LAYTON -- As young men filming a western movie, Craig Nybo and other founding members of his production company were constantly stepping on nails and accidentally cutting arms, legs and other body parts on whatever seemed to be in the way. Thanks to the loss of blood, the young men thought it would be funny to call their company Gangrene Productions. Years later (and despite their name), Gangrene Productions is running stronger than ever. Nybo hopes to be able to show this at the Sixth Annual Gangrene Film Festival at the Ed Kenley Amphitheatre in Layton on Friday, Sept. 9.

After gradually growing the film festival into something unique from other festivals, the company hopes to be able to show more people this year what the festival is all about.

"It's not just a film festival," Nybo said. "Most small film festivals bring the audience in and the audience sits and that's it."

Nybo said the company tries to differentiate its film festival from others by having live bands play, allowing the director to stand on stage as his short film is showing and using a comedian to host the event.

Often people may think of film festivals as displays of high-brow independent filmmakers trying to make social statements, the Gangrene Film Festival is anything but a political platform.

"Our number one main goal is to make people laugh," Nybo said.

All of the films in the festival will be about 15 minutes or less. The festival will show in two sessions. The first session will last from 8:30-10:30 p.m. The second session will go from 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

The first session would be the G or PG-rated material, while the second will be more PG-13 material, Nybo said.

"The late session isn't bad, just a little edgier," Nybo said. "There may be some light profanity and mostly just more comic violence."

The festival has also garnered some more attention thanks to the Layton City Parks and Recreation Depart-ment.

The department, which promotes family-oriented activities each month, is promoting the first session of this festival to families.

Nybo said that the festival welcomes all families, but that if they are expecting "'Little House on the Prairie' stuff" then the festival may not be right for them.

"We'd like families to come out," Nybo said. "But it won't be Walt Disney. The humor is a little more cerebral."

The Ed Kenley Amphi-theater is located at 400 North Wasatch Drive in Layton.

The price of admission is $7 for both sessions. More information may be found at www.gangreneproductions.com.

The city of Layton is offering $4 tickets to those who purchase them at the Layton Parks and Recreation Depart-ment.

The city will also provide free water and popcorn to those attending the festival.

cphares@davisclipper.com