When the Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series began six years ago, the films were shown, literally, on a projector screen on our old, sad-looking stage. The average attendance, at first, was something like, 15-20.

Of course, it was awesome; it had a spunky, up-from-your-bootstraps kind of vibe, which I think it still retains. But it has come a long was since then. I guess that’s kind of an understatement.

The Series is one of the best in the world – there’s no submission fee, for example – and this year, we received more applicants than ever. And after rolling out 51 films (out of around 600 submitted) this summer, it all now comes down to this – the final night, the grand gala, the big enchilada, the hot pastrami, the pipin’ hot clam boat.

You should come.

From 7 to 8 pm, we’ll be holding a reception with beer, wine, chocolates, and of course, popcorn. There’ll also be a very special guest: the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, an incredible world-class string quartet whose recent performances have included China, South Korea, and South America.

Then…the films. The winners. The cream of the crop. The wheat from the chaff. The shrimp in the paella. The shrimp in the bouillabaisse. The tripe in the menudo. The cookie dough chunks in the cookie dough ice cream.

We’ll be showing the best films from the summer, as chosen by our illustrious jury, which includes Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Michael Polish, Kirsten Dunst, Vilmos Zsigmond, Susan Littenberg, and Lawrence Inglee.

And, of course, there’ll be the audience award winner, as chosen by you, the um, audience.

I, personally, plan on wearing a V-Neck. Last year, a locally-renowned bartender rolled up in a full tuxedo.

It ruled.