If State Sen. Hank Erwin had his way, Shelby County would be the Hollywood of the East Coast. At least that&8217;s the way he&8217;s described his vision for the county on more than one occasion.

It may be a bit premature to roll out the red carpet, but a big bag of popcorn and a box of Junior Mints aren&8217;t entirely out of order.

This weekend Shelby County will take one of its first steps toward becoming a hub for all things cinema.

If not Hollywood, perhaps Cannes or Sundance.

Much in the vein of those world famous festivals, folks will gather along the banks of Buck Creek for a celebration of film.

The Inaugural Cahaba River Film Festival will be held Friday and Saturday at the Helena Amphitheater.

The event is expected to draw at some of the country&8217;s finest independent filmmakers as well as some homegrown talent.

Billed as a family event, locals are invited to meet the 14 showcased filmmakers in a friendly, picnic-type atmosphere.

From the comfort of a lawn chair or blanket, they&8217;ll get a peek at films with titles such as &8220;Saxophrass&8221; and &8220;Mulletville.&8221; There are other titles too &8212; some 22 in all &8212; like &8220;Romeo and Juliet Revisited&8221;, &8220;Shadow of Outlaws&8221; and &8220;Rabbit Cage.&8221;

The event kicks off Friday with &8220;Killing Lawrence&8221; and &8220;Main Street.&8221;

Saturday screenings begin at 1 p.m. and conclude around 10 p.m.

Admission is $5 per day or $8 for a two-day pass. Contact Steve Moon at 567-8518 or Frankie Carra at 229-8575 for more information or visit www.cahabafilmfestival.com