SALEM – Amateur filmmakers have an opportunity to see their works on the big screen without those pesky acceptance criteria at film festivals like Cannes and Sundance.

The Mid-Valley Video Festival returns for a third year of showcasing local talent February 24 through 26 at the Northern Lights Theatre Pub in Salem. Anyone can submit a film under the categories of feature, documentary, music video, animation or “everything else.” Entries are judged on creative and technical merits and prizes will be awarded. All accepted entries will be shown.

The festival began as a small event in February 2004. Kirk Kindle, owner of Capitol City Video, donated a video projector to the historic Elsinore Theatre and suggested that is be used one night by local filmmakers who wanted to see their work on the big screen. Gail Ryder, then executive director at the Elsinore, was looking for a way to expand the film series at the theater and agreed that a film festival would be a great addition to the programming.

Fifteen films were selected by jurors Ryder, Ron Cowan of the Statesman Journal and Loretta Miles, owner of Salem Cinema. These films resulted in a two-hour event. More than 200 people attended, raising $1,000 for the Elsinore Theatre. The $100 grand prize was awarded to the film “Peg’s Legs,” a story about a cancer patient’s participation in the Hood to Coast Relay.

The second annual Mid-Valley Video Festival took place in February 2005 under the direction of Marilyn Herb, interim executive director of the Elsinore. Again, Kindle organized the judging and selection of the 33 films entered, producing a three-hour event attended by 300 people. Jurors were Angela Yeager of the Statesman Journal, Jeff Hart of Allied Video and Nancy Webber, winner of the first year’s competition. “The Question,” by Eric Mason, won Best Picture and a $50 prize, while seven other films gained recognition in other categories.

Because of the overwhelming popularity of the previous events and organizers’ commitment to show every accepted enrty, the festival is expanding from one to three days.

Entry forms, rules and prize information can be found online at www.mvvfest.org. For more information, contact Festival Coordinator Kirk Kindle at 335 Grove St. N.E., Salem, OR 97303 or (503) 371-7044. Entry deadline is Jan. 13.