Cinequest wrapped up this past weekend. It left me with a good taste in my mouth. I came away with a greater appreciation for independent films and a real admiration for the independent filmmaker. Now I can't wait for next year's festival.

For me, the filmmakers have the same appeal as some of the stellar unsigned bands and musicians out there. They may aspire for commercial success and a wider audience, but their focus and efforts are firmly rooted in their art and vision, while they still have creative control.

Honestly, I would be surprised (but extremely happy) if any of the films I saw receive distribution for mass consumption. It is strange, but some of their appeal stems from the very fact that they aren't commercially successful. They have yet to be tainted by a major studio media blitz.

I wasn't bombarded with television commercials, radio spots, billboards, newspaper ads or email spam to see these movies. The only hype came in the form of a producer or director handing me a postcard in person, encouraging me to see his or her film. It seems so ridiculously simple and low tech, but to me, it was refreshingly personal and effective.

Just for future reference, the movies I saw over the weekend included Violin, Book of Rules , 7 Songs, You Got Nothin' and Burning Annie. Only two days after seeing ee perform live, I recognized a few of their songs being used in Book of Rules, which I thought was just bizarre.