Every year, it feels this way. Like the last day of summer camp, or the final curtain call of a play in which you had a small, but treasured, part. You’re wiped out – physically and emotionally – so there’s an element of relief. You’ve made all these new friends in a very short time – amazing people you may never see again – so there’s grief. You’ve spent three days living in a magic bubble – neglecting everything in your life that’s not bubble-related – so, hovering just past the edge of your immediate thoughts, there’s dread. But mostly, there’s this overwhelming sense of wondrous gratitude.

It was one of those moments you know you won’t forget. (BIFF is full of them.) I was hobnobbing with filmmakers at an elegant Cuthbert House soiree, “feeling my oats,” as they say. Had just spent some time chatting with Mike Tollin, director of “Radio,” in town for the film’s 10^th anniversary screening – and to receive his Jean Ribaut Award for Excellence in Filmmaking. Tollin was charming and urbane, like most everyone else in the place. Suddenly, two men entered the hallway where I now stood talking with festival organizer Rebecca Tucker. One, an older gentleman wearing a hooded sweatshirt; the other, a black man dressed in similar attire, with the letters HH on his chest.  “That’s Coach Jones and Radio!” Rebecca told me, excited. “We weren’t sure they were coming.” Harold Jones, retired Hanna High football coach, was polite and friendly, if a little out of his element, but “Radio” (James Robert Kennedy) seemed hesitant and disoriented. Maybe not so glad to be there? “Go get Mike Tollin,” Rebecca told me, and I reticently complied.

Each year when the Beaufort International Film Festival rolls into town, I am a woman torn. While I relish our relationship with the festival, I always find myself struggling with the following dilemma: How do I spend my time there? Each year, we set up our blogging table (which looks like an ad for Apple), determined to share the spirit of the Festival with the “outside world.” But here’s the thing: I’m no good at blogging on the fly. I’ve never been a fast writer – I stress over every syllable – and trying to dash off anything of substance in five or ten minutes, between films, is damn near impossible for me. And then there are the people! How am I supposed to sit quietly, my face buried in my computer screen, when there are all these fascinating filmmakers milling about, even stopping by our table for a chat?

We’re having a blast here at the USCB Center for the Arts, where the Beaufort International Film Festival is off to an incredible start! We had four 7^th graders from Riverview shadowing us this morning for Career Day, and I think they had fun, too! They got to interview Angela Alford (director of “Granny’s Got Game), meet BIFF veteran and triple threat (actor, director, screenwriter) Gary Weeks, see two great short films, and try out the BIFF popcorn (two thumbs up!). As for us, we just interviewed VW Scheich, director of “Wallenda,” a beautiful short film that freaked Jeff out (he has a “heights thing”) and made me cry. Look for that video interview – and a whole lot more – right here on our website.