North Idaho Film Fest returns this week
The North Idaho Film Festival is screening 42 specially selected films at the Riverstone Regal Cinema in Coeur d'Alene this week, from Thursday through Saturday.
“These are really good movies, really well-made,” said Matt Edwards, executive director of the North Idaho Film Festival, “but they won’t be seen on TV or in movie theatres.”
The North Idaho Film Festival is only in its third year, but Edwards said the festival has continued to grow in notoriety. The festival featured 25 films last year and has nearly doubled that number this year. Edwards hopes to see attendance of between 300 and 500 audience members this year. One or two filmmakers from each featured film will also attend.
When selecting films to feature, Edwards said the festival team communicates with Regal Cinema to learn what local audiences enjoy. The festival team likes to feature military stories, Edwards said, because of North Idaho's veteran community.
“Anytime we can find a good story they would enjoy, we like to highlight that,” Edwards said.
Among the featured presentations is a screening of the award-winning documentary "Autumn Gold" on Friday at 8:30 p.m. The film's subject, investigative journalist and TV producer Eric Longabardi, will be present at the screening and is excited to visit Coeur d'Alene.
“It’s an investigative documentary, but not an expose,” said Longabardi. “The kicker is the actual, stone-cold truth.”
"Autumn Gold" chronicles Longabardi’s efforts to expose a U.S. military biochemical experiment that exposed servicemen to dangerous chemicals without their consent. Longabardi originally broke the story in 2000 on "CBS Evening News."
“These servicemen were used as human guinea pigs without their consent,” Longabardi said. “The guy who ran the program admits it killed him, and probably killed other people.”
The documentary premiered June 26 at the Dances With Films Festival in Hollywood. The screening Friday in Coeur d'Alene will be only the second time it has been shown to a public audience.
“It received a hell of a reaction,” said Longabardi. “They’re shocked and outraged, and taken aback at the fact that this is actually true, and has been proven true.”
The film festival's closing-night feature will be a psychological thriller titled "Beau Ideal," written and directed by Patrick D. Green, with co-direction and editing by Edd Blott. "Beau Ideal" will screen at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“That one really stood out,” said Edwards. “There was something so slow-burning about it, and it was so relatable.”
Set in Oregon, "Beau Ideal" explores themes of masculinity, heroism, identity and societal roles. Edwards said the film culminates in a thrilling plot twist.
“I’m just excited for audiences to see it and to hear their response,” said Green. “It invites audiences to question what they saw.”
Green used to work for Child Protective Services in Texas, which he said inspired the film. He was also inspired by the scenery around Mount Hood and his favorite films from the 1990s.
Green and Blott said they were honored to have their film featured as the closing-night selection and said film festivals offer an important opportunity for independent filmmakers to make industry connections and gain recognition for their work.
“They’re hugely important for indie filmmakers,” Green said.
“I’m excited to meet a lot of people,” Blott added. “Hearing them laugh when they’re supposed to laugh, and gasp when they’re supposed to gasp.”
Early check-in for the North Idaho Film Festival begins Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Innovation Collective. Late check-in is from 4 to 10 p.m. at Riverstone Regal Cinema. All film screenings begin at their scheduled times, with no ads or previews beforehand.
The film festival will culminate in an awards ceremony Saturday at 10:30 p.m. at the Innovation Collective.
All-film-access passes cost $82.98 online after fees and taxes. For a full schedule of film screenings and to purchase festival passes, visit noidff.com.
North Idaho Film Festival 2025 Award Ceremony audience.