American Documentary Film Festival Kicks Off at Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs with Must See New Films

The 2017 edition of American Documentary Film Festival opens this Friday, March 31st, 9:30 am at Camelot Theatres with the Annual AmDocs Film Fund Pitch Competition (Presented by Synimatica). The Film Fund Pitch Competition is open to the public and is free. Following the competition, AmDocs will feature four film screenings throughout the day, including the timely THERE WILL BE WATER (11am) - a Danish film that documents the way in which saltwater can be brought to the desert, turned to freshwater, and used to fuel agriculture, industry and improve the lives of millions. It's a must see for anyone living in the Western United States.

At noon, another timely film, TRAPPED BY LAW, tells the dramatic tale of two men, both technically citizens of Kosovo, although having lived in Germany all or most of their lives, who find themselves deported to a country they have never known, and separated from family and friends in Germany. It's a story that, sadly, might make the front pages of our own papers.

Two additional screenings will take place at 1:30pm and 2:30pm, before a short break, allowing everyone to get ready for the Opening Night's Festivities, which begin at 5:30pm with an Opening Night Reception and Red Carpet Event at Camelot Theatres. Then at 7pm, AmDocs 2017 will screen the West Coast theatrical premiere of Phil Keoghan's exciting and beautiful film LE RIDE.

Keoghan, the host of the popular television show The Amazing Race, was inspired to tell a relatively unknown piece of history in an unconventional way in a film with wide appeal and evocative, good story-telling. Handsomely shot with beautiful views of the French countryside, LE RIDE chronicles Keoghan's reenactment of the 1928 Tour de France, and the series of events that inspired him to do so, including his discovery that a fellow New Zealander was one of the first English-speaking cyclists to enter and complete the race. Phil Keoghan will appear onstage for a special Q&A immediately following the reception.

What follows Friday's opening day for AmDocs 2017 will be five full days of documentary screenings, starting at 9:30am and running throughout the day in all three of Camelot's theaters. Be on the look out for filmmakers and special guests all weekend, including a number of surprise appearances that are sure to be crowd pleasers. "The beauty of these films is that, while often quite diverse in terms of subject matter, they share in common the fact that they are examples of amazing storytelling," said Ted Grouya, Festival Founder and Director. "They are also visually stunning and unique in their perspectives."

Tickets and Passes for the 2017 edition of The American Documentary Film Festival are available now at www.AmericanDocumentaryFilmFestival.com or in person at the Camelot Theatres Box Office, 2300 East Baristo Road, Palm Springs.