Last week was not the most rewarding week for me, I was bending over backwards for clients, running inumerable errands and basically giving all I had only to have people ask for more. So when I arrived in Silver Spring for the SILVERDOCS festival Friday evening, I was cranky, frustrated and not in the best of moods. Within hours, all that had melted away and was replaced with exhilaration and inspiration.

I wasn't able to complete my "to do" list at the fest, I missed "Seeds," "Dirty Work" and the entire conference. But I did catch several films, including the superb "Harlan County USA" as I'd hoped. There was a stirring tribute to Barbara Kopple that preceded the sold out screening and suffice it to say, this was indeed the perfect environment to see the film for the first time.

Barbara (pictured middle) and friends enjoying the post-tribute party

Films like Harlan County and Born Into Brothels, which also played the fest and packed houses, are what inspired me. Think of the guts it must have taken for a 20 year old Barbara Kopple to even attempt to film something as uncomfortable, challenging and down right dangerous as the coal miner's strike in Harlan County in '76. Or the nerve of Zana Briski to not just enter Calcutta's red light district with a camera but to arm the children living there with cameras of their own. I doubt very seriously that I could find the strength to do either of those things.

I also caught the Speed Levitch tour on Sunday, completing my now abbreviated to-do list. It was a blast, not only is Speed entertaining and informative on tour, his seemingly stream-of-conscious philosophical observations are wise, thought provoking and often profound. He is also an entertainer extraordinar and self-described clown, making for the kind of light-hearted teaching, not preaching, that I have always responded well to. He can also host a party with he best of 'em and his AFQ speech at one after party has me grinning even as I type this.

Speed fills us in on the origins of Silver Spring and the acorn gazebo next to it.

Last, but certainly not least, I was impressed, mmm, humbled even by the effort the staff and volunteers put on to make the fest what is was. I am not objective of course, I am lucky enough to count some of the staff as friends, but that made it all the more impressive knowing that the tiniest of details were being looked after while the rest of us enjoyed great films, great food and great company. My seemingly hellish work weeks were not so impressive compared to the round-the-clock effort these folks put in. One day I will open a retreat in Key West just for festival staff, a chance for them to unwind and be celebrated the way they celebrate filmmakers.

A few random pics:

Amy King, yours truly, Amy's wondeful mother and our good friend Ramin pause for a photo at the closing night party.

A whole pack of trouble loose on the streets of Silver Spring!

Spreading the good word in Florida and beyond. Margarita, Liliya and Irina (my wife) enjoy thier SILVERDOCS Ts. Margarita and Liliya, my wife's niece and mother, will eventually take the Ts back to Latvia.