Vancouver: Eighteen films will screen during the 4th annual Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival March 13-19 in the b.c. capital.

Sundance winner Smoke Signals, a u.s. film that includes Vancouver actor Evan Adams in a role, makes its Canadian debut before general release by Alliance in the fall.

Other Canadian premieres include Stolen Heart (by Ontario filmmaker Terry O’Brien), American Beer, Fame Whore, One of Those Nights, Still Breathing and Green (aka Whatever).

Produced by the Cinevic Society of Independent Filmmakers, this year’s festival is themed ‘Personal Voices, Cultural Passions.’

Special guests include Pink Flamingos director John Waters and producer Scott Rosenfelt (Home Alone).

Vancouver films include Barnone (Mark Tuit), Drive She Said (Mina Shum), horsey (Michele Sands, Kristen Clarkson) and Cat Swallows Parakeet and Speaks (Ileana Pietrobruno).

Rounding out the festival are Genie-nominated Shoemaker, Pousse Cafe, Reluctant Angel, Trouble on the Corner, Beautopia and German experimental film and saw what could be done.

Director Lewis Teague will discuss his horror film Cujo. Other talks include topics such as Niche Marketing in an Age of Globalization and The State of Filmmaking in b.c.