Eric Alan Sera, filmmaker and founder of the Lakedance Film Festival, kept an open mind when selecting films for his inaugural cinema showcase.

"They had to be an independent film in any length and in any genre," he said. "Just as long as it was able to be screened on DVD or mini-DVD or even VHS, the only criteria was that it had to be independent."

Running today and Saturday at the Towle Community Theater in Hammond, Sera, who resides in Hammond and is a communications graduate of Purdue University Calumet, impressed area art fans last year with his VH1-inspired "mocu-mentary," "Stone Rockwell, American Icon."

Sera came up with the concept of Lakedance in fall 2005 as a vehicle for fellow aspiring filmmakers to show their works. To get the word out, he advertised for submission requests on Web sites for everyone from independent filmmakers to a Myspace account geared especially toward his festival.

"I wanted to have a showcase for independent artists so they could have somewhere to show their works," he said. "It's a struggle for artists who are just starting out to get people interested in them. I know a lot of doors have been closed on me in the past, so I wanted people to have an avenue like this available to them."

For the opening night of his debut festival, Sera selected, along with his "Rockwell," "The Ex-Factor," which was helmed by Merrillville filmmaker Sunnye C. Durham, "Sarge the Dead Labrador" by Hammond-based director Christopher Jones and "The Facts of Life Bordello," a twist on the '80s sitcom "The Facts of Life."

On Saturday, Lakedance is scheduled to feature a variety of films and shorts ranging from "Chantilly Lace," an award-winning, region-produced documentary on late '50s popster J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, to "Blood Donation," a "Kids in the Hall"-esque short, to filmed highlights of PUC's 2004 "Battle of the Bands" championship.

A closed awards ceremony for writers and directors participating in the festival is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.

On the musical side, Lakedance will kick off today with a performance by the region-based Miss Jackie and the Sass. On Saturday, region rockers the Pillagers will make their first performance in several years.

First Annual Lakedance Film Festival

When: 7 p.m. today and Saturday

Where: Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond

Cost: $10 each night

FYI: (219) 937-8780 or www.towletheater.org