How does one start a film festival? For Kelley Miller, the co-founder of the Calabasas Film Festival -- now in its 13th year -- it all began over a cup of coffee with the mayor of Calabasas and her father in which she said "I think that's a me-thing."Today, the festival has grown from three days to five, bringing filmmakers, actors, and movie lovers together to celebrate film and the community around it.In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, Kelley shares how she went from studying film in Italy to working in Hollywood PR, and eventually creating a film festival of her own.We talk about:- How the Calabasas Film Festival got started- Why Kelley wanted to create a film celebration rather than a competition- What it takes to organize a film festival from the ground up- How she has adapted through theater closures, COVID, and other challenges- Why the festival’s young filmmaker program is so meaningfulIf you love supporting movies, make sure to check out the Calabasas Film Festival September 23–27.

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This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions