"The fact that we are doing a consistently high-quality event each year is what makes our festival such a success," she said.

The third annual Salem Film Festival will be held the weekend of April 18-20 at locations such as Salem Cinema, Elsinore Theatre and the Grand Theatre.

This year's highlights include a visit from Dan Butler, popularly known as the character Bulldog on "Frasier." He is promoting his documentary, "Karl Rove, I Love You." Screenwriter Mardik Martin of "Raging Bull" fame also will pay a visit to Salem. He is set to receive a lifetime achievement award from festival organizers.

Miles says that she was pleasantly surprised this year by the number of national and international filmmakers who sought out the Salem Film Festival to make an entry.

"It's amazing the acknowledgement and notoriety that we are receiving in only our third year," she said. "The caliber of entries that we are getting is also better, even in the youth and amateur division."

This year's film selection offers a wide variety of documentary, comedy and drama and will offer a large amount of short films as well.

"We are so excited about this year's line-up," Miles said.

"Soldiers of Conscience" is a documentary that tells the story of four members of the military who chose to become conscientious objectors. This film was made by husband and wife team Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg.

"They had to go to the army to ask permission to film and interview soldiers. The army granted them permission, but said they would have to view and approve the film before they would let it go public. The filmmakers made the film exactly as they wanted, brought it to the army, and the army approved it. They called it `thought-provoking,'" Miles said. "I get chills just thinking about it."

The film documents four conscientious objectors as they explain their choices and how they came to the realization that they couldn't kill another human being. Sprinkled in with those interviews are images from training camps as well as dialogue with a military officer who is also a philosophy major. He offers balance to the film by pointing out the moral struggle of those who decide they can kill. Interviews with other soldiers are peppered in as well, one even admits to killing a 10-year-old boy with "no regrets."

Both filmmakers will be at the festival for a
question and answer session.

"Girls Rock" is a Portland-based documentary that features a rock-n-roll camp for girls. Leads from the film and members of the school will be available to answer questions after the performance.

"To the Limit," a German film about rock climbing follows brothers Thomas and Alexander Huber as they set out to break the world speed-climbing record.

For updated times and locations for these and other films and presentations at the Salem Film Festival, visit www.SalemFilmFestival.com.