ALSO A REST FOR THE WEARY : FILM FESTIVAL ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO RV SHOW

It can’t boast Cannes’ parade of topless starlets or Filmex’s celebrity-studded fund-raisers, but for the past 17 years Anaheim has hosted its own international film festival as part of H. Werner Buck Enterprises’ Sports, Vacation and RV Show at the Anaheim Convention Center.

At this year’s event, which will begin Saturday for an eight-day run, 22 films from as far away as Thailand and as near as Utah will compete for $1,000 worth of prizes in five travel and recreation-related categories.

The entries range in budgets from $50,000 to $250,000, and subjects alsocover a wide range. One entry is “The Children of Soong Ching Ling,” a beautifully shot documentary produced by UNICEF about the massive task of providing health care for China’s 350 million youngsters.

“The Car of Your Dreams” offers a hilarious look at auto commercials on TV from 1948-1984. One segment focuses on used car dealers whose late-night TV antics put Cal Worthington to shame. In another sequence, John Cameron Swayze, after years of torturing hapless Timex watches, gets a dose of his own medicine as he is strapped inside a car and driven over a waterfall.

“Hoofbeats” begins in 15 million BC, the birth date of the earliest known horses, then jumps to more modern day activities in rodeo, thoroughbred racing and show jumping. Unexpectedly, the credits list Mercedes-Benz, which has been known to sponsor horse shows, as the producer.

An amusing documentary, “Legendary Voyages,” is in effect a 17-minute commercial for the Royal Viking Line of cruise ships. The voyages are indeed legendary, with gorgeous footage of the Acropolis, South Sea islands and other travelogue fare shot on five continents. But the scenery gets second billing as the cinematographer spends more time lovingly shooting all the gourmet food, usually in close-up, that is served during the cruise.

Foreign governments, state tourist bureaus and airlines regularly submit films to the show, says festival director Walt Dingman.

The stakes are greater than the $500 grand prize and trophies awarded to six other winners each year. An estimated audience of 10,000 attending the RV show--all potential travelers--will see the films.

“When a film submitted by Utah’s state travel commission won first prize in 1983 it allowed them to get budgeting to make other films. Utah enters regularly now,” Dingman says.

The year Singapore’s entry won, Dingman received a letter from the government asking, “What did we do right so we can do it again?”

The producer or director of the winning films usually shows up at the awards ceremony, which Dingman proudly compares to the Oscar presentation. (Dingman says that during his six years as festival director, he has seen two films win top prize at his gala, then go on to win a documentary Oscar.)

One of Dingman’s personal favorites among previous entries was a travelogue he thought had been submitted by Amtrak. However, at one point in the film the camera pulled back and revealed that the realistic looking train and scenery were all miniatures. A manufacturer of model trains had entered the film as a promotional tool.

The film festival, however, serves an even more utilitarian function than promoting foreign travel or gourmet gluttony on ocean cruises. Sharon Buck, producer of the RV show and widow of its founder, says, “The films give people a chance to sit down and take the weight off after they’ve walked through all the exhibits.”

(The exhibits feature presentations by the owners of sports lodges, dude ranches, RV parks and sporting goods manufacturers).

While Dingman oversees the film selection, Buck books the live stage shows that, she says, is the “fun” part of her job.

This year, performers include Victor, the Rasslin’ Bear; Arthur, the “world’s only known log-rolling dog,” and sound effects comedian Wes Harrison. Other highlights are kayaking lessons; spin, bait and fly-casting demonstrations and clinics on both fresh and salt water fishing.

“Victor the Bear is very popular. We bring him back every couple of years because he’s such a crowd pleaser. Wes Harrison imitates the sounds of trains, cars and ducks, which tie in with the exhibits,” Buck says.

“We try to book things you can’t see on TV.”

The 20th annual Anaheim Sports, Vacation and RV Show, will be held through Jan. 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella, Anaheim. Hours are Saturdays, noon to 10 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 7 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 2 to 10 p.m. Admission is $4.95, $2 for children 6 to 15, free for children under 6. For further information, call 999-8900.