Adam Davis, writer and director of the short film "The Cookie Thief," has simple advice for aspiring filmmakers.

"Make your movies," he said. "You shouldn't be an aspiring filmmaker. You should be a filmmaker. At whatever level you can make that film, make it. Don't wait to make a film."

Screening his film as part of M&M Productions' Audience Choice Film Festival today at Hobart's Center Stage Studio Theatre, the California-based Davis has worked behind the camera on commercials, promotions and small screen shows such as "The Bachelor," "Joe Millionaire" and "Trading Spouses."

"Thief" tells the tale of a woman who suspects a stranger has taken a bag of cookies she purchased while sitting in an airport, but comes to find her perception of events is far from what actually occurred.

Davis adapted "Thief" from a poem penned by American writer Valerie Cox. It was made popular when it was featured in the bestselling inspirational tome "Chicken Soup for the Soul," but Davis was introduced to the poem when he heard it read on tape by self-help lecturer and author Dr. Wayne Dyer.

"I loved the message (of the poem)," Davis said. "I saw how it could be a compelling short film with a great twist of events. The message of the story was powerful to me. It spoke to me in terms of how we interpret the world around us."

To get his film made, Davis struck cost-cutting deals with a production company he worked with and negotiated with a small airport outside of Hollywood to film his adaptation. His script also made it into the hands of big and small screen veteran Eric Roberts, who played "Thief's" male lead pro bono.

Filmed over the course of five days and running 20 minutes in length, "Thief" premiered in 2007 and has been screened at approximately a dozen film festivals around the country.

"(At film festivals), you meet people, you make connections with other producers, other artists, agents, managers, and production companies," Davis said. "But the first and foremost thing is the joy of sharing your work with an audience."

"Thief" is one of five films scheduled to be screened at the Audience Choice Film Festival which has been held by M&M productions since 2005, according to its founder, Mike Reinhart.

The four films that round out this year's festival run, dramas "What Lies Ahead," "After The Storm" and "First Kill" and the comedy "Parking Garage," were culled from Florida State University's film school.

While Reinhart likes to provide a forum for up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their unique visions, his selections for his festivals are intentionally accessible for his audiences.

"When a lot of people hear 'independent film,' they think they won't enjoy it because it will be artsy," he said. "A lot of these (films) are artsy, but they're not abstract at all. The stories have a beginning, a middle and an end, and they have characters you can relate to."

After the films are screened, viewers will have the opportunity to give their two cents.

"If you don't like one of them, you're only watching it for 10 or 15 minutes and then you're on to the next one," Reinhart said. "When people come, I think they're really surprised at what they see and how entertained they are."

"Festivals such as the one in Indiana are just great opportunities for people who are very film savvy to watch films and discuss them," Davis said.