by Pat Saperstein
San Jose's
Cinequest film festival marked its 18th edition with 12 days of programming and a record 80,000 expected attendance. With theatrical distribution becoming increasingly difficult for independents, filmmakers at the
Distribution Day panels were eager to discuss self-distribution alternatives and ways to get the word out via blogs and social networking.
Buzz was building on titles such as Vuze Audience Favorite Online Competition winner "
The Pussycat Preacher," about
Heather Veitch (pictured), who has run afoul of Christians over her ministry for sex workers. "They think my breasts are too large to preach the gospel," she explains.
Other titles being talked about were "
Sherman's Way," starring
James LeGros, which director
Craig Saavedra said was not so much a road movie as a pit-stop movie, and "
Disfigured," about a Venice Beach-based fat acceptance group facing an anorexic woman who wants to join their group, with a feisty performance by
Deidra Edwards.
Michael Keaton, who preemed his directing debut "
The Merry Gentleman" at
Sundance, came to town to accept the fest's
Maverick Spirit Award. Also in line to receive Maverick awards during the fest are
Danny Glover,
Michael Arndt and
Bobby Moresco.
While even the best smaller films are often left high and dry after making the festival rounds, Cinequest acquires several films each year through its distribution arm, headed by
Halfdan Hussey, which acquires films for DVD and online distribution, giving filmmakers a generous percentage of sales. One of its latest acquisitions, docu "
Trained in the Ways of Men," about a Northern California transgender murder case, is already drawing attention prior to its DVD release.
Michael Jones is the film festival editor at Variety.com. 
