When I was young I had a Super 8 movie camera and a movieola film editing machine and for a time fancied myself a movie maker. As with many of my youthful fascinations, I did not follow through and my Hollywood aspirations were suspended.

Yes, when I grew up to be a lawyer, we represented New Line Cinema and my college roommate became head of Legal Affairs at Warner Brothers, but my dream was dormant.

Then Gotham materialized along with its magic wand and my creativity was reborn with few limits.

Why not have a Film Festival I mused and , presto, with the help of equally dreamy cohorts we pulled it off and even offered prize money (along with pop corn and soda).

This year is our 3rd Annual Gotham Film Festival and it will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday October 22nd at Mercy College (thanks to Dean Victoria Drogin), located at 66 West 35th Street in Manhattan.

Thanks also to our stalwart Film Festival Committee Chaired by Steven Skyles-Mulligan and including yours truly, Norm Spizz, Cayce Crown, Judy Mauer and Gideon Schein.

A number of films in contention were the creations of Gotham member off spring and I salute them for being able to do what I could not at their age.

The Lion is roaring so let's enjoy the show!