After 34 years of Northwest Film & Video Festivals, we continue to draw our enthusiasm from the inspirational dedication we see from the filmmakers of the Northwest. We see the heroic feats of strength, tenaciousness and passion you engage to make your art and to make it good. We shudder at your financial turmoil, shake our fists to the wind for your technological breakdowns, and bleed for your rejections. You are a dedicated lot and this Festival is dedicated to you.

This year we are terrifically lucky to have had Heike Kuehn as the Festival Judge. She generously offered her experienced eye and proved flamboyantly decisive in her short film selections and choice of award winners. We know you will be struck by her choices. Her comments below show a passion for cinema and a thoughtful dedication to rewarding films that push cinematic bounds and have a cogent point of view.

THE FOLKS THAT HELP US HELP YOU
With great pleasure we thank all our sponsors and applaud their belief in our media arts community-Adidas, Laika, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Willamette Week are at the top of the list in providing truly vital support. This year we are very pleased to welcome Comcast, sponsor of the educational components of the Festival this year, demonstrating their investment in a bright future for Northwest filmmaking by enabling us to enhance our workshops and discussions. And, of course, the National Endowment for the Arts, whose support for the Festival allows the "Best of the Northwest" Touring Program find new audiences for our regions filmmakers Throughout the Northwest.

Great thunderbolts of thanks to our friends at the creative firm, happylucky Inc., for gifting us the "Dedicated to the Dedicated" concept, design and promotional trailers in collaboration with Owen Jones and Partners. The trailers demanded their own battalion of goodwill troops with an all-star crew headed by director Todd Korgan. Our gratitude leaps out to the companies and individuals who helped make the trailers not only possible, but magnificent.

As you can see, we are no more truly independent than filmmakers really are-it takes a lot of favors and a lot of friends. But this isn't about us, this is one goes out to you makers. We toast you, your hard work, and your dedication.