When the Troy Arts Council organized the Troy Film Festival in 2009, expectations were that it would become a major event of the Annual TroyFest Celebration. However, probably no one expected it to become “major” so quickly.

By the year 2010, the Troy Film Festival had been renamed the Alabama International Film Festival.

Now, in partnership with the Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts, the TAC film festival now offers online screenings to students worldwide.

“This season we have more than 200 submissions from filmmakers from every continent except Antarctica,” said Dr. John Jinright, TAC presenter chair. “This year’s TroyFest screening will be from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on April 30 at The Studio on East Walnut Street in downtown Troy and admission is free.”

A documentary, a short film and a late night feature will be shown during the Alabama Showcase beginning at 6:30 p.m. on April 30 at The Studio.

“The documentary is ‘Make More off of Less,’ which is the story of the plight of the American farmer,” Jinright said. “Alabama Filmmaker Andrew Reed interviews some of our Alabama farmers that grow our food and textiles. The story they tell reveals the struggles against the economy required to make a farm profitable and the harsh realities of chemical use and crop strain development.”

The film attempts to make the general public more aware of modern farming technologies and how difficult it is for farmers to stay in business.

In the five-minute short feature, “Bottom of a Glass,” Xavier Neal-Burgin uses an endearing puppet to teach that, even after great loss, life is worth living.

“‘Bottom of a Glass’ won best drama at the University of Alabama’s Campus Moviefest 2011,” Jinright said. “The film has also been accepted to the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival 2011.”

Film director Burgin lives in Birmingham and attends the University of Alabama.

The Late Night Feature is a 90-minute film titled “The Man in the Maze,” which was filmed entirely in Northern Alabama by an Alabama movie production company.

“This horror feature tells the story of four college students on a field trip to explore the American Indian Trail of Tears,” Jinright said. “The discovery of a burial mound unleashes an ancient curse and the result is a story with terrifying twists and turns.”

The Alabama International Film Festival staff gave “The Man in the Maze” an “R” rating.