Cinema fans will enjoy more than 30 independent movies from across the globe as part of the eighth annual Geneva Film Festival being held Thursday, March 12, to Saturday, March 14.

The festival showcases feature-length and short documentaries, narrative films, animated shorts and student productions, and the movie trailers can be found on the city of Geneva’s YouTube Channel. This year’s event will be hosted at Shodeen’s Dodson Place, 416 S. Second St.

One of the unique aspects of the festival is that patrons have opportunities to meet with the producers and directors of selected films during several special events.

• Student Night: 7 p.m., March 12 – Students with an ID receive a free festival t-shirt (while supplies last) and half off single-day passes.
• Taste of Geneva VIP Event: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., March 13 – Meet with Mayor Kevin Burns, other city officials, key sponsors, film industry professionals and avid cinema fans at 25N CoWorking, 25 N. Third St.
• Filmmaker’s Roundtable: 9 a.m., March 14 – Join featured filmmakers over a continental breakfast as they discuss the excitement and challenges faced when producing an independent movie. Audience members can ask questions and listen to a keynote guest speaker.
• Award Presentations: 5 p.m., March 14 – The 2015 Film Festival winners will be announced prior to the evening screenings.
• Wrap Party: 9:30 p.m., March 14 – Celebrate the conclusion of the Geneva Film Festival at Wildwood Restaurant, 477 S. Third St.

Tickets are on sale for $7 per block, $10 per day and $20 for an all-festival pass; students can purchase an all-festival pass for half price. The Filmmaker’s Roundtable is $5. VIP tickets are available for $40 per person or $75 couple, which includes admission to the Taste of Geneva, the Roundtable and an all-festival pass.

The Geneva Film Festival started in 2007 and has grown in popularity and status in the independent film community. Many of these award-winning films are picked up by production companies and shown on cable television. The festival’s mission is to celebrate the art of filmmaking by setting the stage for independent producers and directors to showcase their talent. The event is sponsored by the City of Geneva’s Cultural Arts Commission.

Click here for a full schedule, to purchase tickets or for more information.