The Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation is getting ready to roll out the red carpet for its third annual Oceanside International Film Festival later this month.

The four-day event officially kicks off the film festival season in San Diego, starting Aug. 22.

The festival showcases a juried selection of 50 films from nearly every genre, including narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation and student works.

All of the films come from unsigned filmmakers across the globe who are looking to gain recognition among a wider audience.

Film festival Chairman Dmitriy Demidov said there’s been a lot of participation from the local community this year, with film submissions from Encinitas, Chula Vista, San Diego and Carlsbad.

Demidov said international participation is also growing. This year’s festival will feature films from Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Russia, Japan and more.

“It is a big deal for a filmmaker to be selected and screened,” Demidov said. “It elevates their chances of landing a serious professional deal in the industry.”

The festival organizational committee consists of nine film-savvy individuals, including Demidov, who have been meeting every two weeks to judge incoming submissions since January of last year.

“I don’t want to spoil the magic, but judging is done in the most democratic way and the opinion is very objective,” Demidov said.

Incoming films are graded by the judges based on specific criteria, and the highest-scoring films are chosen to be best picture, Demidov said.

“When we have so many submissions, everyone is subject to viewing,” Demidov said. “There were many good ones and also many bad ones. We ended up with many good films and even then had to cut it down.”

Among the films to be screened include “Patrol Base Jaker,” a feature-length documentary film about U.S. Marines and the practice of counterinsurgency in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

The film first made its debut in summer 2010 and went on to win best documentary at the GI Film Festival in Washington D.C. in 2011.

“It’s a must-see for everyone and a very inspirational movie for our troops,” Demidov said.

In the movie, Producer David Scantling takes viewers to the front lines with Camp Pendleton Marines for a glimpse of daily operations and rare, close-up footage of on-the-ground combat.

“There are some military films that discourage war, but this showcases the positive outcome of our troops being abroad,” Demidov said.

The documentary will be featured on Aug. 24 along with three other military films: “Finnigan’s War,” “Towing” and “Bring Me Home.”

Demidov said he hopes the military screening block will generate more interest among active-duty military and veterans.

The film festival closes Aug. 25 with an awards gala at the Star Theatre, 402 North Coast Highway, where actress Sally Kirkland and voiceover artist Jon St. John will receive lifetime achievement awards.

The festival also features several workshops for aspiring filmmakers about screenplays, filmmaking and copyright, hosted at the Oceanside Library, 330 North Coast Highway.

General admission festival passes are available for $50, and $35 for seniors, military and students. One-day admissions are $15, or $10 for seniors, military and students. Workshops are $10 each, or free with a festival pass.

Demidov said he hopes the festival will eventually “land Oceanside on the map.”

“We want to establish ourselves as a well-recognized festival, not just in North County but in Southern California,” Demidov said. “I think we’re almost there.”

For more information about workshop schedules and screening times, visit www.ocaf.info.

Paige Nelson is a North County freelance writer and photographer