How would you like to visit Finland, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany in five days – without leaving Woodstock? For $30, American, and a short drive to the theater, you can travel the world cinematically. Break out the lederhosen and fire up the grill for some tapas – it’s time for the second annual Woodstock International Film Festival.

Craig Hallenstein, who is coordinating the festival along with Dennis Passe and Dean Rowe, said that this year’s movie selections are even better than last year’s. Hallenstein, who is also a member of the Woodstock Cultural Diversity Commission, said the film fest originated “as a way to celebrate the diverse cultures of our population.”

Hallenstein described how the fest got started. “Most film fests are started by a couple of die-hards who get on the Internet and go searching for films that they can preview to find films of quality, he said. Hallenstein, Passe and Rowe knew they didn’t have that sort of time, so they had a brainstorm. “The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has done all the work for us, so why don’t we just show their nominated films each year?” said Hallenstein. “That way, we have built-in name recognition.” Because few of these films ever come to McHenry County, the festival provides a great opportunity to see all five at one location.

This year’s five films are: “The Man Without A Past,” a drama from Finland; “Zus and Zo,” a Netherlands comedy; “El Crimen Del Padre Amaro,” a drama from Mexico; “Talk to Her,” a romantic drama from Spain; and “Nowhere in Africa,” a German drama. The fest hit a snag when it was discovered that the Academy-nominated Chinese film “Hero” was not available for showings. The answer came from Shirley Johnson, who, with her husband, Willis Johnson, owns Classic Cinemas, the chain that owns the Woodstock Theatre and donated the use of a screen for the festival. She proposed a solution: show the popular “Talk to Her,” which won a Golden Globe Award in the same category.

Last year, movie goers from all over McHenry County attended. About 20 percent of the viewers came from Chicago and surrounding suburbs. “What was so much fun last year was by the second or third night, we were bumping into the same folks, and it became almost like a little film club,” said Hallenstein. “It was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see those people again this year.”

As with the festival’s inaugural year, Bill McFarland, of Woodstock Ford-Mercury, is the official sponsor. Jeffrey Westhoff, film critic for the Northwest Herald, will serve as keynote speaker and will lead discussions on foreign films that will be held across the street from the theater at the Waverly Gold Note Lounge after each movie showing. Dean Rowe, a local television producer-director, will also discuss trends in film, video and television.

Hallenstein said the festival will keep its spot during the week before Groundhog Day as an exciting prelude to that event and as a welcome cure for the post-holiday winter blahs. Single tickets for each feature are $7.50, or film fans can purchase a festival pass for $30. Advance tickets are available for purchase through the Woodstock Theatre box office.