Farmington Native Chion Wolf, of WNPR, to Emcee Farmington Valley Film Festival

How many times do you go to a movie and think, "I wish I could do that"?

It turns out that you can and you don't have to look further than Avon and the Farmington Valley to find people who are doing it every day. In fact, you can watch some locally produced short films, trailers and music videos — no more than 15 minutes in length — at the Farmington Valley Film Commission 3rd Annual Film Fete & Mixer on Friday. The films featured were all shot in Avon, Burlington, Canton, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, New Hartford, and/or Simsbury.

The venue is Collinsville's on 41 Bridge St. — a platinum sponsor for the event, along with , of Simsbury, and , of Avon.

The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the musical entertainment of singer-songwriter Cassandra Kubinski, who also plays keyboard. There will be a cash bar.

Film screenings begin at 8 p.m., emceed by Chion Wolf, a WNPR radio personality on The Colin McEnroe Show and Farmington native.

The commission, a nonprofit that "facilitates the production of film, television, commercials and advertising" in the region, according to its website, is largely to thank for a push to draw filmmakers to the region. In addition to fostering a local creative network, it provides information for filmmakers on its website like film permit costs and local resources from actors and filmmakers to businesses.

"We want to bring people into the Farmington Valley to film and show them we have talented people here," said Avon resident Nancy Anstey, who co-founded the commission with Elizabeth Banco, of Simsbury, about three and a half years ago.

Filmmakers from the Valley and as far as California have contacted the commission about their projects, Anstey said. 

Brian Spectre, of Avon, Canton residents Doug Tubach and Steve Emirzian, and Rob Hyner judged the submissions for the film festival and decided which ones to accept, Anstey said. The number of film submissions has grown since receiving nine the first year.

Spectre is screening a five-minute extended trailer for his television series concept, Vigilante, Inc., shot in downtown Collinsville and Farmington's Dunning Sand & Gravel. He, Steve Emirzian, of Canton, Craig and Kerry Murphy, of West Hartford, Christina Dufour, of Plainville, and Laurie Ferguson, Austin and Brooke Ferguson, of New Hartford, comprise the trailer cast.

Avon resident Sean Stall, of Avon-based post-production studio Ironik Design & Post, Inc., put the film submissions onto a final DVD for the screening, Anstey said. 

The event costs $20 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at www.41bridgestreet.com or via phone. 860-676-8878.

Follow the link provided to

Film Fete Program:

Canton resident Evan Camporeale's The Valley will open the festival. You might recognize local settings from Avon Old Farms and the old Collinsville axe factory to a Simsbury tree that is the largest in Connecticut.

• Bill Benson, produced by Atlantian Films: Rodeo Cowboy (music video)
• Alex Hyner: The Pitch
• Avon's Brian Spectre and Atlantian Films: Vigilante, Inc. (extended trailer)
• John Galvin, of Burlington: Priced to Sell (extended trailer)
• Evan Camporeale: Why Me? (short film)
• Alex Fuller: Brian Spectre: Then & Now (short doc)
• Jacob Bittens, of Simsbury: A Little Dream (short film)
• Neal Thomasson: music video
• Jeff Schlicter: Bach & Forth (short film)
• Jay Jurgen: Overdue (short film)
• Evan Camporeale: Cinematropolis (music video)
• Alex Sauerbrunn: Somnium (short film)
• Katrin Dauria: After (short film)
• Sherril Jones: Safe Haven (short doc)
• Richard Pelzar: RC Murals (time-lapse short)