New Orleans Film Fest

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) kicked off its 24th film fest last Thursday night with the premiere of 12 Years a Slave. For 2 years in a row, MovieMaker Magazine included the New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF) in its “Top 25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” NOFS Executive Director Jolene Pinder should probably prepare for a 3rd inclusion in this honor. The fest has panels, outdoor screenings and plenty of brass bands along with a variety of premieres, many of which were filmed right here in Louisiana.

Everyday Heroes

Last week, I attended a family reunion in Baton Rouge. This past weekend, I again had the pleasure of spending time with family, this time in Virginia. The occasion was my sister-in-law’s graduation from college. Lots of people are graduating from lots of colleges right now, but Lee’s graduation was a victory beyond just celebrating the completion of a degree, it was a moment  to honor the strength and courage, tenacity and excellence of a personal hero for me.