Not everything at a film festival has to be dark and edgy, although that's often the case. Among the 20 fresh new movies in the American Independent Competition at the 2014 Florida Film Festival held throughout Central Florida each April, two selections are particularly inspiring. More than with most films, watching these onscreen struggles may encourage viewers to connect with their inner spirit and bring out the best version of themselves. SlingShot The film SlingShot (in its Florida premiere) propels itself forward as the mightiest of 10 films competing in the documentary features category - at least in terms of inspiration. Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, is the subject of this intriguing film directed by Paul Lazarus. Not only does the movie profile the personal story of this brilliant inventor and what motivates him, but it portrays the world-wide problem of contaminated water in easy-to-understand language and pictures. The solution, however, is not quite as simple. Kamen's latest invention, SlingShot, is designed to kill water-borne pathogens through the use of purification systems he hopes to deliver around the world to the most impoverished areas. Lazarus weaves together Kamen's past and present in order to show the sacrifices and rewards of being a modern-day David fighting an enormous Goliath (polluted water, lack of education, lack of distribution channels, and expensive machinery). Florida Film Festival Programming Director, Matthew Curtis, describes SlingShot as the most inspiring film this year from any competing or non-competing category. "Dean Kamen is a humanitarian who wants to save mankind. You can't get any more inspiring than that. SlingShot, and other films such as Before You Know It and The Front Man, open the window to new ideas." Indeed, watching SlingShot may generate tremendous feelings of admiration for Kamen and get audience members wondering how they can similarly make a difference to others. Additional Competing Documentary Features Other full-length documentary features competing at the 2014 Florida Film Festival: American Jesus (Aram Garriga, director); Before You Know It (PJ Raval, director); The Front Man (Paul Devlin, director); The Kill Team (Dan Krauss, director); Levitated Mass (Doug Pray, director); Love Me (Jonathon Narducci, director); Mission Congo (Matthew Vandyke, director); No No: A Dockumentary (Jeffrey Radice, director); and Powerless (Deepti Kakkar and Fahad Mustafa, directors). Finding Neighbors Of the 10 films competing in the narrative features category, Finding Neighbors (in its Southeast Premiere) examines how "an inspired act" can reignite trust, friendship, love, and passion in a floundering relationship and bolster self-esteem in people who have unhealthy patterns that keep them stuck in a perpetually unhappy state. Directed by Ron Judkins and starring Michael O'Keefe as Sam Tucker, the film focuses on a middle-aged graphic novelist enduring a mid-life crisis that affects his work and marriage. Famous, popular, and rich in his early career, Sam has difficulty adjusting to his current situation of near irrelevance and remains stuck in a bored listlessness that keeps him from progressing personally and professionally. In an unlikely pairing, Jeff (Blake Bashoff), a younger neighbor with problems of his own, helps Sam find the inspiration he needs to wake up from his lethargic state. By vicariously celebrating Sam's renewed spirit, audience members may find their own inspiration. The film's director describes it this way: "I think in relationships we get into patterns, and we tend to repeat the patterns over and over. But every once in a while we have the inspiration to step outside our normal pattern and do something that can suddenly change everything," Judkins says. "[In the film], Jeff believes that there is 'definite progress' on the path of love, progress when someone steps outside their normal realm of behavior and experience to commit 'an inspired act.' It can be something as simple as picking up the phone to call someone, returning a smile or a glance across the room, or as significant as proposing marriage." Additional Competing Narrative Features Other full-length narrative features competing at the 2014 Florida Film Festival: Copenhagen (Mark Raso, director); Crimes Against Humanity (Jerzy Rose, director); Doomsdays (Eddie Mullins, director); Druid Peak (Marni Zelnick, director); Forev (Molly Green and James Leffler, directors); I Believe in Unicorns (Leah Meyerhoff, director); Last I Heard (David Rodriguez, director); Medeas (Andrea Pallaoro, director); Winter in the Blood (Alex Smith and Andrew Smith, directors). Now in its 23rd year, Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, also includes a documentary shorts competition, narrative shorts competition, animated shorts competition, spotlight films, midnight films, special screenings, and international showcase.

The documentary features category at a film festival may be the greatest proof that truth is stranger than fiction. At Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater each April and held throughout Central Florida, a selection of quirky characters are included in competing and non-competing documentary programs. The following represent some of the most oddball feature-length docs included in this year's festival, exploring uncommon subjects, or in the case of The Final Member, exploring a common subject in an uncommon way.

American Jesus
This funny and intelligent film by Spanish filmmaker Aram Garriga looks at some of the less-traditional ways Christianity blends with the American dream. How does religion fit into our current drive-through, disposable culture? Born-again bikers and Christian cage wrestlers are just a few of the highlights in this focus on fringe spirituality that's bound to spark controversy everywhere it screens.

• Starring: Keenan Smith, Mara Einstein, Mickey Stonier, Douglas Rushkoff, Billy Talen, Jason David Frank, Daniel Radosh, Kerri Pomarolli
• Director: Aram Garriga
• Run Time: 80 minutes

The Final Member
Things are good at the Icelandic Phallogical Museum in Husavik, the world's only official site devoted to preserving, cataloging, and displaying male sex organs from every known species. Curator Sigurdur Hjartarson has collected these specimens for more than 40 years. What began as a gag gift turned into a private collection and then became a public museum. Nearing retirement, however, he wants to obtain the only missing member: a human phallus. His search for this final member leads to hilarious encounters with two men fighting for the chance to participate. An artfully crafted film, The Final Member skips the cheap shots and goes after the human drama, which escalates as the movie progresses.

• Starring: Sigurdur Hjartarson, Pall Arason, Tom Mitchell
• Directors: Jonah Bekhor and Zach Math
• Run Time: 76 minutes

For No Good Reason
Artist Ralph Steadman talks to Johnny Depp about his years working with gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson. Claiming his lifelong goal was to "change the world" rather than create great art, Steadman shares his painting techniques as freely as his stories about various collaborations. A collage of artistic creation, relationship examination, pop culture exploration, and historical remembrance, this film shows how the artist is often as animated as his artwork, though quite separate from it.

• Starring: Ralph Steadman, Johnny Depp
• Director: Charlie Paul
• Run Time: 89 minutes

Love Me
In its world premiere at Florida Film Festival, this documentary examines the modern-day mail-order bride business as lonely American men hope to meet the women of their dreams in the Ukraine. Is it all just a con? Is it truly a means of finding love? Is it merely a business arrangement to meet individual emotional and financial needs? The filmmaker spent two years looking at both sides of the story to present a balanced view in this funny and provocative look at arranged relationships through an international marriage broker.

• Director: Jonathon Narducci
• Run Time: 94 minutes

SlingShot
Perhaps you've heard about the Segway inventor, Dean Kamen, who accidentally drove his invention off a cliff and plummeted to his death. Luckily for his loving parents (and the rest of humanity), this rumor is most decidedly untrue. This playful genius, who was bullied as a kid, is still very much alive and busy producing water purification systems to save lives all over the world, in addition to his other humanitarian efforts. Educational and inspiring, SlingShot looks at what makes this inventor and clockmaker tick.

• Starring: Dean Kamen, Jack Kamen, Evelyn Kamen, Bart Kamen
• Director: Paul Lazarus
• Run Time: 93 minutes

Leslie Halpern is a movie critic, and author of three nonfiction books about the film and entertainment industry. She wrote "Passionate About Their Work: 151 Celebrities, Artists, and Experts on Creativity" (BearManor Media, 2010), "Reel Romance: The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies" (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2004), and "Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science" (McFarland & Company,