The Alabama International Film Festival is in town and it’s bigger and better than even imagine.

The film festival opened at 9 a.m. Friday and will close at 6 p.m. Sunday.

John Jinright, who spearheaded the efforts to bring a film festival to Troy, said the Alabama International Film Festival, which is only in its second year, has joined the big leagues by satisfying all requirements for Internet Movie Database (IMDb), which is an online database of information related to movies, actors, television shows and production crew personnel.

“We have outstanding films to present,” Jinright said.

“They are all first-class and we are excited to have several VIPs in the film industry in Troy for the film festival.”

Included in the list of VIPs will be directors Joey Cassaro and John McCarty who are in town today. Cassaro will attend the screening of “Nothing Man” at 12:45 p.m. and McCarty will attend the screening of “A Call to Arms” at 1:05 p.m. Both films are world premieres.

Jinright said “Nothing Man” is a short film set in the Great Depression era.

“After finding out his job is going to be outsourced for cheaper labor, John Cleary decided to rally his men and fight,” Jinright said.

“This is a tale of one man’s attempt to save his family and the lengths he would go for the America he was promised.”

“A Call to Arms” is also a short film about the nation’s president who is anxious to win another presidential term and hopes that the answers to the nation’s energy crisis have fallen from the sky in an unknown raft.

At 3 p.m. James Chambliss, associate producer will attend the 3 p.m. screening of “Creative Differences, which Jinright said is a funny family movie.

Director/producer Tonya Holly and many of the actors will be present for “When I Find the Ocean” at 8:30 p.m. and director Lee Fanning will attend the screening of “A Genesis Found at 10:15 p.m.

On Sunday, the short film, “Two Hours in the Dark,” which is the story of director Frank Capra, will be screened at 2:30 p.m. Capra is best known for “It Happened One Night,” which swept the Oscars in 1935, and the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Mateo Herrero will attend the 3:05 p.m. screening of “Somewhere Only We Know” and Troy University student films will be showcased at 6 p.m.

“We are excited to have directors, producers and actors attend the 2010 Alabama International Film Festival,” Jinright said. “Their presence lends even more credibility to the Troy Festival. Actor Brandon Carroll of Eufaula will return in support of our festival. Brandon recently completed a role in a feature film directed by Robert Redford.”

Everyone is invited to attend the Alabama International Film Festival from 9 a.m. until midnight tonight and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday at The Studio on East Walnut Street in Troy.