Participating in the first Lowell Film Festival are, from left, student Carolina Diosdado, Prof. Bob Forrant, students Stacie Hargis, Karen Haron and Eika Hunt.

Filmmakers from Lowell, New York City and Long Beach, Calif., were featured at the first Lowell Film Festival held at various locations around the city on April 4 and 5.

Participants included Peter Miller of New York, producer of “Sacco and Vanzetti;” Sereviuth Prak of Long Beach, who spoke about the Khmer Krom after the showing of the film “Eliminated Without Bleeding;” Stephen Croke of Lowell, writer and director of “The Busker;” and Jim Higgins of Lowell, director of the stop-action film, “Shadow Worlds.”

Lisa Simmons, creator of the Roxbury Film Festival, also took part in the two-day event, which drew more than 500 people.

The festival ended with a film short contest and honored local high school and college students for their submitted films. The event was presented with the help of volunteers and community organizations, including the City of Lowell, the Cultural Organization of Lowell, the Revolving Museum, the Pollard Library, the United Teen Equality Center, and the National Park.

For further information, contact Robert_Forrant@uml.edu.