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- Released to the Madera Tribune

The Oakhurst area now has another attraction to add to its menu of automotive related events. With the support of local automotive enthusiast Dave Wolin, the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce and The Met Cinema, they have invented a film festival for car enthusiasts; possibly the first of it's kind anywhere.

The aptly named "Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival" will feature automotive-related films from the 1950s through today and offer something for everyone.

Film legend James Garner will be the recipient of the "Southern Yosemite Lifetime Achievement Award" for his work in automotive films and both his auto racing blockbuster, "Grand Prix," and his documentary, "A Racing Season," will be screened.

Hard to find films like "Two Lane Blacktop" from 1971, as well as perennial favorites such as "LeMans" and "Days of Thunder," all best seen on a big screen, and dozens more, will be shown over a five day period.

They have located some almost never before seen films such as the Austin Film Festival's winner, "Dirt," John Schneider's "Collier & Co." and possibly the first ever showing of 1961s "Sound of Speed."

All films will be shown at the Met Cinema in downtown Oakhurst and all the proceeds go to a variety of charities. The complete schedule of more than 24 films can be seen at www.southernyosemite.com

Film festival week, March 21 through 25, 2007, will include displays of racing, vintage, antique and exotic cars, automobilia and souvenir vendors, celebrity autograph signings featuring stars and well-known race car drivers and automotive industry personalities, limited access cocktail parties, wine tasting from local wineries and other auto-related events.

To complete the film festival, tours of Yosemite National Park, ski outings, golf tournaments, train rides on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railway, hosted trips to the local Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino and a variety of family-oriented events will be available.

Festival organizer Wolin, whose background includes working on many of these films, says that this event will become a staple of the late March calendar, filling a gap between seasons when tourists are in short supply.

"We can expect to see 2,000 or more attendees over a five-day period and quite a few hundred thousand dollars spent in the area," Wolin said. "And it's one more advantage for Madera County as the Oakhurst area increases its visibility as the car show capital of California."

For complete information visit the Film Festival Web site, www.southernyosemite.com or contact the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce online at www.oakhurstchamber.com or call 559-683-7766.