MIDDLETOWN – Coyote Film Festival, Lake County's own independent film festival, celebrates dance on Aug. 29 with a 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. screening at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor’s Center in Middletown.

Meet special guest filmmaker, Karina Epperlein who created the beautiful film, “Phoenix Dance.”

Epperlein will be on hand for an audience question and answer session. The cost is $10 at door or $5 for kids 16 and under. Concessions are available, including Coyote popcorn.

See a great selection of shorts, animation and short docs that highlight the collaboration of choreographers, dancers and filmmakers! This collection of films has it all; incredible dance, beautiful scenery, poignant and funny moments. A must-see.

The lineup so far (not in order of screening)

Short: “Babel” by Peter Sparling. Peter Sparling is a former member of Martha Graham Dance Co. who returns in a solo that would only be possible on screen. Mirroring the voices in Arvo Part's score, he reveals four physical personalities. He transcends boundaries of gender and character while charting a man’s struggle to embody his own metamorphosis.

Short: “Trolley Dances” by Mark Freeman. Mark films 'Trolley Dances' a non-profit dance group who create public, site-specific dances in San Diego. Follow the various choreographers and dancers as they work out specific dances and performs them on an unsuspecting public! Great fun.

Short: “Horizon of Exile” by Isabel Rocamora. We follow a journey through dance of two women across timeless desert landscapes as they negotiate issues of self-image and belonging. It is punctuated by voice testimonies of Iraqi exiles. A visually stunning film that will stay with you for a long time.

Animation: “En Tus Brazos” by François-Xavier Goby, Edouard Jouret and Matthieu Landour. This is a beautiful French-made Spanish animation movie where nothing can stop a tango dancing couple ... not even fate. It abounds with creativity, sentiment and argentine tango.

Short Doc: “Phoenix Dance” by Karina Epperlein. After losing a leg to cancer, Homer Avila returns to the stage, performing with Andrea Flores, a dance choreographed by Alonzo King. The rehearsal process is fierce and tender. Solo or intertwined, Homer collaborates in his now “imperfect” body and his “one-leggedness” turns into transcendent beauty. Truly uplifting and deeply touching.

Plus other dance surprises! Visit www.CoyoteFilmFestival.org for more.