We wanted to bring out the humor - after all, it's a bagging competition - while honoring the contestants for whom we had developed a great deal of respect.

My friend's "war stories" from the days when he had been a member of the Latin Kings were great material for a film. Special From-the-Filmmaker.

Transgenders face challenges we all share: acceptance, sense of self and the need to be who you are. Special from the filmmakers.

What would happen if we all acted with no care for the future and no regard for the past? Using film as a vehicle for political outrage was a new experience for me. From-the-Filmmaker special.

Chuck Connelly's strange vision of painting for posterity (or God) forced me to keep going as well. From-the-Filmmaker at LAFF; find more Guest Contributor specials.

Their claims of changing from gay to straight challenge our understanding of identity. But are they living a lie? From-the-Filmmaker special.

Lena Baker's is a tragic tale, but the greater tragedy would be in not telling the story. From-the-Filmmaker, Cannes 2008.

Castles' showmanship and charisma played up the show in showbiz, shares filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz. Special from Newport Beach Film Festival.

"Only a child can look past the squalor so innocently." Filmmaker Engi Wassef gives a glimpse of the inspiration to share the story words can't tell. Special from Tribeca Film Festival.

"Luckily, I possessed the single most important personality trait a first time filmmaker can have," says writer/director Chris Ford. Special from the Newport Beach Film Festival.

"Waiting for Hockney is less a film about art - its ostensible topic - than about spiritual matters both personal and cultural," says director Julie Checkoway in this MPM exclusive from Tribeca.

"We're really hoping to paint a broader picture about surf culture and, in particular, the California lifestyle and the surfing lifestyle on the West Coast." From the festival, MPM exclusive.

When I was writing this story, I absorbed different parts of different worlds I found myself in. From-the-Filmmaker festival exclusive.

"Can't," "Won't," "Never," "Won't happen...ever" were the words that greeted the Newcastle script and me. From-the-Filmmaker festival exclusive.

1,000 blank journals passed from hand to hand, collecting stories, pictures, collages. Only one came back. We tracked the other 999. Special filmmaker exclusive.

The script Tom delivered was far more poignant than I expected. Special from the filmmaker at Newport Beach Film Festival.

They unwittingly started a movement in Argentina that has led to workers forming cooperatives to run more than 200 formerly abandoned businesses. From-the-Filmmaker Special.

"...it was like the movie had taken on a life beyond the screen." From-the-Filmmaker exclusive from Newport Beach Film Festival.

"The emotional landscape and the power and potency of the characters attracted me." Special From-the-Filmmaker.

The sincere notion that art could actually change people's hearts and minds was instilled in me from an early age. Special From-the-Filmmaker.

As geek-culture heroes, cubers attracted a wide following - everyone wanted to ogle at their skills. But their speedcubing competitions are also about cooperation. From-the-Filmmaker special.

Even for women working in Afghanistan, there were more important things to worry about than clothing. Or were there? From-the-Filmmaker special.

Dir. Beth Murphy shares the story of inspiration behind her award-winning documentary of two women's courage and humanity after 9/11.

Doug, whose knowledge of all things jazz dwarfs mine, took responsibility for lining up the fine artists who populate our film. Special From-the-Filmmaker.

How could a decent person, who is like any of us, get sucked into nationalist genocidal war? Special From-the-Filmmaker.

Women characters are almost always intrinsically more interesting. And Michelle's approach was all I'd hoped for. From-the-Filmmaker exclusive.

A sweet, unique film sparked from one hilarious snapshot and created all these family connections along the way. Special From-the-Filmmaker.

"I wanted to examine the idea of forgiveness as a mechanism of survival." From-the-Filmmaker special from Newport Beach Film Festival.

How can I make a film that inspires everyone on the planet to come together as one? The answer is found in the universal language of music. Tribeca From-the-Filmmaker exclusive.

The task we set out to accomplish was simple enough: give people insight into the life of this unique senior citizen...but we had no primary source to go to. Tribeca 2008 From-the-Filmmaker exclusive.

Director Julian Richards shares influences known and influences only discovered after the fact. From-the-Filmmaker exclusive from Newport Beach Film Festival.

The film explores the ways that fear has the ability to shut us down or, ultimately, allow us to open. Exclusive From-the-Filmmaker from Tribeca.

The challenge of making a film about Che Guevara's iconic portrait, "Guerrillero Heroico." From-the-Filmmaker Special from Tribeca Film Festival.

Our credo: Make the kind of film we would have wanted to see as 12-year-olds. Special from Newport Beach Film Festival.

Screamfest sensation Marc Senter shares with Moving Pictures readers his thoughts on the stepping stones paving his path to proving himself.

Filmmaker Emiko Omori celebrates the difference between porn and art. Film screens at San Francisco Women's Film Festival 2008.

"Not only was I making a documentary, but I was serving as a facilitator across boundaries for women - and filmmakers - to connect globally."

Real life parallels the storyline of a quest that uncovers surprising connections to the lead character's idol, John Wayne. Special from 2008 AFI Dallas. See other fest specials.

Special contribution from Tanna Frederick, star of Henry Jaglom's new film Hollywood Dreams.

The director and producer of one of this year's Oscar-nominated animation shorts share the roller-coaster journey of its creation and reception.

Hang out with a squadron of fighter pilots - and live their dream... When the audience stood up and applauded, we knew we'd done it.

The story's basic essence: losing basketball games. Yet I am 100% certain Mr. Naismith would cite Caltech basketball as the shining example of why he invented the game in the first place.

Let's face it - the world is a mess and the young people will inherit this mess. We should do all we can to help them deal with it...

Film is his bridge between generations. From writer/director Michael Schroeder, MITC's genesis and journey from mind to moviehouse.

Raving on the streets of New York, with its filmmaker Julia Stiles. (Special for Tribeca 2007)

Spotlight on a unique rehabilitation opportunity - in a system not known for its humanity - that could truly save lives.

The filmmaking experience of The Take, from director Brad Furman. 

Shadows, says filmmaker Milcho Manchevski, is a film about sex and death, and a few other things - like personal responsibility.

From the filmmaker: Arthur Dong writes about his new project, Hollywood Chinese. For more Guest Contributor articles, click HERE.

Strong words as guest contributor Harry Shearer shares strong thoughts on broadcast indecency.

Civic Duty star Peter Krause ponders American paranoia.

Documentary filmmaker Rick Ray reminisces on His Holiness and Hotmail.

"Backwards" best describes how I made this docu-style fiction about the supposed "world's most famous doorman," lauded by NY's well-connected.