The 2005 Los Angeles Film Festival will host the world premiere of the movie "Our Very Own," which writer/director and Shelbyville native Cameron Watson filmed here last year.

The movie will be screened for the first time in Hollywood June 22 at the DGA Theatre 1 at 7 p.m. and then the following day at 5 p.m. at the Laemmle Sunset 1.

Watson told the Times-Gazette that the Shelbyville premiere date is slated to take place "immediately after the film festival."

"Absolutely in July," he said. As soon as the festival premiere was announced this week, the ball started rolling for setting up the local screening, Watson explained.

Watson said several test screenings had already been conducted with audiences and the writer/director said the reaction was very positive.

"Everyone that has seen it falls in love with Shelbyville," Watson said, adding that his home town should watch out ... Shelbyville may become a "hot tourist spot" because of the film.

The movie is listed in the festival's narrative competition along with a host of other independent films. The narrative competition is comprised of films, made by emerging U.S. filmmakers, that will compete for the Target Filmmaker Award.

The award carries a $50,000 unrestricted grant, the largest cash prize bestowed by a major U.S. film festival. Films screened in this section also compete for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature.

The movie is set in 1978, and "very little is happening in Shelbyville," according to the description of the film on the festival website.

"For Clancy and his friends, it looks like just another summer of hanging out and good-natured make-out sessions. When the rumor spreads that hometown-girl-gone-Hollywood Sondra Locke may be coming home for a visit, the teens decide that she holds the key to their escape from small town life."

"Our Very Own" is described as "a heartfelt film about the rhythms of life in a rural town, where a teen's taste of freedom is wholly dependent on borrowing Mom's car."

Writer/director Watson brought the semi-autobiographic tale to life with actors Allison Janney, Keith Carridine and Cheryl Hines, along with rising stars Jason Ritter, Autumn Reeser, and Hilarie Burton.

Watson has described the film as a family film, with no nudity or violence, but containing some dark themes.

A number of locals are cast as extras in the film, including dance instructor Nancy June Brandon, Scott Cunningham, who is now a New York actor, and Deborah Obenchain. Cunningham and Obenchain were fellow drama students with Watson at Shelbyville Central High School during the time period in which the movie is set. Obenchain's niece, Vanderbilt student Elizabeth Cole, has a non-speaking role as Sondra Locke.

Stars Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow, and Elijah Wood will serve as honorary festival chairs for the L.A. Film Festival and director Sydney Pollack will serve as guest director. Musician, film composer, and actor THE RZA, the chief producer and founding member of the legendary hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, will serve as artist in residence for the festival.

The Los Angeles Film Festival, held June 16-26, is a 10-day showcase of independent films featuring the best of American and international independent cinema annually in the heart of Hollywood. Drawing a diverse audience of over 45,000 people, the Festival offers attendees interactive programming, family-friendly events, and more than 70 features and 50 short film screenings from around the world.