SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Can it really be that 11 years have passed since first the Rosebuds bloomed? Back when Sundance was little more than a small outing in the mountains, before the indie-film boom, before the indie-film bust, before the term “indie film” became as ubiquitously meaningless as the term “alternative music,” there were the Rosebuds. And over the years, I have watched and/or reviewed nearly all of them. Although screeners did not arrive in time for this year’s showcase—in fact, they did not arrive at all—I feel confident that a decade’s worth of time spent in front of the VCR allows me to pass judgment on this year’s crop sight unseen. And what is most surprising is how many of the 20 entries were shot on actual film. This is the digital age, after all; a decent camera can be had for less than the cost of film stock, and works can be edited on home computers. That said, this year’s showcase is the usual collection of earnest dramas (Aisha, Dinnertime, The Day We Disappear) and socially conscious documentaries (Freedom Fighter: The Story of Lian Shengde), with a few experimental works and a claymation entry from the Capital Children’s Museum (Aliens?). Of course, the winner will be Harry Potter Parking Lot (pictured), by my close friend, Mr. Jeff Krulik. The latest in his “parking lot” series, Potter has already been screened around town and is available in its entirety on his Web site, planetkrulik.com. But it’s always worth viewing—and it’s certainly worth a Rosebud. The festival screens Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18 at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, 1611 N. Kent Street, Arlington; see Showtimes for details. (Dave Nuttycombe)