Dozens of films will play over the next three days during the longest running, continually held short film festival in the world. Spectrum News reporter Breon Martin captured opening day of the 60th Rochester International Film Festival.

ROCHESTER N.Y. — More than 1,000 short film devotees gather at George Eastman Museum’s Dryden Theatre in Rochester every spring.

Film festivalgoers Richard & Sharon Salvione were in attendance. Richard said they have been attending for over decade and what draws them every year, he says is “things like mysterious always interest us.” Sharon adds also, “comedies.”

The Rochester International Film Festival celebrates its 60th year and it remains a free event, which is an added bonus for film lovers who came out to watch the films that are 30 minutes or less, even from filmmakers who come from across the world.

Director of Communications of the film fest, Christine Adamo, says the festival showcases only the best submitted short films.

“Normally we’d spend one or two evenings a week screening films and 28 are now in the festival this year and they come from 15 different counties outside the U.S.,” said Adamo.

This year the screen committee received more than 120 submissions. They select those short films that are premiered. Egyptian-Canadian Filmmaker, Mak Abdel-Hai said making films is his passion.

“It’s something I love to do. It’s a form of art that I find very unique and it means a lot to me,” Abdel-Hai.

 “It’s the magic of the whole procedure of filmmaking but mainly it’s the light, I love the light," said filmmaker Banos Zolfis of Athens, Greece.

Each filmmaker who submitted a film receives feedback in a letter. Those films that don’t proceed to "Final Judging," earn a Certificate of Merit for excellence in cinematography, storytelling, and more.

The film festival will continue Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m.