A recent arrival on the local scene, this festival branches out beyond the expected range of docs, international offerings, new-media panels and Minnesota-made movies. It has also forged partnerships with Paramount, Fox, Magnolia Pictures, Summit Entertainment and other majors as a launching pad for such big-ticket studio features as "50/50," "Machine Gun Preacher" and "Like Crazy." That means a chance to meet the talent and to glimpse awards season hopefuls on the early side -- the festival gave Lee Hirsch's "The Bully Project" its Minnesota debut in 2011.