Lake Arrowhead Film Festival Review By Muhammad Ali Hasan Director of RABIA November 2008      My name is Muhammad Ali Hasan and I was proud to have my short film, RABIA, screened at the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival in the Spring of 2008. I was also proud to win the Best Short Film award. RABIA has won many awards on the festival circuit and it has taken me to many cities. With my festival tour wrapping up, there is no doubt in my mind that my experience at the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival was one of the best!      From a filmmaker standpoint, I made, potentially, the most amount of connections at Lake Arrowhead. There were a ton of Hollywood stars and industry veterans attending the festival, and each night ended with most of us sharing drinks at the bar together and discussing films. Just the discussion was extremely educational and there are few festivals that offer such an intimate experience with so many industry veterans.      The crowds at each screening were also large and it was a great chance to receive feedback on our films. And of course, every film shown was excellent.      The other excellent part about the festival is its format and overall venue. Housed in a nice hotel on Lake Arrowhead itself, the festival becomes a weekend of film intoxication. Movies play all day and filmmakers line the bar of the hotel each evening, talking movies. It really couldn’t be a better way to host a film festival, as most festivals suffer from a lack of cohesion amongst its patrons – Lake Arrowhead, on the other hand, brings all patrons together very seamlessly.      Contributing to this festival is an excellent choice. The funds will go towards housing more filmmakers, guaranteeing that people not only watch movies, but also hear from the filmmakers, themselves. I will personally plan on entering all of my future independent films into this great festival and I look forward to watching it become one of the best! Please email me with any further questions – peace and love – Muhammad Ali Hasan Director, RABIA EMAIL: info@RabiaMovie.com WEB: www.RabiaMovie.com

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To Whom It May Concern, My name is Diane Ambruso and I am a lecturer in the Department of Radio-Tv-Film at California State University, Fullerton. I am also a filmmaker and writer. I would like to share with you the wonderful things being done by Mary Dippell and the folks at the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival. My film was accepted this year and I attended. The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival is an extraordinary non-profit organization, filled with extraordinary individuals passionate about their community and supporting the arts. Filmmaking is a laborious, heartbreaking, sometimes back-breaking endeavor. Yet, in my opinion, the arts are what keep our society “alive”, on a spiritual level. I truly believe that without art, we would die. Films are the quintessential modern “art” form… Films serve immense importance in our culture. While for the Hollywood studios films can be a highly profitable product, at the film festivals –- and especially the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival – films are valued for their contributions to the human spirit. I know this and witnessed this first hand. The love, care and attention to detail offered by each member of the staff convinced me of it. Please consider supporting The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival. It is a vibrant, necessary part of the mountain community and a necessary implement in keeping the arts alive and thriving. Sincerely, Diane Ambruso Lecturer, Department of Radio-Tv-Film California State University , Fullerton