Roger Ebert moderated a panel that included mainstream and indie helmers, among them "X-Men's" Brett Ratner, "An Inconvenient Truth's" Davis Guggenheim and first-timer Julia Loktev.

Panel discussed narrative and the challenge of finding auds for low-concept, difficult-to-market films.

The conclusion was unanimous that wide appeal and technical bells and whistles are worthless if a director doesn't have a story to stand behind.

"Directors are storytellers," said "Boffo!" director Bill Couturie. "Technology is just the icing on the cake. If you don't have a story, it doesn't matter what the hell you shoot."

Ebert polled the helmers on film vs. video, which all stressed was a creative, not financial choice.

Panel vet Gus Van Sant argued that money was actually a factor in shooting HD vs. film, pointing out that distributors offer more money for films shot on 35 millimeter.

"The problem with the film business is that it is a business," Couturie concluded, adding that all a director can do is get a good script, believe in himself and hope for some luck.