Setting the Stage for a Major Film Role

Three years ago, when Demetrea Triantafillides, Maria Triandos and Ken Arnold decided to create an independent film festival in Annapolis, they knew their success would lie in the basics: the quality of the films.

They traveled to film festivals across the country, posted news releases on film trade Web sites and placed advertisements in Filmmaker magazine. Finally, Without A Box Inc. offered to add the Annapolis Film Festival to its Web site for film festival submissions, http://www.withoutabox.com/ , accessed by more than 70,000 filmmakers worldwide each year.

"We knew we had to get filmmakers interested to have a festival," Triandos said. "Withoutabox gave us huge access."

The third annual Annapolis Film Festival ( http://www.annapolisfilmfestival.com/ ), which begins at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, reflects a successful effort by its three founders to carve out a niche on the independent-film circuit. More than 500 films were submitted to the festival this year, including more than 17 hours of short films, which Triantafillides said are "calling cards for filmmakers." Movies were submitted from as far away as Singapore, Thailand, Brazil and Italy. This year, Annapolis will host the world premieres of 20 of the 90 films chosen by the festival selection committee.

"It is really hard to get off the ground, but we just have a passion for it and want to get independent films into the area," Triantafillides said. "Each year it grows, with more people and more attendance."

As long-running festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca and Venice become more mainstream, Annapolis is offering less-prominent filmmakers, independent-movie lovers and distribution companies a close-knit community in which to network and share ideas. The idea of a community-oriented festival is the crux of the dream shared by Triantafillides, Triandos and Arnold. The three Annapolitans wanted to introduce the filmmakers themselves -- along with great films -- to the area.

"Annapolis already has an attraction to it," Triandos said. "You want the filmmakers to show up, and ours do."

The filmmakers apparently like what the city has to offer.

"I think Annapolis is a terrific town for a festival because it has got both sophistication and a small-town feel," director Evan Oppenheimer wrote in an e-mail. "Also, with there not being that many options in the vicinity for art-house films, I think the festival fits a real need in the community."

Oppenheimer, whose feature film "Alchemy" will be shown on opening night, is returning to the festival for his second screening. "Alchemy" is Oppenheimer's third feature film, starring Thomas Cavanagh of NBC's "Ed" and Sarah Chalke of NBC's "Scrubs." "Alchemy" is a romantic comedy exploring the nature of love in the technology age. It was purchased by Disney for television after it started appearing on the festival circuit.

An important component of the festival is to draw Maryland filmmakers who are writing, producing and directing in the Baltimore and Washington areas. There is an award category for best Maryland film.

"With this festival, Maryland-based filmmakers have a forum for their work to be seen. In the long run, that is what we are all trying to do," writer, producer and actor Dan Franko said. "There are many events throughout the year, but not as many put together as well as this."