The organizers of Charleston's International Film Festival turned out to be a nice bunch of folks. They provided an enjoyable experience for filmmakers, local moviegoers and visitors. The Terrace Theater was an appropriate venue for a cautious first year of a festival.

For me, the event offered a chance to help out where I could, catch up with friends and introduce a few entertaining films that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'm glad Osso Bucco won the Audience Choice award; with its infectious charm and competent acting, this crowd pleaser deserved its prize.

Best of all I got to see Post & Courier film critic Bill Thompson letting his hair down. This inveterate newshound is usually stuck at his desk barking at people on the phone or weeping into his popcorn in a dark screening room, so I'm sure a few late night parties in venues like Bridgeside and the Cottage on the Creek in Mount Pleasant didn't do him any harm.

The Golden Crescent Award for best film went to Camille. The Jury Award for Best Feature went to Crazy. (Incidentally, one of the jury members was my fellow West Countryman John Cleese). The Golden Crescent Screenplay Competition was won by Natashia Sanders for her script, The Spinning Wheel.

For full details on winners and a wrap up of the event, visit the International Film Festival website.

Charleston International Film Festival

I've spent the past couple of weeks working on an article about the Charleston International Film Festival, an event I first mentioned in the CP back in October 2007.

The four-day festival at the Terrace Theatre, James Island SC, will show six feature films and loads of short fictive films, documentaries and cartoons.

Part of my article looked at what would happen next year - in particular, how the festival would have to change and grow to continue.

But last night I heard that the first Charleston International Film Festival may also be the last.

Maybe the organizers have a packed schedule next year, or maybe the event isn't looking as profitable as they hoped. Or maybe the rumors aren't true. All I know is, we should make the most of this year's and appreciate all the effort that's gone into its production.