Independent Spirit Award Nominees Headline 5th Mid-Valley Video Festival

Both films screen on Friday, February 22nd, one day prior to the Spirit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

"The Directors" Visit mvvfest.org for more information Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - 2008 Spirit Award nominees "Vanaja" and "Quiet City" headline the expanded Mid-Valley Video Festival, which features more than 100 independent films during its nine day run at Northern Lights Theatre Pub, the Historic Grand Theater and Loucks Auditorium February 15th -24th.

New programming includes Future Filmmakers, the Digital Blitz Film Challenge, Videomash and Sustainable Saturday and Sunday. Winners of the festival will be recognized February 24th at the Golden Pioneer Awards Ceremony.

"Vanaja", directed by Rajnesh Domapalli of Hyberabad, India, is set in rural India and tells the story of Vanaja, the daughter of a poor fisherman fighting ancient social barriers as she struggles to come of age.

Winner of numerous awards, including a prestigious 2007 Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear for Best Feature Debut, the High Definition film is nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards, Best Debut and Best Cinematography.

"Quiet City", directed by Aaron Katz of Brooklyn, also is a Spirit Award nominee for the John Cassavetes Award. The film follows Jamie and Samantha as they search for meaning while drifting from late night diners, to city parks, to abandoned apartments, to a party and art gallery deep in the heart of industrial Brooklyn. Stephen Holden, of the New York Times, described the film as, "Beautiful, a fully realized work of mumblecore poetry".

Both films screen on Friday, February 22nd, one day prior to the Spirit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. For full schedule and details visit: mvvfest.org.