Starlite Film Festival 2013 | Big Films. Micro-Budgets

The StarLite Film Festival.

Big Films.

Micro-Budgets.

For one special weekend on January 31 to February 2, the StarLite Film Festival at the Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street) hosts feature-length narrative films produced, shot and completed for a total budget of less than $200,000.

Michael Poley, producer of the film festival: "We're the only festival of this kind in the United States, or the world, as far as we are aware, that only shows feature-length narrative films of this kind. It's pretty cool, and it's happening here in Winter Garden."

Half of the films being shown will have their filmmakers present, some local and some international. One director, Bernardo De Urquidi from Mexico, will be in attendance to see his first film 2xUno on the big screen. More locally, Chase Conner, director and producer of Less Lost¸ filmed his flick in Orlando and Daytona Beach. He'll also be in attendance for his first project.

The keynote speaker on opening night will be Robin Cowie. Cowie was the producer of the micro- budget blockbuster The Blair Witch Project, and the mastermind behind its highly successful grassroots marketing. He will speak before and after the screening of Midnight Son, which was executive produced by his company.

The festival will host a series of workshops about microbudget filmmaking, including a Social Media Panel and Equipment Panel.

All-Access Passes are available for $30 which grants you admission to all films, workshops and parties. Tickets to the films are $5. Tickets for the opening night screening of Midnight Son are $7, which grants access to the kickoff reception.

For All-Access Passes, film schedules, tickets, and everything else, go to www.starlitefilmfest.com.

The schedule:

Thursday, January 31