss the recent amendments to the WV Film Industry Investment Act.

Film screenings at the theater begin at the conclusion of the last workshop and will continue until 6:00 pm. A cookout kicks off around 6:00 pm at Sutton Lake/Dam (bring your own beverages) and will include a recognition ceremony of the Guild's founding members. Film screenings will then continue throughout the evening in the lobby of the Elk Hotel.

The weekend concludes Sunday with more film screenings at the Elk Hotel lobby from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. For more information about the festivities, contact the Guild's president, Terry Lively, at vandaliaproduction@gmail.com or the vice president, Jason Brown, at jason@pewterproductions.com. Visit the Guild's group message board at http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/wvfilmmakersguild/.