The seventh edition of the Californian-based "SONscreen Film Festival" in 2009 continues its tradition of giving young filmmakers star access. The SONscreen Film Festival is annually held at AMP Studios facility in Simi Valley, California/USA. Confirmed presenters are Dick Wolf, award-winning creator and executive producer of the three Law & Order drama series, Christopher Erskin, feature film director, Chris Christmas, renowned marketer and official Denver Democratic National Convention merchandise designer, Brian Belknap, feature film screenwriter, and Karen Covell, producer and director of the Hollywood Prayer Network.

The festival schedule begins Thursday, April 16th with film screenings, 7:00 - 10:30 p.m. On Friday, April 17th there will be three workshops, (Session I - 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Session II - 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.). The topics are "A Discussion on TV and Film production" with Dick Wolf at a special presentation time 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., "Casting from a Director's Point of View" with Christopher Erskin both sessions, and "Scriptwriting" with Bryan Belknap also both sessions. Screenings will resume 7:00 - 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18th includes a praise music jam session, 10:30 - 11:00 a.m., the morning address by keynote speaker Chris Christmas, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., an industry panel from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m., film screenings 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. and the Awards Gala 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Stacia D. Wright, festival producer explains the unique perspective of the festival, "Our focus is to give first-time and aspiring filmmakers a Christian platform to showcase their work in an industry focused forum and expose them to the film industry through education, mentoring, and hands-on access."

The focus of the festival is to act as a conduit directly to students for mentoring, education, and hands-on exposure from top industry professionals in the field in a unique intimate setting. Several alumni who submitted their first film as a college student, have continued in the film industry as working professionals, and collaborated with professional attendees they met at the festival, and even become an official SONscreen planning committee member.

The SONscreen Film Festival is sponsored by the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church based in Silver Springs, Maryland. It is held at The Adventist Media Center, 101 West Cochran Street, Simi Valley, California. George Johnson is the Executive Producer and Stacia D. Wright is the Co-Founder and Festival Producer. For more information about the SONscreen Film Festival, to purchase screening passes, access up-to-date schedule information or to volunteer, visit www.sonscreen.com