With growing polish and confidence, the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema closed out a hugely successful eighth year stronger than ever. The awards ceremony was co-hosted by Oscar-nominated actress Anne Archer and IIFC Director Stephen Savage. For the first time in festival history, the top awards went to documentaries. Cassie Jaye’s controversial examination of the…

The Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s Eye of the Artist event on Saturday, March 7, was one of the most successful fundraiser ever staged, said event co-organizer Les Walker. “It was one of the most heavily attended such events I’ve seen,” said Walker, who managed the event with Kirsten Ingbretsen. “Kirsten and I were in charge…