A Film/Video Producers & Writers Group meets on the third Thursday of the month at Blue Ridge Motion Picture Studios in Studio A. Meet and greet will be from 6:30-7:00 p.m. and the meeting time is 7-9 p.m. The goals of organizing the Network are: To work together to complete media projects which utilize local talent and crews and are funded locally; To promote the local media businesses outside our area; To help create new forms/types/styles of media, and; To train our media community by working on projects and informing them of industry developments. All levels of experience and investors are welcome. E-mail: winstonlacroix@yahoo.com for more info.

The First Friday of the Month Club for Working Actors of Charlotte (FFOTMCFWAOC) offers monthly newsletters, speakers, projects and social events. The club meets the first Friday of each month. Guests and first time attendees are charged $10 per meeting (applicable to membership dues at the next attended meeting). New members welcome. For details, call 704-561-2279.

The Association of Independent Film and Video Makers (AIVF) / Charleston Film Society Film Salon meets the last Thursday of each month at the Charleston Co. Library (Calhoun St.) in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m.

The Cape Fear Independent Film Network (CFIFN) is a small non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the art of independent film through education, exhibition and an annual short film/short screenplay competition. The group meets at least once a month in downtown Wilmington. Visit: www.cfifn.org for dates and times.

The Center for Documentary Studies (1317 W. Pettigrew St. in Durham, NC 27705) holds a monthly discussion group called “We’re Talking Documentary Film and Video.” The group meets on the last Thursday of each month for documentary screenings followed by open discussions. Meetings are free and open to the public. For info, contact Julie Shapiro at 919-660-3666 or jshap@duke.edu.

The Charlotte Film & Video Association (CFVA) is a non-profit organization for film and video professionals in the Charlotte Region. CFVA hosts monthly meetings that provide an opportunity for industry networking and encourages growth in the area’s film industry. Visit: http://cfvonline.com or call 704-559-5950 for info.

Once a month, the A/V folks at the Center for Documentary Studies (1317 W. Pettigrew St. in Durham, NC 27705) present educational, 16mm films from the 1940s-80s. $2 donation suggested. Call Chris Sims at 919-660-3664 for info.

The S.E.T. (Showcase of Entertaining Talent) meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9 pm, at the Film Workshop and Laboratory (200 S. Elm St., Greensboro). It provides networking sessions for writers, actors, producers and filmmakers. For info, call 336-288-7728 or visit: www.njoytheset.com.

North Carolina Screenwriters (NCS) meets on every other Sunday night at 7:30 in Winston-Salem, NC and is designed to help local screenwriters develop and market their screenplays. Visit: www.ncscreenwriters.com for schedules and info.

The Sumter Main Street Screening Salon is a venue for presenting and discussing the work of emerging and established film, video and other media-artists including: independent, documentary, animation, experimental, digital experimental media, nontraditional formats and interdisciplinary projects. The Salon takes place monthly, the first Tuesday at 7 p.m. (times may vary if outside). Times are listed monthly. Admission: $3 for “artists fees.” Venues: The Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main Street, Downtown Sumter or in nontraditional venues located throughout downtown.

Several Greensboro filmmakers have formed Triadindie Group to help support and develop the local film community. This group is for interested writers, directors, actors, producers, crew and fans. Visit: groups.yahoo.com/group/triadindie/ for info.

The Director’s Laboratory in Greensboro — If you would like to participate, e-mail Stephen Hyers at stephen.hyers@ci.greensboro.nc.us for info.

Factory Films has begun a monthly film series in Charlotte. For info, call Wendy Fishman at (704) 333-9755 or email: wendy@lightfactory.org.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS/CALL FOR ENTRIES:

Glitter Films showcases 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm and pixel films of independent filmmakers, plus older educational and entertainment films. No fee to submit. VHS, Film Prints and DVD are accepted. Send self address and prepaid envelopes for video returns. Submit short films, videos, etc. to: Kirk Adam, 107 W Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601. For more info, go to Glitter’s new website: http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/glitterfilms/

The Rural Route Film Festival has been created to highlight works that deal with rural people and places. Whether it be a documentary, a fictional backpacking drama, or a personal/experimental work about life in a small town, we want to see and hear what you have to say. The festival will take place in July, 2006 in New York City. See www.ruralroutefilms.com/submissions.html for details.

Triangle Jewish Film Festival to be held at the Galaxy Cinema in Cary, NC. A full day of Jewish films and other cultural events organized by the Triangle Jewish Film Festival Committee (formerly the NC Jewish Film Festival Steering Committee), in cooperation with Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federations, will take place Sunday, May 21, 2006. The film program will be announced by the end of February. For more info, e-mail: Barry.Schwartz@rcjf.org or 919-676-2200. For directions to the Galaxy Cinema, go to www.mygalaxycinema.com/Directions.asp