Like a coach in the days leading up to an important game, Peak City Film Festival –Family Style executive producer John Demers is finished with preparation. He knows his team is ready and now he just wants to hit the field.

The festival kicks off its inaugural year with a series of events beginning Friday, Nov. 20 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 22 in downtown Apex. The event received more than 30 entries from as far away as Europe and South America and as close to home as the Triangle.

“I’m ready,” said Demers. “You know, when you have a team and you get to be coach the benefit is that you get to pick the team. I picked a good team. So now, as coach, I’m ready for the weekend.”

The festival kicks off with an already sold-out gala on Nov. 20 at the Halle Cultural Arts Center. Highlights will include Jerry Mathers of “Leave It to Beaver” fame receiving a Continuing Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I’ve known Jerry for a number of years and he is about the warmest affable guy you would want to have for something like this,” said Demers. “He will get a continuing lifetime award for the work he has done. “We say ‘continuing’ because he’s not finished. Lifetime achievement is great but there is that connotation that it’s over. We’re just kind of making it a little different because we want it to continue.” The event will also include the premiere showing of “The Rusty Buckets Kids Club” television show that was recently filmed in Apex, Bonsal, and New Hill. Tickets are also being sold for an encore presentation of the kids’ show following the gala.

Demers said the pilot will be shown at other times during the weekend to accommodate the many people eager to view it.

“There are a lot of people in town who participated and they would like to see it during the inaugural weekend,” said Demers.

The awards ceremony is set for Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Halle Center. Tickets still remain for the event, which will feature live music.

Tickets can also be purchased to view festival entries on Nov. 21-22 at the Halle Center and Apex United Methodist Church.

Demers held a press conference on Monday at the chamber of commerce to announce the entries that will be included in the festival.

“We received more than we could have shown and we had to pair that down,” said Demers. “We’ve got features, shorts, mobisodes and commercials produced in North Carolina. I think folks are really going to be impressed with what they see.”

For more information about the schedule of events and tickets visit www.peakcityfilmfestival.org.