"As an artist, you wander," Sparks resident Mike Pieretti said. "When I end a project, I rarely find myself where I thought I would be when I began."

Becoming a member of the advisory board for the Reno Film Festival was the type of ending Pieretti didn't see coming when he entered a film in the festival in 2002. Pieretti's film won an award in the Nevada category of independent films. As an advisory board member since 2007, Pieretti has been responsible for filtering through the entries of many of the independent films entered in this year's festival. He then compiles the finalist's films into a series of clips that people will watch at the festival. The film festival began Wednesday and continues at various venues throughout Sparks and Reno through Sunday.

"The caliber of films this year, especially in the animation and documentary categories, is amazing," Pieretti said.

Other notable events at this year's festival include: the Bobby Logan one-day film school on Saturday; a tribute to Paul Newman and a screening of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” on Thursday; and two screenings of “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” on Friday and Sunday.

Being involved in the film festival has helped give Pieretti some insight and has shifted his goals for himself within the art world.

"Though I love creating art," Pieretti said. "I'm better at motivating and encouraging up-and-coming artists."

Peiretti has taken up the task of motivating artists with many facets outside the Reno Film Festival. He is an active member at Grace church in Reno, where he has become very fond of working with youth. He also recently started the Kid's Action Network, a program where groups of young people create short films or television shows on their own with the guidance of mentors like Pieretti. Eventually, Pieretti would like the Kid's Action Network to be a nationally recognized forum of young visual artists that intertwines film, TV and the Internet to create interactive graphic arts projects.

"Just look at the proliferation of YouTube," Pieretti said. "People, especially young people, love getting in front of a camera and doing something and becoming somebody."

This proliferation of film and the availability of technology is what led Pieretti to film rather than to other artistic mediums.

"Every film is made by a team," Pieretti said. "My goal, now, is to help others shine."

For more information, including a full schedule, go to www.renofilmfestival.com.