A bit of a lapse in writing - things have been heating up with our film and our next project. Katherine had a follow-up interview for The Black Star News last week, they asked for a screener of our film and needed some more info on Katherine and how we made the film. They’re putting together something real nice which may or may not cover a group of young filmmakers who are making their mark in the independent world. As soon as we have it you’ll have it in the press room. The premiere issue of YAPA magazine may be pushed back to May or June. But the in-depth article about Katherine and the making of the film will still appear, and again, as soon as we have it you’ll have it. NEXT WEEK "The Innocents" OPENS Knoxville’s premiere film festival - Valleyfest 2000. This is always a nice honor. It should be fun so STAY TUNED for the ‘latest’.

On Thursday, March 9th "The Innocents" officially kicked Valleyfest 2000. All of the films were screened at the Regal Cinemas in Downtown Knoxville. Screening in an ‘actual’ theater is usually a preferred choice simply because it is designed to project a film, but that’s not to say there can’t be technical problems. Luckily in our case the screening went of without a hitch. As the first film to screen at the festival we had a highly energized audience which was very receptive to our film. Unfortunately there were no Q&A’s for any of the films or the filmmakers. This is usually the best part, where filmmakers can interact with an audience and gauge their response to the film they just saw. But after the screening finished everyone seemed to migrate back into the lobby for what became a sort of spontaneous Q&A session anyway.

The festival asked Katherine if she’d like to return next year to be a judge for Valleyfest - a nice note to end on. All in all, the festival was pretty good. Well, except for a little misunderstanding about our poster which unfortunately lead to its mysterious disappearance after being removed from a lobby lightbox. Hmmm....we’re expecting the ransom note any day now. (For more info on Valleyfest check out our festival page). Today we also spoke with the People’s Weekly World (NY based paper) about an article one of their staff writers is putting together on "The Innocents". That article should be out in a week or two and we’ll have it up in the press room as soon as we have it.

Next up, the CROSSROADS FILM FESTIVAL in Mississippi. We’ve already been reviewed by the big paper in the area, the Clarion Ledger. Anita Modak-Truran gave us a glorious review (Read it in the press room) when we screened at the Magnolia film festival, also the fest where we won our second award. But we’ll try to get some more press anyway, we’re hoping some other papers will be in attendance. The festival is honoring the work of Robert Altman so he may be making an appearance to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award. That would be extremely cool since Robert Altman has a long history of defining what the independent spirit of filmmaking is all about. We’ll see if he shows....

MORE AMAZING NEWS! "The Innocents" will indeed be screening at the CANNES FILM MARKET with the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL. We're screening on May 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Palais I Theater. Katherine (writer/director/actress/producer) will be in attendance at Cannes for the duration of the Festival and the Market. This is great news. What better place is there then Cannes to make our 'International Premiere'. We will keep you informed. Needless to say there are great preparations to be made - like an incredible marketing/publicity campaign. Katherine's interview in YAPA magazine should also be coming out next month. It's the 'Premiere Issue' of the mag so it should really PUMP UP THE HEAT on Katherine and "The Innocents". If you don't alredy know, they've chosen to do a FOUR PAGE INTERVIEW with Katherine as well as a review of the film Cannes will be our TENTH SCREENING but the first INTERNATIONAL SCREENING for "The Innocents". (Check out the 'Festival' page also.) Check back in a few weeks for the 'Latest'.