By Craig Detweiler, originally posted at his Purple State of Mind blog.

The 15th City of the Angels Film Festival opened and closed with sold out screenings at the Directors Guild of America, on February 27th and March 1st, 2009. Having establishing itself as a themed retrospective, this edition of the fest focused upon new films, “the most inspiring, important, and innovative independent films of the year.” It featured four narratives, four documentaries and one retrospective, the restored version of the Los Angeles story, The Exiles.

Opening night celebrated Los Angeles, specifically the South Central Farmers featured in The Garden. The Academy Award nominated documentary follows their struggle to retain the largest community garden in America. A packed house greeted filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy and his surprise guest, community organizer Rufina Juarez. The post screening discussion featured animated discussions with inner city high school students enrolled in a leadership program at Pepperdine University.

The festival concluded on Sunday night with a full house for The Third Wave. This riveting documentary follows four volunteers into tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka. Alison Thompson and Oscar Gubernati serve as both the inspiring subjects and directors of The Third Wave. Thompson and Guberati were awarded “The Spirit of Windrider Award” for combining service and storytelling in such a compelling manner.

During the post screening discussion, Thompson and Gubernati reminded the audience, “Everyone is needed, no experience required.” Those in attendance ranged from volunteers with the Red Cross and the Dirty Hands Caravan to Sex and the City star Kristin Davis, author Gore Vidal and president of the Directors Guild, Michael Apted.

Additional highlights of the festival included a Saturday night screening of Lee Isaac Chung’s first feature, Munyurangabo. It moves from haunting memories of the Rwandan genocide to powerful moments of reconciliation. The conversation afterwards focused on the role of art in therapy and healing. Chung was joined onstage by his wife, art-therapist Valerie Chu and Pepperdine professor of psychology, Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis. On the heels of the festival, Film Movement announced an upcoming theatrical release for Munyuranagabo, calling it “a world cinema classic.”

The Sunday screening of They Killed Sister Dorothy featured a discussion with director Daniel Junge and Tom Strang, brother of martyred nun, Sister Dorothy “Dot” Strang. The powerful film invoked strong recollections from Strang. Both Junge and Strang spoke passionately about the best of Catholic social teaching and the call to care for our world, from the Brazilian rain forest to our neighbors next door. They Killed Sister Dorothy premieres March 25th on HBO.

The City of the Angels Film Festival’s major sponsors include the Brehm Center at Fuller Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Family Theater Productions, Pepperdine University, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center and Priddy Brothers. Bloggers noted the surprising juxtaposition of cutting edge films with religiously affiliated sponsors. For an additional take on the festival, check out Brett McCracken’s report from Friday night. Special thanks go to our board members, our volunteers, the staff from the Brehm Center, and especially my festival co-director, Eugene Suen.