Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival under way

The 18th annual Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival opened its transitional season this weekend with a variety of films in the theater at Cape Henlopen High School. Enthusiastic crowds filled the school lobby and lined up for the theater's opening for each selection, and then made their way after films to the Crooked Hammock which is serving as this year's hospitality site for film-goers.

Film Society Executive Director Sue Early, sitting amidst hanging plastic and metal studding in the Society's new Cinema Art House in the building behind Wawa on southbound Rt. 1 said ticket sales have been strong for this year's offerings.  (The Cinema Art House is under construction - more like demolition at this point - and won't be ready for showing films until 2016.) "People understand we're going through some changes and are figuring out how this year's festival is working." As she talked, volunteers greeted people coming in the front door and ushered them to posters showing this year's schedule.  Then they sat at folding tables and a bank of computers and printers to get their tickets.

This is the first year the festival isn't using screens at the Atlantic Theaters of Midway Palace.  Scheduling and studio issues forced Atlantic Management to sever its relationship with the film society. Dealing with only three venues this year - Cape Henlopen High School, Metropolitan Community Church on Plantations Road, and the BayCenter in Dewey Beach - the festival added several more days and will be showing films Nov. 7 through Nov. 15.

Striking a deal with the nearly opened Crooked Hammock as hospitality headquarters for this year's festival was a stroke of genius.

The Hammock has erected a tent over its outdoors deck area where there are ping pong tables and picnic tables.That serves as The Hub for festival goers wanting to compare notes while quaffing freshly crafted beers and ales.

We saw two films at the high school - Dough and The Last Diamond - and both played to crowds that nearly filled the school's large venue. Students also sold refreshments in the lobby. Those attending showed high spirits. We rated both films as Very Good - completely captivating and entertaining. But we left the ultimate Superb rating for films yet to come which might be even better and approach the transformational level.

Change is in the air.  So far, so good.  The film festival has a loyal following and this year's line up looks awesome.

For more information see rehobothfilm.com.