Written by Daryl Bell
“It’s a wrap!” are three words no one but maybe the organizers and volunteers want to hear for the 2010 Salem Film Fest. But Sunday’s Oscars party marked the end of another film fest with high hopes for the coming year and ticket sales this year exceeded 1500 individual tickets not including the various types of passes sold.

But most importantly, the winning films have been chosen…

The Jury Prize went to Severe Clear by Kristian Fraga. Severe Clear is based on the memoir by First Lieutenant Mike Scotti as well as video footage shot by him and other members of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines on the outset of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The audience honored No. 4 Street of Our Lady and Rough Aunties. No. 4 Street of our Lady was co-directed by Judy Maltz a first time film maker on hand, Barbara Bird and Richie Sherman. This film tells the story of Francisca Halamajowa, a Polish-Catholic woman who rescued 15 Jews during the Holocaust by passing herself off as a Nazi sympathizer. Rough Aunties was directed by accomplished documentary maker Kim Longinotto. This film is a look at a group of women caring for the abused, neglected and forgotten children of Durban, South Africa. Both films will be given a week’s showing by the Salem Cinema. (Times to be announced)

And finally, The Cove, a hit among the audience, won an academy award for Best Documentary Sunday night. And just to be certain of their dedication to their cause, while staying in Hollywood for the Oscars, the film team carried out three sting operations with the help of authorities, on restaurants serving whale meat. DNA tests on the meat confirmed it was indeed whale, perhaps a sequel is in the making…

Come to Salem, See the World!
Finally after much anticipation tonight is the start of the Salem Film Festival. This is a rare opportunity to see incredible documentary films that you might only see in major cities like NYC or San Francisco. Movies run the gamit of topics and themes from “Long Distance Love” to “Rock Prophecies” from stories of high school seniors to a Marine’s perspective of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Come be a voyeur into other people’s lives or come to experience the diversity of experiences presented in the wide range of movies. To plan your movie viewing or learn more go to www.salemfilmfest.com.