There is a growing tendency to buy “meaningful” Christmas presents.

It is all very well to stuff those stockings with gadgets and heap the Christmas tree skirting with electronics and cozy wearing apparel, but nowadays, people are also giving tokens of assistance, donated in the recipient’s name to charities and aids to foreign persons and places in crisis.

Here is a compromise between altruism and a gift that entertains: Family Transition Place (FTP), which has partnered with the Caledon Public Libraries for three years, is inviting you to buy tickets for the main fund-raiser of the year, the fourth annual Film Festival, 2011.

The festival begins with Monday Night at the Movies Feb. 28, and then goes on for three days from March 3 to 5. Actually, there are several options for choosing a great gift of entertainment while supporting the very worthy and much-needed FTP.

It should be explained that the services of the FTP extend across Caledon and in fact two months ago, a satellite office was opened in Bolton. FTP is anxious for this scope of responsibility be understood and acknowledged.

Four years ago, staff from the Caledon Public Libraries, of which there are seven branches across the spreading area of Caledon, began assisting FTP with the arrangements for the film festival. The person who has the actual job description that includes working on the festival, Kelly Potter, explained that the libraries, which are not for profit, cannot donate funds, as such, to any other institution. However, the time of an employee can be put into the effort it takes to organize a fund-raising event.

Potter said there is a committee that does the work for the festival and from the sounds of the program, there is plenty to be done.

The Kick-off to the festival is at the Galaxy in Orangeville Feb. 28, with the Monday Night at the Movies film Made in Dagenham. There will be three showings that day. Tickets are $8.

The festival takes a long weekend to enjoy the rest of the film fun, as it were.

Potter is particularly excited about the Young Reel event, taking place at the Empire Theatre in Bolton March 3.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., this will be an evening’s worth of presentation of short films produced by local students. Every film submitted will be shown — there were 40 of them last year. Some are as short as a minute and a half; others are longer, but all are “short films.”

Last year, audiences voted for their favourite film and this year, there are will awards to honour the efforts. Naturally, the organizers of the festival prefer films that are non-violent.

There is every reason to be excited about this notion, for every film is shown on the big screen in a real cinema. In addition, the executives at FTP are looking for films that could be used by them during the rest of the year. Teachers and their students are welcomed to contact Potter at kpotter @caledon.library.on.ca

Tickets to the show will be $15.

Date Night – an Evening for Friends and Lovers, is the theme of the evening of entertainment for March 4, at 7 p.m., held again at the Empire in Bolton. This is all about romance, young and old. The film of the evening will be a romantic comedy. They have some ideas about games and laughs, raffles and give-aways. It should be a lot of fun. Tickets will be $35.

The big night for the festival is taking place at the Alton Mill March 5. It will be their Moonlight at the Mill.

With a reduced price from last year to this year’s $75, the planning also sees other changes that will really make for a charming evening.

There will be short films showing in rooms throughout the Mill, including a selection of the best from the Young Reels.

So, one can wander through the Mill, sit and watch a short film, munch an hors d’oeuvre (or six), listen (and dance) to a live band in another room, bid in the silent auction, win a door prize, shop at the Art Boutique (it is the Alton Mill, after all) and remember what this is all about.

FTP, which offers shelter for women (and their children) fleeing domestic violence. The FTP motto is “Safety, Support, Hope.”

So, you chose from any or all of these great evenings and buy tickets as Christmas presents: something different; something worthy. You can purchase those tickets at (905) 584-4357, ext. 243; (519) 942-4122, ext. 243; or www.TakeTwoFilmFest.ca