(Phoenix, AZ March 20, 2007) Actor, writer and photographer Laura Durant, will be a familiar face to patrons at this years Phoenix Film Festival. The popular Valley arts entrepreneur is appearing in three films slated to screen during the Academy-award sanctioned competition, April 12-19, 2007 at the Harkins 101 Cinemas in Scottsdale.

First, Laura co-stars in The Governor (www.thegovernormovie.com and www.myspace.com\thegovernormovie) which will hold its world premiere at the festival. In this film noir love story, she plays a "conflict-resolution specialist" who lets her semi-automatic do all the talking. The feature, written by Ray Garcia de Leon and Bob Dolan, produced by Leigh Ann Philipps and directed by Ray Garcia de Leon. The Governor debuts Friday, April 13 at 8:10 p.m. with additional screenings Saturday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, April 15 at 4:05 p.m.

Second, Netherbeast Incorporated (www.netherbeastmovie.com) is a dark office comedy that reunites Laura with Hollywood film legend Robert Wagner and the celebrated Phoenix filmmakers, the Ronalds Brothers. Their last collaboration was the award-wining whimsical comedy, Little Victim. This latest project is about the secret lives of the office undead and is headlined by Darrell Hammond, Steve Burns, Dave Foley, Amy Davidson, Jason Mews, and Judd Nelson. Netherbeast Incorporated will have its Arizona Premiere on Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. with additional screenings Sunday, April 15 at 3:45 p.m. and Wednesday, April 18 at 5:20 p.m.

Finally, Laura's third film, Stabbing Stupidity, (www.stabbingstupidity.com) written by Steve Briscoe and directed by Paul DeNegris, is concurrently vying for a spot on the Stephen Spielberg television project, On the Lot. This film, about a lunch date with a fatal attraction, is a thought crime comedy of gastronomical proportions! Stabbing Stupidity screens Saturday, April 14 at 9:10am, Sunday, April 15 at 4:45 p.m. and Monday, April 16 at 9:20p.m.

Laura has been an integral part of the Valley performing arts community for nearly two decades. She is currently co-host of the award-winning TV show SCREEN WARS and is an arts writer for Phoenix Downtown Magazine. The Arizona Republic recently named her among Arizona's "Women in Film" as well as "The Movers & Shakers" in Valley Theater. She is also a recipient of the ariZoni's Distinguished Service Award. Laura is a member of the theater faculty of Scottsdale Community College and is on advisory boards for IFP/Phx and the Herberger Theater Center.

Laura is best known to thousands of Valley actors simply as "DurantCom". Her weekly newsletter of local audition notices and is the most widely used actor resource in Metro Phoenix and her website, www.durantcom.com is listed in the book Acting Is Everything: An Actor's Guide for a Successful Career in Los Angeles. Her theatrical photography, chronicling dozens of metro Phoenix productions each year, has become a regular fixture in regional publications.

Tickets to Individual Screenings are just $10, or for a better deal, purchase a Flex Pass and see four films for just $30
To purchase tickets go to www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/2093 . The Phoenix Film Festival has a variety of festival pass packages with student and senior discounts available. For details, go to www.phoenixfilmfestival.com/tickets.php
or call 602-955-6444.