LAKE AND CHAFFEE COUNTIES Diane Ladd and Scott Wilson will be in attendance for the showings of their films at the Independence Film Festival along with a celebrity tribute event this weekend. Diane Ladds The Cemetary Club and Scott Wilsons film In the Heat of the Night are among those featured, along with the works of Randal Kleiser, Don Knotts and in general, films from the 60s through 80s.The inaugural Independence Film Festival, with showings in Leadville, Buena Vista and Salida, has already begun and continues through Sunday. Most of the showings are free. The event is put on by former Breckenridge Festival of Film board members Lawrence David Foldes and Victoria Paige Meyerink, who are filmmakers in Los Angeles

All events free unless otherwise noted. Advance ticket required, available by phone at (719) 966-3005 or get more information at independencefilmfest.com.

11:15 a.m. at Leadville City Hall. Shuttle departure for Opening Ceremony at Independence Pass. 11:15 a.m. at Buena Vista Town Hall. Shuttle departure for Opening Ceremony at Independence Pass. Noon at Independence Pass Summit. Official Festival Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with government officials and press. 4-5 p.m. at Silver City Cinema, Leadville. Opening Filmmaker/VIP Reception is a catered event with live music by the Mountain Minstrels of Colorado. (Admission fee.) 5 p.m. at the Silver City Cinema, Leadville. Special Retrospective Screening: White Fang and a conversation with director Randal Kleiser. 7:30 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Opening Night Event with distinguished filmmaker tribute and retrospective with Randal Kleiser preceded by a special presentation of the Magic Lantern – Moving Pictures Before Cinema. 9 p.m. at the Silver King Inn, Leadville. Opening Night Party is a VIP catered event with live music. (Admission fee.)

10 a.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Colorado, Lake and Chaffee counties filming presentation in conjunction with the Colorado Film Commission, followed by catered brunch. (Professional affiliation required.) 11:30 a.m. Depart from Leadville City Hall. Potential filming sites location scout (Climax Mine, Leadville, Twin Lakes, Interlaken, Independence Pass, Winfield, Buena Vista) (Professional affiliation required.) Noon at the Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. 60s-80s Classic 35mm feature No. 1: The films of Don Siegel: Charlie Varrick: Last of the Independents. 2:30 p.m. Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. Don Knotts Classic feature No. 2. Karen Knotts personal selection: The Ghost & Mr. Chicken. 2:30 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Special Documentary Presentation: U.S. premiere of the rare 1980 Feature Documentary Don Siegel: Last of the Independents by renowned Dutch filmmaker Thys Okersen. 4 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Feature documentary world premiere: Masters of the Grind, the definitive chronicle of the 60s to 80s cult and exploitation film era, with filmmaker Q&A. 6-8 p.m. at the The Inn at Buena Vista. Filmmaker/VIP catered reception with live music with theme of A Taste of the Arkansas Valley. (Admission fee.) 8:30 p.m. at the Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. A Special Presentation of the Magic Lantern Part 2, Moving Pictures Before Cinema. 8:30 p.m. at the Comanche Drive-In, Buena Vista. Grindhouse/Cult Film Late Nite. Double Feature: Young Warriors (1983 directed by Lawrence David Foldes & produced by Victoria Paige Meyerink the filmmakers personal print) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the 1956 sci-fi classic directed by Don Siegel) with introduction by Foldes and Meyerink, plus cult trailer program. (On-site local food vendors.)

