Cliff and Charlie travel the world to spread the ashes of their friend Paul.

Along the way they pose as travel writers to get free hotel rooms, watch a cricket match in Jamaica, find love in Greece, almost drive off a mountain in Santiago, Chile, and get arrested in Saigon, before finally reaching their intended destination - the Full Moon Party in Thailand.

It’s a raucous adventure story filmed on location, using non-actor locals - who the director fed their lines in English.

In many ways, ‘‘Last Stop for Paul,’’ a film by Neil and Michael Mandt, is indicative of the films being showcased at the Plymouth Independent Film Festival, which runs July 20-23.

The majority of these self-made and financed films, whether a documentary or feature film, derive their creative, free-wheeling spirit from their low budgets. But that doesn’t mean they are low on quality.

Welcome to the Plymouth Independent Film Festival version 2.0. While the challenge of last year's festival was getting it up and running and then getting

people into the seats, this year, for founder and director Lisa

Mattei, it was all about making the festival not necessarily bigger but certainly better.

‘‘A lot of anxiety comes from doing so well last year,’’ Mattei said. ‘‘What can you do to make it better?’’

The idea for this year was to make the festival more interactive between the audience and filmmakers, Mattei said. More workshops about the process of filmmaking are scheduled, and nearly all of the big films being screened will have a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers afterward.

‘‘The challenge is to keep people interested in the festival year

by year,’’ Mattei said. Continuing with last year’s theme of diversity and the environment, to further distinguish PIFF from the numerous film festivals across the country (including four in Massachusetts), organizers have put together specialized programs, including a master class taught by documentarian Richard Leacock, known as the godfather of cinema verite.

Leacock, 84, is considered to be the most influential documentarian in cinema’s history, Mattei said. His work ushered in a new method of filming, one in which filmmakers put themselves amidst their subjects with a single, shoulder-mounted camera. His works include ‘‘Jazz Dance’’ and ‘‘Primary,’’ the award-winning story of John F. Kennedy’s campaign in Wisconsin.

‘‘It’s amazing for him to come to Plymouth,’’ Mattei said. ‘‘This is something that almost never happens.’’

Leacock will be joined by several of his collaborators, including Robert Drew, Albert Maysles, D.A. Pennebaker, and Glorianna Davenport; since many of them are nearing the same age as Leacock, this event is something that may never happen again.

‘‘I went ‘oops’ what the heck did I ask for,’’ Mattei said, referring to her lineup.

Mattei, a Plymouth native, said she hoped to line up Glorianna Davenport for the film festival, but with some persistence was able to line up Leacock as well. Once that happened, many of Leacock’s colleagues and students also agreed to appear in Plymouth.

As with last year, all of the film screenings and workshops will take place at Plimoth Plantation, the Radisson Hotel and the PACTV studio.

Besides the Leacock retrospective, other documentary highlights will be the High Plains Films tribute, including many of the production companies best films like, ‘‘Killing Coyote’’ about Montana ranchers trying to protect their livestock, animal rights activists trying to protect the animal and hunters engaged in bounty hunts to kill as many coyotes as they can; ‘‘Libby, Montana’’ is about a small town besieged by asbestos contamination leading to one of the largest health crises in U.S. history; and, ‘‘This is Nowhere’’ looks at the motivations and philosophies of Americans who criss-cross the country in RVs.

Environmental documentaries won’t be the only showcase films. ‘‘Johnny Slade’s Greatest Hits’’ tells the story of a floundering lounge singer who lands a gig at a mob-owned club and stars Vince Curatola of ‘‘The Sopranos.’’

Also, one animation short is not to be missed. ‘‘Temerario’’ is the story of Rio, a young cowboy shot and left for dead in the desert. After surviving he is forced to confront the evil within himself as an old man. The 10-minute short was created by British students.

‘‘It’s so incredible,’’ Mattei said. ‘‘After watching it, the entire selection board was shocked it was something made by students. It’s that good.’’

Among the other workshops and special events:

—Actress Nora Hassan, formerly of Braintree, will offer one on improving comedy timing and another on the business of Hollywood

—Plympton’s Walter Peterson will share his 40 years worth of experience in the costume design industry

— Boston University professor Scott Thompson will hold a screenwriting workshop

— — Boston radio personality Lance Norris will offer a family friendly event on subliminal messages

—And there will be a workshop on cinema lighting by Mike Moyer of Hanover, who was a gaffer on such films as ‘‘Risky Business,’’ ‘‘My Blue Heaven,’’ ‘‘Must Love Cats and Dogs,’’ ‘‘As Good As It Gets’’ and ‘‘In the Line of Fire.’’

Movie screenings on the waterfront will return as well. The free screenings, open to the public, include the classic ‘‘Casablanca’’ and the ultimate escapist adventure tale, ‘‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc.’’

Norris is also hosting an evening of comedy with special guests Patty Ross, Tony V. and Bob Hagearty on July 21 at the Radisson Hotel to benefit the Jesse Cooper Foundation. Cooper, who died in 2005, was the son of Oscar-winning actor Chris Cooper and his wife, ‘‘Sopranos’’ actress Marianne Leone, who live in Kingston.

Encouraged by last year’s success and this year’s festival lineup, Mattei is already thinking of next year.

‘‘We’d love to achieve the level of Sundance,’’ she said. ‘‘We want to stick with and promote true independent films from all over the world, to give a voice worldwide, to target and celebrate young filmmakers.’’

To do that, the organizers are hoping to set up a monetary prize and eventually a scholarship fund for future filmmakers between 7th and 12th grades.

‘‘I know people go to festivals for the competition films, the networking and distribution,’’ she said. ‘‘That’s the kernel of it, but we really want to promote filmmaking.’’

James Furbush can be reached at jfurbush@ledger.com .

Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Thursday, July 13, 2006