You know how some films have that certain San Fernando Valley quality? Me either. Still, they are a proud lot, those independent filmmakers who call the 818 home. The eighth annual Valley Film Festival brings “another thought-provoking, entertaining lineup of cinema so independent it can only be found in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley.” I would like to suggest they call it “The Stinkin’ Hot All Year-Round But At Least There’s Parking Festival,” but at least they have the “10 Degrees Hotter Awards” for narrative feature, documentary feature and short film. Opening night spotlights director John Putch’s Route 30, a comedy of three interconnecting stories set in rural south-central Pennsylvania. You may remember Putch from the ’70s as Valerie Bertinelli’s boyfriend on One Day at a Time, though not the character played by Scott Colomby. The other one. Films also having their L.A. debut include So Long Jimmy, Live Evil, Welcome to Pornoland and Pretty Ugly People, which all pretty much sum up living in the Valley.

Sept. 24-28, 2008

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.