After Gustav brought no air conditioning, cancellation of classes and Saturday school, Baton Rouge residents deserve to kick back and relax with local filmmakers at the Glassell Film Festival.The festival, which will run through Sept. 28 at the Alfred Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts, showcases independent filmmakers from Louisiana. Malia Krolak, gallery coordinator for the School of Art, coordinated the event through hurricanes Gustav and Ike.”We expected less of a turnout because of the hurricanes,” Krolak said. “But we hope to have a bigger crowd on weekends.”Because this is the festival’s first year, Krolak concentrated on “celebrating the work of Louisiana filmmakers.”Hosted by the LSU School of Art, the festival features University alumni and faculty as well as current and former residents. Chicory Miles, professor of 3-D sculpture at the University, participated in the showcase with her film, “Churning of the Milk.””I’m new to filmmaking,” Miles said. “Rod Parker [interim director of the School of Art] mentioned the film festival to me and helped me with the film.”The films range from less than two minutes to 75 minutes long, but Krolak said the average film length is between five to 10 minutes. Miles’ film, focusing on environmental concerns, is eight minutes long.Viewers are provided with cushy couches and popcorn to enhance the environment. The seating was provided by local furniture stores and will be donated to charity when the festival ends. “We blocked the light in the windows, moved in sofas,” Krolak said. “The films are projected on the gallery wall.”Talice Lee, University alumna, submitted “Pauses in Drifting and White Caves.” Lee said her five-minute film is based in a cave.”I used the film to focus on different layers of a person’s surroundings,” Lee said. Lee said Kelli Scott Kelley, one of her former painting professors, contacted her about the festival.”She had seen some of my work and encouraged me to send them a video,” Lee said.Showings of the films will run Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.- – – -Contact Ashley Norsworthy at [email protected]