Cantonfilm.com, in association with the Canton Palace Theatre, will host the 2012 Canton Film Festival in downtown Canton on October 5 and 6, 2012. During this two-day Film Forward event, the public will get the chance to screen the short films of independent directors from across the country.

Tickets are just $20 adults and $15 for students, for entire festival or $5 per block of films.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.cantonpalacetheatre.org or by calling the Palace Box Office at 330.454.8172 Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.   The official 2012 Canton Film Festival schedule will be released on September 14, 2012.

2012 Canton Film Fest Categories are Mobile Movie, Palace Documentary, Documentary, Short Fiction, Sci-Fi Super Hero, Green, Horror and Music Video.  Details on the criteria for each category can be found on www.cantonfilm.com.

Besides the films entered into the festival, 2012 Canton Film Fest also features several special guests. On Friday, October 5, Nick Pustay, acclaimed screenwriter of Ramona and Beezus, Shiver, Camille and Eyeball Eddy amongst others, will lead a discussion after the screening of Ramona and Beezus.  This will be part of the Canton Palace Theatre’s ongoing First Friday Family Movie Series.  Also on Friday, the founders of Stuck in Ohio, will premiere their latest film on extreme sports.

Saturday, October 6 will be a full-day of film screenings and workshops, featuring 2011 Canton Film Fest winner for Story of Stark and Malone University professor of Film Studies Andrew Rudd will discuss steps and techniques in documentary filmmaking.  Other presenters will be announced as they are confirmed.  Also on Saturday evening, the best film in each category will be screened followed by the awards ceremony.  Grace,premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, will be shown at 8:30PM, followed with a Q & A with the films’ Director, Paul Solet.

This Film Forward event is a chance for up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their work. After the entries of each category are screened, there will be an awards ceremony honoring the top-rated films in that respective category, as determined by a panel of judges. Winners will receive prizes for their submissions. Directors who wish to enter their work should visit http://cantonfilm.com/submit-your-film/

The Palace is located at 605 Market Avenue North in Canton, Ohio. Business and box office hours are Monday through Friday 10:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Business offices can be reached at (330) 454-8172 and a 24-Hour Recorded Event Information line is (330) 454-8171.