[phileysmiley]

<font color="maroon">by Larry Richman </font>
<font color="gray" size="1">December 10, 2006 2:14 PM</font>

With just three weeks left in the year, and most major media outlets posting their favorite films of 2006, I've felt a little bit of pressure to put out my own. A little, not a lot. Because as much as it would please me, this is not major media outlet. So I thought I'd quickly tally them up and see what stands out.

Here is a list of some of my favorite films this year, along with the festivals where I saw them. It's not complete because there are others which I will include when I have a chance to really look over my festival lists. This is in chronological order.

<em>Alpha Dog (Sundance)
The Bondage (SXSW)
Little Athens (Philadelphia)
One Last Thing... (Philadelphia, Tribeca)
Local Color (Tribeca)
The Abandoned (Toronto)
Glue (Toronto)
Black Book (Toronto)
Citizen Duane (Toronto)
Starter for Ten (Toronto)
Cashback (Toronto)
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (Toronto)
Black Irish (Hamptons, Avignon/New York)
Northern Light (Hamptons)
1:1 (Hamptons)
We Shall Overcome (Hamptons)
The Red Cockatoo (Hamptons)
Swedish Auto (Woodstock)
Fierce People (Woodstock)
Off the Black (Woodstock, Williamstown)</em>

Some have already played theaters and gone to DVD, gone straight to DVD, played theaters and are waiting for DVD, or are awaiting release. Many don't yet have distribution in the States or overseas or both.

I'm slightly biased because a few of these films star friends of mine. So I'll probably hold off on picking the top ones for now.