Inaugural Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest ready to roll out red carpet

SANDPOINT — The countdown is on as the inaugural Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest gets ready to roll out the red carpet this weekend. 

The festival, which runs Oct. 17 to Oct. 24, features eight days of films, celebrations and events across 11 local venues.

Festival organizers said they are proud to share that its community fundraiser was a huge success. Thanks to generous local supporters, the Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest has created a scholarship that will give one lucky local student financial assistance to pursue a career in film. 

Organizers said they wanted to thank everyone "who came out, donated, and helped make it possible to invest in the next generation of local storytellers."

The festival kicks off Saturday, Oct. 17, with opening-night festivities and a Hollywood-themed film crawl. Designed like a bar crawl, it instead features a series of short films. 

Attendees can stroll between participating downtown venues, starting at Matchwood Brewing before moving toward Utara Brewing, Pivo Peaks, The Bank: Barroom & Eatery, and Idaho Pour Authority. Each venue will screen select short film nominees. The film crawl is free and open to the public.

The night continues with the official opening-night celebration at The Hive; attendees must be 21 or older. It features music by DJ Lady Oda, a special screening of the nominated animated short "Blue Samurai: Afterimage", and a live performance by local rock favorites, Glizi.

Official festival programs are available at participating venues and other local hot spots around Sandpoint, including: Eichardt’s, Matchwood, Pivo Peaks, Evans Brothers, IPA, Utara, The Bank, Mick Duffs, Outdoor Experience, Alpine Shop, Sandpoint Cinemas, Winter Ridge, and 7B Boardshop.

Each program includes a QR code for festivalgoers to vote for their favorite film throughout the festival. Those votes will decide the festival's Audience Choice Award, presented on the final day of the festival.

The festival is saving one surprise for last, organizers said.

The festival's final film on Saturday, Oct. 24, will feature a film from one of North Idaho’s favorite local filmmakers, Essex Prescott and the Potato Boys, entitled "The Redneck". In their fourth full-length film, the filmmakers shift their focus from the peaks in the distance to an adventure just outside the ski area boundaries. It looks back at the past and forward to the future of North Idaho backcountry skiing, told through a classic ski route.

Organizers said they want to make films available to everyone, with several festival events offered at no charge, including the opening-night film crawl, R-Night, and the "CAUTION: TERRAIN" screening and Q&A session.

"We want this festival to belong to the whole community," organizers said. "Whether you buy tickets for every show or catch a few short films on the film crawl, the hope is to spread the love of cinema, storytelling, and creativity all over Sandpoint."

Community support and volunteer enthusiasm are at the heart of the Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest, organizers said. They invited anyone interested in donating, sponsoring or getting involved during festival week to visit sandpointidahofilmfest.org/support.

Festival week at a glance:

• Saturday, Oct. 17 – Opening night film crawl, 4 p.m. (free); and opening night with Glizi & Lady Oda at The Hive, 7 p.m. (21 years and older, $10).

• Sunday, Oct. 18 – Local Idaho Filmmaker Showcase at the Little Panida Theater, 1-4 p.m. ($5)

• Monday, Oct. 19 – Sandpoint Cinema Takeover featuring "Anne Packard: An Artist's Resolve", 5 p.m. ($5), and "Nalox", 6:30 p.m. ($5)

• Tuesday, Oct. 20 – R-Night (21 years and older), a night of dark(ish) films at Idaho Pour Authority (free, donations suggested), 6 p.m.

• Wednesday, Oct. 21 – Heartwood Center Takeover featuring "Sally!" 6:30 p.m. ($5)

• Thursday, Oct. 22 – "CAUTION: TERRAIN" screening and question-and-answer session; upstairs at Eichardt's Pub (free, donations suggested), 6:30 p.m.

• Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24 – Panida premiere night and closing night and awards ceremony; Panida Theater, 7 p.m. ($20 in advance)

For the full schedule, tickets, and other information, visit SandpointIdahoFilmFest.org.

    The inaugural Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest kicks off Oct. 17 and runs through Oct. 24.
  

    Fritz Holz and Gary Pietsch are pictured from a scene in "The Sled Hill", a short film that was a collaboration between Tanner French Films and the Kaniksu Land Trust about the history of the historic property and efforts to preserve it for the community and future generations.