Image Credit: Kamloops Film Festival
February 11, 2016 - 8:00 PM
KAMLOOPS - The Kamloops Film Festival is turning 20 this year and organizers promise it will be bigger and better this year.
From March 3 to 12 there will be 20 feature films for fans of the silver screen. Because of those fans, organizers say the event is more solid than other film fests.
“While many film festivals and societies across Canada are struggling, we here in Kamloops have been thriving,” the festival organizers say in a press release. “And that is all thanks to you, our film loving community.”
Films being shown at the Paramount Theatre include B.C. production Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World, a documentary about the Haida people on B.C.’s coast and Canadian comedy Ben’s at Home.
Other highlights include a version of Macbeth starring Michael Fassebender, Forsaken with Donald and Kiefer Sutherland and Maggie Smith as the Lady in the Van. Notable foreign films includes Victoria, a German film shot in a single take and Oscar nominees Son of Saul from Hungary and Mustang, a co-production from Turkey and France. Families can look forward to the animated Showtime.
The 20 features aren’t the only pieces to be shown. The Kamloops Independent Short Shots fest will highlight local filmmakers for one night. All films must be made by people from the Thompson Nicola Regional District and be under five minutes. The fest is still taking submissions. Prizes will be awarded by a jury for the best films and youth piece.
An Oscar night event will act as a precursor to the 10-day event. On Feb. 28 the Kamloops film society will hold a dinner for the awards night with prizes and entertainment.
As it is the 20th year, the society is looking to show off it’s history. While it has a lot of paraphernalia, organizers say they’re reaching out to the community to fill out what’s already collected.
“Please send us any photos and news articles that you are willing to have displayed from past film festivals, particularly from the early years,” they say in a press release. “We'd love to bolster our archives.”
Guests and events are still being finalized.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin at bkergin@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016