As I’ve mentioned, area film festivals have agreed to blog for Art&Seek to give us a behind-the-scenes look at how these events come together, to introduce us to filmmakers, and to bring us news and fun stories from the North Texas film community. Last month, Alec Jhangiani of the Lonestar Film Festival kicked things off. This month, it’s the Dallas Video Festival’s turn. Bart Weiss, Fest director and president of Video Association of Dallas sent this post in during the wee hours. – Anne Bothwell

Hi folks. Welcome to the Dallas Video Festival part of the inside look at the film festival world.

Today’s post will be brief, but I wanted to start…. I am still in the process of programming the fest. And this year it is much more stressful than usual. (How can that be?) It is always stressful, but this year we have decided to have a trimmer slimmer festival: fewer rooms, fewer days, fewer choice.

Last year we had 6 days with 4 rooms going on at any time. This year we have trimmed down to 3 days and fewer rooms. During this time I have dueling anxieties: On the one hand, I am looking at all these piles of DVDs that I want to find a way into the festival. On the other, the empty boxes in the schedule grid are getting smaller and smaller.

At the same time, I know in the pit of my stomach that there is something I have forgotten, somebody who, if I called, would tell me about something being finished that will be just the thing that will make the festival. I don’t know if it is true but the anxiety is real. While this is going on, I try to remember if there really is something I forgot.

But do you know what can cure that anxiety? Seeing something great. And I’ve got some new work to see before my head hits the pillow so it’s time to sign off.

More later.