Feel Good Film Festival

The Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF), also known as the Sunflower Film Festival, was held annually in Hollywood, California from 2008 to 2012. The Festival was the largest of its kind. It showed American, international, independent, and family-friendly films from all around the world. It showed films that leave the audience feeling good. The FGFF was a three-day annual event. It was held in August. Some films were short films, screenplays, or student films.
The word film is another word for the American word movie.
History
Mission
Kristen Flores, FGFF Founder and Festival Director, started the Feel Good Film Festival in Hollywood August 22-24, 2008. Flores was quoted as saying "It isn't necessarily difficult to find feel-good films to screen. They've been looking for an outlet,". The mission of the festival is "a film viewing experience for the entire family that encourages the development, production, and distribution of short or feature length films with positive themes, happy endings, that make audiences laugh, and that capture the beauty of our world". The traditional "red carpet" was replaced with a sunburst yellow carpet in keeping with the "Feel Good" theme of sunflowers.
Notability
The Festival had signature "yellow" carpet entrances and international screenings. The FGFF has given awards with $100,000 of prizes. The prizes come from sponsors. These have included Panavision, Hollywood Rentals, Final Draft, Showbiz Software, New York Film Academy, Film Independent, InkTip.com, Tuff Cut Sound and MEHRNOOSH. The awards go to the Feel Good Film Festival's Best Feel Good Feature Film, Best Feel Good Short Film, and Best Feel Good Student Film. There are also Audience Awards for Best Feel Good Feature Film and Best Feel Good Short Film and awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Ensemble and Best Director".
Celebrities honored
The FGFF has honored many celebrities, including funnyman Jonathan Winters (Certifiably Jonathan), Judd Apatow (American Storage), Oscar-winning musical star Shirley Jones (Elmer Gantry, Oklahoma!, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Joe Ballarini (Father vs. Son), Hal Sparks (Queer as Folk), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Carlos Mencia (Comedy Central),. Other stars include James Darren, Sally Field, Jorja Fox, Gregory Harrison, Cliff Robertson (Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story), Greta Gerwig, Iggy Pop (Art House), Daniel Baldwin, Orson Bean, Willie Garson, Clint Howard, Craig Sheffer (Ashley's Ashes), Margot Farley], Mitzi Kapture, John Saxon, Tim Thomerson (God's Ears), Anne Hathaway, Leeza Gibbons (10 Mountains 10 Years), Beth Grant (Herpes Boy), James Hong, Jenna Jameson, Ken Jeong, Josh Meyers, Krysten Ritter, Ian Somerhalder (How to Make Love to a Woman), Tim Allen, Louis C.K., Tommy Davidson, Dana Gould, Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman (I Am Comic) and Elaine Hendrix (The Cloggers). Also Valente Rodriguez (Happily Divorced and Rizwan Manji (Outsourced).
Reception
The Feel Good Film Festival has been recognized as a "most favorite Los Angeles Film Festival". Writer, director, and actor Michael Worth ("God's Ears"; "Jabberwock"; "CSI NY"; "Desperate Housewives") praised the FGFF as "it makes filmmakers dig deeper for more substance over style". Chris Getman created the Festival's website. It was deleted in 2012. Founding FGFF Board members included Kristen Flores, Alan Noel Vega, Natalie Chaidez, Chandler Poling, Sarah "Quigs" Quigley, and America Young; 2011-2012 FGFF Board members included Kristen Flores, Alan Noel Vega, Natalie Chaidez, Dominic Flores, John Wildman, Jenna Charles, Mr. Lawrence, Kelly Koskella, and Richard Kraft.