ZELIENOPLE — The Strand Theater Initiative will present its first film festival featuring local and regional filmmakers this weekend.

The MCA-TV Film Festival starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Nine films will be screened over the two days.

"It's very exciting to be working with Moon Community Access Television in presenting this festival," said Ron Carter, president and executive director of the Strand. "We want to let people from all over the Pittsburgh area know about The Strand, and MCA-TV would like to expand their influence into our area."

MCA-TV does an annual filmmaking competition, but this is the first time it has been able to screen the winners in a public venue.

The Strand has a 20-foot screen, HD digital projection and a 45-speaker surround-sound system.

Winners from MCA-TV's 2009 contest will be featured.

FridayFilm shorts• "The Box," a story of where the imagination of a young boy can go.• "Adam Taylor's Dracula," a comedic spin on the history of Dracula.• "Disconnected," a sleep deprivation study gone awry.

Feature length• "The Korean," a mob boss calls in his deadliest "cleaner" on the eastern seaboard to track down his criminal associates.

SundayFilm Shorts• "Piano Story," the tale of a man searching for love and a way to finish his music.• "Ordinary Madness," stories of four college students who go through the maddening trials of campus life.• "Cruel Summer," when a young man goes off to college, he learns that "one can never go home again"• "Notes In The Valley," a woman finds a mysterious note that ties a fascinating tale to the past.

Feature Length• "The Miracle of Danny," the story of two siblings searching for a place to be safe from their abusive father.The content of the festival's films is for PG-13 audiences. Parents are cautioned that material in some of the films might not be suitable for children 13 and younger.Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for seniors. Tickets can be bought in advance by calling the box office from noon to 4 p.m. through Friday at 724-742-0400.Tickets will also be available each day of the festival.For information, visit The Strand's website at www.thestrandtheater.org.