Kofford-written film in running for honors

“Christmas in July,” a feature film on which SDSU Imperial Valley lecturer Bret Kofford served as the primary writer, was named a semifinalist for Best Picture at the prestigious Burbank International Film Festival, which is being held virtually Sept. 10-13 this year.

The film also was named this month as a finalist for Best Picture, Best Family Film, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting

Actress at the Canadian International Faith and Family Film Festival to be held Sept. 18-19.

Even better news for those interested in seeing Kofford’s script come to life is that the websites for both festivals offer access to see the film. The website for the Burbank festival is https:// burbankfilmfest.festivee. com/passes and the website for the Canadian International festival is https:// filmfreeway.com/cifflix.

“Christmas in July” is a film that delves into often painful matters of faith, family and the power of enduring love. It is the story of a former musical sensation who has lost his muse and is adrift when he learns his beloved, yet irascible, grandmother is dying. As he struggles to create one last happy Christmas for her he comes to deeper realizations about life.

The film premiered last year as the featured presentation at the 16th annual Knoxville Film Festival in

Publicity poster for “Christmas in July,” the film for which SDSU IV instructor Bret Kofford was the primary writer.

Tennessee. The film’s presentation was sponsored by Carson-Newman University.

Kofford

has

been

script-writing for about 15 years. He describes himself as a natural-born storyteller. It is a quality that captivates his students at SDSU Impe

rial Valley. He has won the most outstanding full-time faculty member award by a vote of the student body every year for at least a decade.