OREM — More than 5,000 ticket holders including producers, directors and actors are expect- ed at this year's LDS Film Festival, the seventh year for the event.

Films shown at the festival are either produced and directed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or have an LDS theme or interest.

Festival director Christian Vuissa said the 2008 lineup is the strongest festival program ever put together.

Full-length features include "Forever Strong," "Tears of a King: The Latter Days for Elvis," "The Errand of Angels" (produced and directed by Vuissa), "TAKE," starring Minnie Driver," "Happy Valley," "Hold the Door," "The Eleventh Hour," "Emma Smith: My Story," "The Pratt Brothers: Builders of Faith"and "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons."

There is also a feature on the life of Kresimir Cosic, "An Off-Court Story," plus workshops and presentations on the future of Mormon media, the business of making film trailers and working effectively within the industry.

Highlights include the 24-hour filmmaking marathon event, the short-film competition and script competition. The short-film competition is an integral part of the LDS Film Festival. In the past, filmmakers like Jared Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite"), Ryan Little ("Saints and Soldiers"), Andrew Black ("Pride and Prejudice"), Tim Skousen ("The Sasquatch Gang") and many others have had their short films in the competition.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, see www.ldsfilmfestival.org. Watch for reviews of the major films in next week's Utah Valley Life.

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If you go . . .

What: Seventh annual LDS Film Festival
Where: SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State, Orem
When: through Jan. 19
Cost: $45 event pass; $28/day pass; $2-$6 various events
Phone: 225-2569
Web: www.ldsfilmfestival.org