The art for the International Skateboard Film Festival/Los Angeles deserves props all by itself. A sunglassed skater pushes a guy crammed into a shopping cart holding a vid camera focused on the skater ahead of him caught mid-jump. It's the perfect identity piece for a sport that began so DIY but turned so multibillion. What's dope about this film fest is it celebrates skate vids produced at both ends of that spectrum, offering up two days of screenings that showcase independent filmmakers and web flicks as well as top-of-the-line marketing vehicles such as commercials and skate shop promos. Yes, there are prizes, a panel discussion with the innovative Ty Evans along with a number of pro-skaters he features, and a preview and Q&A about the not-yet released docu on Danny Way who jumped the Great Wall of China, and Vans “Off the Wall” stepping in to sponsor. But we think the buzz of the place is going to come less from the accolades at the invitation-only awards ceremony and more from the energy and ideas the flicks and featured speakers launch in the homemade vids we'll see pop-up on indie web outlets next year. Reason enough to go, for sure. Downtown Independent Theater 251 S. Main St., dwntwn.; see website for Long Beach venue; Fri.-Tues., October 21-25; various times; $12 per category screening. Visit www.intskateboardfilmfestival.com for times, tickets and info.

Oct. 21-25, 2011

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