Previewing the Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival

The Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival, which starts Thursday night, returns for its second year to spotlight films for a cause, and this year promises to be even more successful than last year's event. The number of cause-driven short film, videos, and PSAs jumped from last year's 140 to 235 entries in 2010. This festival has also expanded to a third day with new venues, including the Mexican American Culture Center, The Millenium Youth Center and Space 12.

LCH Film Festival attendees have the opportunity to see as many as 33 films and PSAs, and can also meet the filmmakers and representatives from the nonprofits involved. All proceeds from the festival go to the nonprofit associated with the winning film. Some of the diverse causes and topics spotlighted in thie year's films include public transportation, education, diseases, disaster relief in Peru and hunger in Texas.

One interesting theme I've noticed at the LCH Film Festival this year is bikes. Adventures For the Cure is about raising awareness and funds for diabetes as well as helping disabled children in Kenya through a 6,500-mile bicycle trek across the U.S. made by three young men, one of whom has Type I diabetes. Sweet Ride is a PSA focusing on the efforts of Transform to encourage San Francisco Bay Area residents to consider cycling as an alternate transportation option. Together We Can Make It focuses on the efforts of Bicycles for Humanity - Colorado to provide bicycles as distribution vehicles for improved healthcare to people too remote from formalized healthcare facilities in Namibia, Africa.  

Several Austin nonprofit organizations will be represented at LCH Film Festival this year:

Richard Lopez: Achiever of the Year presented by Goodwill Industries of Central Texas (Thursday, July 29, program runs 7-10 pm at Mexican American Culture Center)
Goodwill Industries International’s Achiever of the Year award is given to a person who has shown great progress and accomplishment in overcoming obstacles to employment and benefits from the Goodwill work environment. As the 2010 award recipient, Richard Lopez definitely meets these requirements. Lopez began using drugs at the age of 12, and by 17 he was selling drugs and addicted to alcohol. After almost 20 years of addiction he and his wife -- also addicted to alcohol -- made the life-altering decision to get sober and be better parents.

One of the greatest challenges that Lopez faced during his recovery was in staying employed. It wasn't until after 16 jobs in four years that he was hired to work in Goodwill Industries mailroom. Within four months, he was promoted and began mentoring new employees. Lopez has now worked as a contracts supervisor for several years, and feels his success has helped not only himself but also his children and grandchildren. 

Hunger is Unacceptable from Capital Area Food Bank (Friday, July 30, program runs 7-10 pm at Millenium Youth Center)
I've not seen this video which was created to launch the "Hunger is Unacceptable" campaign, but as a frequent visitor to CAFB's web site I've been impressed with their short PSAs. No dialogue, just the background sounds of conversations and laughter while a young girl eats -- representing the face of hunger.

The Future of Education presented by Ann Richards School (Saturday, July 31, program runs 2-5 pm at Space 12)
This PSA is an animated film that shows what improvements are needed in our educational system. The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is a unique all-girls public school founded to educate young women and give them the confidence and skills necessary to succeed in college, in their careers, and in their communities.

Shelter presented by Austin Pets Alive (Saturday, July 31, program runs 2-5 pm at Space 12)
This documentary focuses on animal shelters and the City of Austin's mission to become a no-kill city -- not a small feat with over 6,000 animals euthanized last year at the city's shelter. I've not seen this film yet, but since ASPCA commercials make me weepy I expect to be moved by this film -- maybe enough to foster a kitten?

Voices from the Field from World Wide Workshop Foundation (Saturday, July 31, program runs 2-5 pm at Space 12)
This film documents the Globaloria program, which was founded in an East Austin school. In an effort to bridge the digital literacy gap, this valuable program prepares young people ages 12 and up to create educational games and interactive simulations based on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

These are just some of the highlights from the festival, and I expect there will be many more worthy organizations represented at the LCH Film Festival.

Three-day passes and Thursday night tickets are sold out, but passes and tickets are still available for Friday and Saturday. Get them online here before they sell out. The closing party will be held Saturday night from 7-10 pm at Space 12, where the top three winners will be announced.

If you weren't quick enough to get tickets for Thursday, you can still watch Richard Lopez: Achiever of the Year in the following YouTube video: