FAIRHOPE, Ala. — There's another reason to look forward to spring besides the desire to kiss cold weather goodbye. The First Annual Fairhope Film Festival (FFF) will be held April 3-5, bringing with it a roster of short, documentary, feature and student films — all with a romantic element.

“We found out there are no other romantic film festivals in the country so we are doing something new,” said Ryan Robinson, FFF director. “My brother (Brad) and I are heavily into film and video.”

The Fairhope resident said it has been a longtime dream of his to work in film, but “living in Alabama, you're away from the mix. So we decided to bring Hollywood to us.”

The pair created Option 3 Media, and hired Jon Fitzgerald, a consultant with Los Angeles, Calif.- based Right Angle Studios who has 15 years experience guiding such festivals. He has been the driving force of a number of successful events such as Slamdance, Bahamas, Gasparilla, Golden Star Shorts Fest and the upcoming Middle East International Film Fest.

Fitzgerald has also served as consultant for other festivals, including AFI, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego and Ozone.

“We flew him to Fairhope and he fell in love with the city,” Robinson said. “He said 'this feels like how Sundance (the well-known annual film festival) got started. This is such an arts-driven town.'”

Fitzgerald has been working with the Robinson brothers since June, and he helped them develop a relationship with Withoutabox.com, which effectively links the festival with more than 1,000 filmmakers around the world.

The organizers have announced an open call for submissions in all genres from around the world. Deadlines to submit for the 2008 festival are: Regular deadline, Jan. 25; Late deadline, Feb. 1; and Withoutabox.com extended deadline, Feb. 8.

To enter a submission, either visit www.fairhopefilmfest.com or log on to www.withoutabox.com, register your name for free and search for the FFF.

All submissions must have been completed after Jan. 1, 2006, and must be clear of any copyright infringements. Entries may not publicly screen in southern Alabama prior to April 5. All films must have an element of romance, no matter the genre.

“'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' was an action movie, but it had romance in it,” Robinson said. “We're trying to match the film festival to the city — no blood and guts or porn. It's going to be respectful and arts-driven, which matches Fairhope.”

Robinson said festival venues have not yet been nailed down, but likely will include the University of South Alabama Baldwin County Performance Center, Faulkner State Community College's Centennial Hall and the Fairhope Public Library.

The festival will feature workshops, seminars, and panel discussions with actors, writers, directors and others.

Also planned is an opening gala on the Fairhope Beach and a closing night awards banquet. Robinson is hoping to screen a film at the beach as well.

This would be fitting as the municipality’s centennial is celebrated that month. At one time, the beach served as an outdoor theater for residents and visitors alike.

For those who are unable to attend the festival, the top two films will be screened April 6, after the festival is over.

Robinson said help to stage the festival is needed. A volunteer application has been posted on the festival Web site.

“This will hopefully be something new for the Gulf Coast,” he said. “This should be fun. Who doesn't like to watch movies?”

For more information about the Fairhope Film Festival, or to volunteer, visit www.fairhopefilmfest.com.