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Tuesday night ended with a film festival featuring 18 locally made short films. Each was scripted, cast, shot, edited, submitted, everything in 72 hours. Organizer Ian Nolte said itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a specific type of film festival called a ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œfilm sprint.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

This year, 23 teams entered the competition. Each team received a different random prompt at noon on Aug. 15 and their film was due at noon on Aug. 18. Only 18 films made it to the screening, which Nolte said is an accomplishment in itself. It is the highest completion rate the event has had since starting in 2016.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt is a game, like a race. And it sort of combines a film festival with almost maybe like a scavenger hunt, I guess,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Nolte said.

In addition to be a chosen screened film, there are four films recognized at the end of the night that are ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œof special quality.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have a judge, Dr. Walter Squire from the film studies program at Marshall University. He has always been the judge and the prizes are his to give. He reviews the films and he picks a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prize to give out. And we recognize those films at the end of the festival. And this year he wanted to extend it to one special honorable mention,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Nolte said.

Emily Conzett is the COO of Foundry Theater and the vendor coordinator for HMAF. She also acted in one of the films, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œKite Tales,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� that made it into the competition.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThere is a really vibrant community of filmmakers in West Virginia and in Huntington specifically,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Conzett said.

She said that this is one of the most popular events of HMAF.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s always a ton of groups that want to participate and then they bring all their family and friends to come see their movie,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� she said.

Jobe Weitzl co-directed the horror film ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œMunchÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� with his team. He also participated in last yearÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s festival.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œFilmmaking has been a passion of mine and so many of my friends for a very long time. I graduated from the filmmaking program at Marshall like so many other people did and itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s just fun making movies with friends,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� he said.

Other events during HMAF include a comedy night Wednesday at Black Sheep Burritos and Brews. The Sockhop Rave on Thursday has been moved to Old North Arcade.

The weekly 9th Street Live Concert is part of HMAF and there is a Friday night concert at The Loud.

The main event is from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday at Ritter Park Amphitheater with over 20 acts. The full schedule can be found at .