The quaint two-screen theater in downtown Polson isn’t quite the Treasure State – aka – Park City Sundown Festival but if the three-day Flathead Lake International Cinemafest continues its growth curve who knows what lies in the future.
Seemingly every genre was represented and word of the event’s growing success both in films and attendance seems bound to continue to substantially increase its popularity.
One of the most enduring features of FLIC is you can catch both the event’s best films, review a favorite or catch one you miss with four days of showings the week after the event’s completion.
Buoyed by a record 16 in-state films and movies from a half dozen countries in addition to the United States, diversity was the order of the weekend attracting food response to the downtown Showboat Theater.
North of Known, which chronicles the exploits of para-glider Gavin McClurg took home best picture in the documentary feature category as judged by the three-person panel while Gala and Godfrey, produced and directed by Kalispell resident Kristin Ellingson was named best feature picture with McClurg accorded best director laurels.
The Spanish production La Vie, which chronicles an elderly married couple’s remembrances of their past, claimed best short picture honors in the short category while the People’s choice of Travel Light was a natural taking attendees into the lives of other hikers and bikers on the 500-mile Camino Trail in Spain.
Bryan Ferriter was named best actor for his portrayal of a raucous life until he meets his intended while Molly Pepper Piccirilli claimed best female actor.
Ice Cream Man was best indigenous film while Praxia was selected the best junior presentation and the coast to coast walk of Polson resident Jim Eraux across England was the best short documentary.
The weekend was packed with an eclectic selection for everyone with film length from the single-digit short snippets to the two-hour narrative presentation of Gala and Godfrey which appropriately was the final showing Thursday evening.
On the sports front, it’s collegiate national signing week and three Polson High students will sign their national letters of intent at the Elks Wednesday.
It’s been a while since the Pirates have had a Division-1 football signee and to have a pair is impressive. Spring’s around the corner..just sayin