Noon at the Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. 60s-80s Classic 35mm Feature No. 2. The films of Don Siegel: Two Mules for Sister Sara. Noon, at the Silver City films of celebrity honorees film. Scott Wilson. In the Heat of the Night. 2:30 p.m. at the Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. Don Knotts Classic feature No. 2: Karen Knotts Personal Selection: The Love God? with intro by Karen Knotts. 3 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Films of the Colorado Rockies: The Last Ridge the extraordinary story of Colorados heroic 10th Mountain Division, preceded by the engaging short Leadville Ski-Joring. 5-7 p.m. in Leadville & Southern Railroad. Colorado Cinema Train Special Event. A unique ride through the colorful Leadville aspens on Leadvilles historic train with catered reception and live music by the Mountain Minstrels of Colorado, special on-board screening of the rare 1906 silent film From Leadville to Aspen: A Hold-Up in the Rockies with live piano accompaniment and award-winning short film presentation Travelin Trains. (Admission fee.) Special guest, director John Landis. 7 p.m. Storyville Theaters, Salida. Special Festival Event. Colorado premiere and pre-theatrical release screening of Broken starring Heather Graham, Jeremy Sisto, Linda Hamilton, Tess Harper and Jake Busey, preceded by catered VIP Reception. (Admission fee.) 8 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Salute to Don Knotts An American Icon, Retrospective and award presentation, followed by Karen Knotts performing excerpts from her new one-woman show Tied up in Knotts. Special presentation wiht John Landis. 9:30 p.m. Silver Dollar Saloon, Leadville. Filmmakers/VIP late-night party No. 1 is a catered event with live music at Leadvilles historic saloon. (Admission fee.)

10 a.m. at the Silver City Cinema, Leadville. Family Screening Event: Flight of the Navigator (directors personal 35mm print) followed by a conversation with director Randal Kleiser. Noon at the Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. 60s-80s Classic 35mm feature No. 3: The films of Don Siegel: The Beguiled. 2 p.m. at the Sweet Shot Screening Rooms, Buena Vista. Feature Documentary: Riding the Rails, a fascinating account of teenage hobos during the Great Depression. 2 p.m. at the National Mining Museum, Leadville. International Student & Short Film Series: Powerful & moving short films from young filmmakers around the globe. 2 p.m. at the Silver City Cinema, Leadville. Celebrity Diane Ladd feature No. 1. To be announced. film of Ladd, The Cemetary Club.” 3 p.m. at Storyville Theaters, Salida. Honey I Blew Up the Kid. 5 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Special Presentation in association with The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The Student Academy Award -Winning Films of 2007 and forum with Student Academy Awards Executive Committee members Foldes and Meyerink. 5 p.m. Storyville Theaters, Salida. In Cold Blood. 7-8:30 p.m. at the Comanche Drive-In, Buena Vista. 50s Sock Hop at the Drive-In with vintage cars and costumes (on-site local food vendors). 8 p.m. at the Storyville Theaters, Salida. Special Festival Event: Its My Party (directors personal 35mm print) followed by a conversation with director Randal Kleiser. 8:30 p.m. at the Comanche Drive-In, Buena Vista. 50s night at the Drive-In: Grease (the directors personal 35mm print) with introduction by director Randal Kleiser (on-site local food vendors). 9:30 p.m. at the Scarlet Tavern, Leadville. Filmmakers/VIP late-night party No. 2 is a catered event with live 50s music at Leadvilles historic tavern. (Admission fee.)

Noon at the Pearl Theater, Buena Vista. 60s-80s Classic 35mm feature No. 4 The films of Don Siegel: Dirty Harry. Noon at the Sweet Shot Screening Rooms, Buena Vista. The Student Academy Award-Winning Films of 2007. (Encore presentation.) 1 p.m. at the National Mining Museum, Leadville. Award-Winning short film Travelin Trains with live acoustic blues music and Q&A with director Eric Mofford, followed by the rare 1906 silent film From Leadville to Aspen: A Hold-Up in the Rockies with live piano accompaniment. (Encore presentation.) 3 p.m. at the Silver City Cinema, Leadville. Special Feature Presentation Award-Winning Feature: Finding Home followed by a conversation with director Foldes and producer Meyerink. (Dilmmakers personal 35mm print.) 6 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Feature Documentary: Sir! No Sir!, the powerful award-winning story of the inside military movement to end the Vietnam War. 6 p.m. at the Silver City Cinema, Leadville. Surprise Celebrity Honoree feature No. 2. “Wild at heart,” Dianne Ladd. 8:30 p.m. at The Old Church, Leadville. Closing Night Event. Surprise celebrity tribute retrospective and awards presentation. 9:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Pass Cafe, Leadville. Closing Night Dinner & Party. Catered sit-down dinner with live music. (Admission fee.)