CORVALLIS, ORE., March 3, 2008 — The da Vinci Film Festival will make its springtime debut next month with more than 50 independent films, two workshops, and a keynote speech by British film director Alex Cox.

Previously held in conjunction with da Vinci Days in July, the 9th annual film fest will be held April 18-20 at LaSells Stewart Center on the Oregon State University campus. The three-day festival, which drew 5,000 filmgoers in 2007, is organized by da Vinci Days and a legion of volunteers. The festival's primary objective is to encourage independent filmmakers to emulate Leonardo da Vinci's creative spirit and energy with the use of new techniques and innovation in the filmmaking process.

The festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 18, with a speech by Cox, who is best known for writing and directing the cult classics "Repo Man" (1984) and "Sid & Nancy" (1986). A screening of short films will follow at 9 p.m. Night owls can head over to the Darkside Cinema in downtown Corvallis for a late-night screening of festival films from 9 to 11:30 p.m.

The films really get rolling on Saturday and Sunday. Screenings will occur simultaneously in two LaSells Stewart Center auditoriums from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, while the Darkside will host another late-night session on Saturday. The diverse lineup will include both short and feature-length films in a variety of genres.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning film in each of four main categories: Narrative Short Film, Narrative Feature Film, Documentary, and Young Filmmaker. A special cash prize will be awarded to the film that best represents the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci. The winning films will be showcased at the da Vinci Days Festival in July.

On Saturday, the festival will provide an opportunity for aspiring writers and directors to learn from the pros. Workshops in screenwriting and acting/directing will run concurrently from 9 a.m. until noon. Pre-registration forms are available on the da Vinci Days Website. The fee is $10. Enrollment will be limited, so early registration is recommended.

The festival also will sponsor the da Vinci Fast Film Project for the second consecutive year. One week before the festival, filmmaking teams or individuals will have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a 10-minute-or-less short film. The project is open to filmmakers of all ages and abilities. Registration will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on April 11 at the da Vinci Days office, 568 SW Third Street. There is no registration fee, but each participant must purchase a festival ticket. Films must be submitted no later than 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. The films will be screened on Sunday, April 20. Audience members will choose the winning entry, which will earn a cash prize of $50.

Full-festival passes can be purchased on-line and at Corvallis Tourism, The Book Bin, and First Alternative Co-op in Corvallis beginning March 21. Filmgoers who purchase the $40 VIP package will receive a three-day pass and tickets to Friday night's VIP party. The Festival Pass package (excluding VIP party) will cost $20 for adults and $18 for students with a valid ID. Single day admissions, available only at the door, will be $12 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children under 14.

The entire three-day schedule follows. All events will be held at LaSells Stewart Center unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit the da Vinci Days Website: www.davinci-days.org

About da Vinci Days da Vinci Days is the country's longest running festival of its kind. Operating as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization and with help from more than 150 community partners and 1,000 volunteers, da Vinci Days showcases innovative artists, engineers, teachers, community organizations, and individuals. The 9th annual da Vinci Film Festival will take place April 18-20, 2008. The 20th annual summer festival takes place July 18-20, 2008.

On the Web: www.davinci-days.org