SNDPOINT — Sandpoint Film Festival started seven years ago with presenting short films for a one-day film festival. SFF is a non-profit organization started by Janice Jarzabek and is joined this year by the Panida Theater as a co-presenter.

Sandpoint Film Festival takes place on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Panida Theater. This year it consists of 32 films — all 20 minutes or shorter — picked from around 3,000 submissions from around the globe, including two local productions. The films originate from countries as diverse as Myanmar, India, Spain, Italy, U.S., Canada, Iceland, Iran, Norway and many others.

For the last two or three years I have been part of the Sandpoint Film Festival, screening and helping select the various short films that we show for our little festival.

The primary goal is to find the films that excel in telling a story, whether it is in a fictional, animation or documentary category. This year we selected 32 films that we feel contribute to the art of filmmaking through telling compelling stories and presenting issues that are important to us as human beings in today’s world. They also give us a window into that same world by showing other cultures, lives and environments that are important to us in recognizing our similarities rather than our differences.

Among the many superb films in this years festival, there is a lovely animated film from Spain about the warm relationship that develops when a little girl meet a disabled little boy. Another animated film from China tells about a young boy starting school and his developing love of education.

From Italy comes a film set in the future and presents the horrifying consequences of climate change and global warming. A documentary from California tells the story of how a small community deals with a water crisis through the dedicated help of one woman. A Canadian film tackles the issue of prejudice and racial and religious bias. The issue of Alzheimer’s is dealt with very differently in films from three different countries, including a warm-hearted, lovely film about memories and love from a filmmaker in our neighboring state of Washington.

The films are presented in three blocks starting at 11 a.m. The second block starts at 3 p.m. and the third at 6 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 4, there is a pre-production party at Café Trinity from 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday morning starts with Filmmakers Coffee at Creations on The Cedar Street Bridge at 8-10 a.m. The festival concludes with a Post-Production Party at the Café Trinity Lounge starting at 9 PM. The price of admission is $8 per block or $ 20 for an all access pass that includes the Pre-Production Party and the Post-Production Party.

Separately the parties are priced at $15 each. Advance tickets are available at www.panida.org or through Sandpoint Films at 208-290-0597.

Janice Jarzabek, Erik Daarstad and secretary/treasured Bernice Webb work together as an all-volunteer board.  Becky Revak is projectionist and film coordinator for the festival. Eric Ridgway will host the event. Café Trinity and Best Western and Elsaesser, Jarzabek, Anderson, Elliott & Macdonald have sponsored the festival since 2010.