Touring the festival circuit can be a daunting undertaking, even for those who have done so in the past. Learning a little more about each festival, and outlining the screenings and events that you are most interested in can be of tremendous benefit. Having access to the latest information and festival details can keep you from missing the most exciting premiers or the most talked about events. Staying current and up to date with the latest details and information for any film festival is never a concern that should be neglected or left to chance.

Big name cable providers, you know, like the ones that give you Directv NFL Sunday Ticket, are also known for their diversity when it comes to movie channels. You get the classics, you get the hot new releases and, of course, you get the indie productions.

And, in many ways, having the film festival in your home is a lot better because it gives you the opportunity to share some of these unsung classics with your community. Instead of having the neighbors come over to watch a show or The Grey, you can have an indie film night where you’re free to discuss the creativity and imagination of these thought-provoking films.

So don’t sweat it if you can’t make it to the big name film festivals. You have other choices when it comes to getting your indie fix.

The Sonoma International Film festival takes place in mid-April in the wine country of Sonoma Valley and the 2012 festival is shaping up to give participants a taste of just about everything. Among the films promised for this year are bipotics “Lady Gaga’s Secret World” and “Charleston Heston and Ben Hur: A Personal Journey”. There’s Sci-Fi Thriller “Pig” a critically acclaimed film about an amnesia sufferer reminiscent of “Memento”, yet with it’s own twist. There’s also lighter flavors, such as the Venezuelan romantic comedy “Habana Eva” about a seamstress who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, and socially conscious films like “Teached” a compilation of short films and interviews about the challenges of the US educational system, or animal inspired films like “Dolphinboy” about a young Arab boy who finds healing power after an attack by spending time with dolphins in the Red Sea, and “Entre Lobos” about another boy who grows up among wolves.

Many more selections are yet to be finalized, but tickets for the 2012 Sonoma International Film Festival are available. If you’re a film buff near the Sonoma Valley, it’s something you won’t want to miss.

Focusing on smaller independent films, the festival is a boon for up-and-coming or unrecognized directors. Past winners include Nick Stagliano (2011 for Good Day For It), Luis Mandoki (2005 for Voces Inocentes), and Beth Murphy (2008 for Beyond Belief). Best performances for actors and actresses have been awarded to Ethan Peck (2009 for Adopt a Sailor) and Mira Sorvino (2009 for Like Dandelion Dust).

Many films featured at the first featured at the festival have gone on to box office acclaim, such as The 500 Days of Summer, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and Bhutto. International films also have a large presence during the event.

Held in April, the festival draws upward of 18,000 attendees and features local food and wine as well as the films. In addition to the film screenings there are also panel sessions hosted by industry experts to discuss the current trends in the film world.

“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” follows Clint Eastwood, a drifter known only as The Man With No Name (one character calls him “Blondie” throughout the film), through the crossings, double-crossings, and adventure as he seeks $200,000 in Confederate gold in the old west. Also in on the adventure are Eli Wallach as “The Ugly,” an unintelligent schemer, and Lee Van Cleef as “The Bad,” a brutal thief determined to have the gold to himself.

Beyond that, the plot is impossible to summarize. It is a wandering action epic with a plot as large as the adventure novels of H. Rider Haggard and Edgar Rice Burrougs. And Leone’s approach to action has never been equaled, using nearly endless closeups and savvy use of Ennio Morricone’s score to create unbelievable suspense. For any aspiring action filmmaker – or anyone who appreciates the movies – “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is an essential.