Oxnard’s 8th annual film festival showcased the work of independent film makers to packed houses in its reawakening downtown last week and is ready for more sold-out performances when the festival resumes Thursday.

Screenings at The Famous Café on A Street and the new Plaza Cinema in downtown Oxnard were packed on opening night.

The opening-night film, entitled “Dirt”, attracted a large audience, and the moviegoers enjoyed a reception in the courtyard after the screening.

“We’ve never had a turnout this big,” said Ruth Razo, the Channel Islands High School teacher who has spearheaded the event since its creation. .

The festival began as a way to bring a community together and promote the talent of local filmmakers.

“It’s about building a community and providing local film makers with a forum for their work,” explained Razo. “It’s about ‘everyman’ and the people at the heart of every film,” she continued.

Another film showcased was “Hummingbird”, a gritty look at everyday life for women and children in Brazil. It was shown on Saturday to a full house. “It’s an amazing film,” said Razo. “Only one of the amazing films we have to share with an audience,” she elaborated.

A second installment of films will be showcased Thursday through Sunday, featuring both local and commuter independent filmmakers’ and their work.

The film to be screened on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. is called “Everyone Their Grain of Sand” and tickets are $5 at the door. “The Garth Method”, by a film maker from Australia, will be shown Friday night at 9:30 p.m. These are just two of the seven films and shorts to be shown at the Oxnard Film Festival this weekend.

For more information on film screenings and film descriptions log on to www.oxnardfilmfest.com.

The films were exhibited at The famous Café on A Street, pictured, and the Plaza Cinemas 14 in downtown Oxnard. (Kyle Falconer)