The day has come — Saturday, August 21, 2010 — that marks the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival short competition. As of this writing, KCRW's Nic Harcourt is blasting tunes as the margherita mix chills as this year's competition is underway. Tickets are available at the gate for $20 and food is available on site, although, patrons are always welcome to bring their own picnic.

Joseph and Amedee said they have secured the bulk of funding needed to construct a multi-faceted entertainment complex that will include a state-of-the-art production facility dedicated to “broader-casting” and multimedia. The duo plans to revitalize multiple city blocks along St. Bernard Avenue, blighted by Hurricane Katrina to provide a live event facility similar to the Decatur Street-based House of Blues.

“Our live event venue and entertainment complex is in the heart of the Treme, where New Orleans music lives, breathes, reproduces and continues its legacy of greatness,” Amedee said.

“We are enthused about forging a relationship with the Topanga Film Institute in fostering cultural and creative exchange. We have a lot of raw talent here in the Treme and in greater New Orleans and new avenues of outreach are always welcome, particularly if they come with reciprocity, like that which we expect through the Topanga Film Festival and institute,” Joseph said.

Joseph said that he is excited about the prospect of New Orleans Public School students, charter school students and the broad spectrum of high school and college students in the region participating in the Suitable for All Screens competition. Amedee and Joseph said they also look forward providing educational and production opportunities to New Orleans youth through their studio and in alliance with the Topanga Film Festival and similarly disposed festivals throughout the world.

Next in store for the Chino-based French native is a documentary focused on positive change in America in a post-petroleum based economy and a close look at the challenges ahead in reformatting lives without many of the creature comforts of a post dotcom booming America.

Adina for Life, Inc., is led by a pioneering team of entrepreneurs from Odwalla®, and SoBe®. Inspired by the vision to create a world that “Drinks No Evil,” these industry innovators came together to grow Adina and change the way the world does business—one drink at a time. The company is dedicated to producing great-tasting, better-for-you, fair trade beverages, using only natural and/or USDA organic, directly sourced ingredients from around the world.

Adina for Life, Inc. has three product lines: Adina Holistics™ Herbal Elixirs, Baristas Brews™ All-Natural Coffee Drinks, and Organic Tribal Blends™, Coffee Drinks. For more information or to follow Adina Holistics on Twitter click here.The alliance was forged between festival organizers and Los Angeles-based Adina Southern California Sales Manager Chris Burleson.

Drink No Evil is Adina’s moniker.

Suzanne Lezotte, Panavision’s Director of Public Relations, who arranged for the sponsorship said, “Even in these challenging economic times we are committed to the furtherance of our outreach to new filmmakers and are happy to work again with the Topanga Film Festival.”

The Panavision Gold II 35mm camera package consists of:

- Panaflex Gold II camera body with long and short eyepieces
- Color video tap with monitor
- Three 1000-ft. magazines and four 500-ft. magazines
- Full set of accessories including matte box, handheld aks and more
- Super speed lenses including 14mm, 17mm, 20mm, 24mm, 29mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm
- Zoom lens 10-1 Cooke
- Panahead gearhead
- Sachtler fluid head
- Standard as well as baby tripods with spreader
- Hi hat and low hat
- 20 filters
- 3 lead acid batteries
- belt batteries

The Panaflex Elaine 16mm camera package is similar, however, commensurate to a 16mm package.

Topanga Film Festival co-founder, Urs Baur, who turns 47 today, said among his goals for his new year is building an active and engaged Topanga Film Institute to best serve the local film community, to expand production in baurhouse and to a phenomenal festival in August.

According to the Los Angeles Times astrologer, “The best part of your life is yet to come. You move quickly toward a professional goal. A June trip is romantic. Lifestyle upgrades in August lead to personal developments in September. November brings a windfall. Sagittarius and Cancer people adore you. Your lucky numbers are 4, 5, 22, 10 and 41.”

Pondering the lifestyle upgrade promised by the Los Angeles Times astrologer, Urs said he is profoundly grateful to be able to live and work in Topanga and finds it difficult to imagine a lifestyle improvement, unless, of course, “it has something to do with that romantic trip in June — to the World Cup.”

Topanga Film Festival supporter Chandos Erwin has never sported facial hair, barring a little weekend scruff every now and then. He admits to having been a mad Magnum P.I. and Smokey and the Bandit fan while idolizing many other mustached men of the 70s and 80s, it has taken the Community Magnet “March Mustache Madness” Mustache-a-thon to arrest the razor at Chandros’ lip line.

With Community Magnet Charter School facing a serious shortage of funding, Chandos has put his money where his mouth is . . . well, right above it. All of the money pledged to watch Chandos grow handlebars goes directly to Community Magnet Charter School to help fund programs that are currently threatened by L.A.U.S.D.’s budget cuts.

With Topanga schools facing a similar fate, it may be time for Topangans to initiate a facial-hair-athon of their own. All interested should email: info@topangafilmfestival.com.

The Goals: Grow a sweet ’stache and raise money for the school.

The Prize: Not having to pink-slip teachers and librarians next year.

The Bonus Prize: The person who raises the most money wins a two-night hotel stay at the O Hotel.

How it works: Anyone who likes the idea of Chandos growing a mustache and isn’t already sick to death of contributing to school fundraisers, should click here.

Every year, Dreamago, an international non-profit organization founded in France and dedicated to assisting writers and writer/directors to bring their visions to fruition, selects 10 writers to participate at their annual writers’ workshop held at Chateau Mercier in the Swiss Alps. The organization promotes the vision that if a story is well told, it can transcend cultural context and become universal.

Today, Dreamago co-founder, Soula Saad, a director/producer and Topanga resident, confirmed her organization’s commitment to play an expanded role in the 2010 Topanga Film Festival. In addition to co-creating a day of international networking, cultural exchange, creative speed dating, music, screenings and panels. It will also participate in the selection and making of a screenwriting award during the festival.

Dreamago and Topanga Film Festival co-founder Urs Baur have committed to a weekly powwow starting this week, and throughout the next several months leading to the festival to meld resources and co-create the deepest reaching event possible.

In addition to supporting the Topanga Film Festival, Dreamago has also participated with the American Film Institute and has worked with writers Stephen Frears, Alain Corneau, Pete Lacaba, Jorge Perugorria and Guillermo Arriaga, among others.