The Gangrene Film Festival: Siete was a boot-stompin piņata-whackin fiesta--Gangrene style. Luchadors (masked Mexican wrestlers) mounted the stage, all testosterone and muscle. Comic host, Nate Peck, accompanied by Craig Nybo, acted as commentators for the grudge match between Salaman (half man, half mole Salamander) and Aquamegalon (titan killer from the caves off the coasts of Lima). After a series of backbreaking moves, Salaman dethroned Aquamegalon and went home with the belt. After the match, Nate called the directors on stage, one at a time, for Q/A and to screen their films. Each director was given a baseball bat and a piņata to whack. Pounds of candy flew to eager hands in the audience. The films were better than ever, themes varied from a know-it-all help desk employee to a buddy film featuring a happy-go-lucky man and his friend, a garden hose. The coveted audience choice awards went to Andy Bailey (General Audience session) for his film, WEIRD RIBS ARE SWELL, and to Debbie Wheeler (Late Session) for her film, HOSE.

The audience was surprised when one of the stage props, an oversized stone carving of an ancient Incan god, spoke up, eyes flashing and smoke pouring from its nostrils. It seemed that the gods of ancient South America were anxious to speak in behalf of, and sometimes at the expense of, each filmmaker during Q/A. The whole show was accompanied by the brilliant music of Mariachi Zavala, a local mariachi band. These fine musicians granted the audience a 30-minute set before the first session and enhanced the show by punching Natešs jokes and bringing directors to the stage with their music. The Gangrene Film Festival: Siete was the most successful addition to date. The venue was filled with smiling faces and laughter, two elements for which Gangrene Productions lives.