NewEnglandFilm.com

We’re discussing underground films. I’m not sure what the term means. David Kleiler, organizer of Boston’s Underground Film Festival, is helping me out: "Anything labeled underground has to be in part subversive, in part potentially offensive." These are films that stretch the boundaries and push buttons, sometimes tastefully, sometimes not. They test audiences.

The Boston Underground Film Festival celebrates these dangerous films. It embraces its underground categorization by recognizing and promoting the work of artists whose visions run counter to the mainstream. In fact, the most daring filmmakers are rewarded for taking risks: Where else would films compete for title of Most Offensive?

Often, the largest obstacle underground films face, aside from being made, is being seen. Enter the Boston Underground Film Festival. "There’s a certain kind of film that’s not getting adequate exposure in the Boston area, and that’s the whole impetus," says Kleiler. "I don’t want to show things that other people are showing. I want to show things that generally, genuinely can’t be seen for a kind of audience — and Boston has that kind of audience — that will respond to it. The Underground Film Festival’s mission is to fill a gap that’s not currently being filled in the Boston area. There’s no genuine place where there’s a consistent alternative vision going on."

The festival is organized by Local Sightings (also headed by Kleiler) a Brookline company devoted to helping filmmakers get their films made, sold, and seen. Local Sightings guides filmmakers through the entire spectrum of film production, from script consultation to finding potential investors to the developing of marketing and publicity materials. The company’s goal is to promote New England as an exciting, viable filmmaking community. Of course, this is primarily achieved by helping local filmmakers realize their vision in an exciting and financially secure environment. One way is by promoting their product via the festival. "Most of the films are not going to get a chance to be seen elsewhere," says Kleiler. "The big thing is to develop audience awareness of alternative stuff."

Now in its second year, the festival is itself a work in progress. Selecting films from more than 200 submissions, organizers were most surprised by the international drawing power of the festival. "We’re getting films from France, from England," says Kleiler. "We’re getting them from not only around the country, but around the world." Still, the focus of the festival is on local artists, and the majority of films screened will be from New England filmmakers.

The resulting 18 hours of programming is independent film at its most daring. Shunning gloss and polish, the Festival instead celebrates grittiness. Selected films are edgy in form and content. They deal in controversial themes, challenging the audience. Therein lies the value of underground films: to expose the audience to something they’ve never seen before on screen. "To a certain extent, with anyone who would go to an underground film festival, you’re already preaching to the converted," says Kleiler. "What I hope to be able to do is expand those horizons a little bit during the festival."

The festival will take place at the Revolving Museum from February 25-27, from 7:00-1:00 on Friday and Saturday, 3:00-9:00 on Sunday. Films will be displayed simultaneously on two screens. Also included in the program is a curator’s section exhibiting experimental East German films of the 1980s. On Sunday, prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories, including Best of Festival, Best Runner-Up Narrative and Non-Narrative, Best Student Film, Best Animated Film, Most Experimental, and the aforementioned Most Offensive. There will be a single admission charge for each day, allowing attendees to view as many films as they like for one price.

Visit www.localsightings.com for more information about the Festival.