There is one place in Powell River where everyone will want to be at 7 pm on Thursday, February 16. A spectacle of light, music, chatter and beauty awaits all who walk through the doors of Powell River Recreation Complex and enter the Opening Gala of the 11th Powell River Film Festival.
“Stroll through a transformed foyer to take in the art,” said Michelle Hignell, festival assistant director. “Join neighbours for a bite and sip at the reception, before taking a seat for one of the last 35-millimetre films to grace the screen of Evergreen Theatre.”
Building on the success of last year’s expanded offering of arts, culture and music during the film festival, this year other member groups of Powell River Arts Council have joined Malaspina Arts Society, Timberlane Quilters, Sliammon Cultural Association, festival organizers and local musicians to prepare a feast for the eyes and ears—and the palate, thanks to Tree Frog Bistro. Volunteers from presenting sponsor Coast Realty Group will be on hand to help everything flow smoothly.
“As I was watching the Swedish drama Pure at the Vancouver International Film Festival this fall, I was so excited at the possibility of bringing it to Powell River,” said Hignell. “The theatre was packed and the audience was really on the edge of our seats.” Pure follows the downward spiral of Katarina (Alicia Vikander), a troubled girl who finds herself drawn to an accomplished conductor (Samuel Fröler) who is willing to manipulate her aspirations for his own pleasure. The passion and intensity of the acting and writing are echoed in a score that features live performances by Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, filmed on location. This stunning debut marks director Lisa Langseth as a talent to watch. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to ask questions of Langseth who will attend the evening via Skype from Los Angeles after the film.
Pure travelled to Powell River from India, after Poland, and will shortly be on its way to Chicago, reflecting how globalization and rapidly changing technology affect so much of the culture we experience. Its 60 pounds of celluloid on six reels require trained projectionists to splice and mount it on equipment that will be retired into obsolescence later this year, as the powers that be in the motion picture industry mandate the final transition to digital format. For festival organizers and film lovers, this development is a lot to swallow. Although hands are wrung at the expense and aggravation of getting hold of limited prints, which risk damage at every showing, there is a reason that 35-millimetre film has been the beloved standard for decades—the picture quality of film is so incredibly rich.
Various digital formats have been part of the festival’s offerings for a number of years. But the complete disappearance of 35 millimetre creates a crisis for film viewing in Powell River—neither Patricia Theatre nor Evergreen is presently equipped with a digital projector capable of throwing the length of the full theatre. “The cost of upgrading is enormous, yet the possibility of our town losing its dedicated movie theatre is so sad,” said Hignell. “There’s nothing quite like the buzz in a theatre during a good film—sharing laughs, sniffles, outrage or chills—and the inspired conversations after.” Change is afoot. In the meantime, on with the show.
Festival tickets and passes are on sale at Breakwater Books and Coffee, Armitage Mens Wear, online and at the door. For more information readers can visit the festival's website or call the festival office’s new number at 604.485.6056.
