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A screening success

With more than 17 films to see, movie patrons say the biggest problem at this year’s annual Northwest Film Fest is deciding which one to pick. Film buffs and movie patrons lined up at the Silvercity Famous Players Theatre on Sunday.
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North of Superior Film Association President Marty Mascarin holds the door open for movie patrons at Silvercity on March 27, 2011. (Jeff Labine, tbnewswatch.com)

With more than 17 films to see, movie patrons say the biggest problem at this year’s annual Northwest Film Fest is deciding which one to pick.

Film buffs and movie patrons lined up at the Silvercity Famous Players Theatre on Sunday. The venue moved to SilverCity two years ago after the Cumberland theatre closed.

A steady stream of moviegoers left the afternoon show of Made in Dagenham and headed straight back into the theatre for another round of movies.

Al Law had never missed a film festival since it started 18 years ago. Law went to see Blue Valentine, a romantic film that’s centres on a married couple and their growth over a span of years by jumping between time periods.

In previous years, the 62-year-old movie buff would be able see more than 15 movies. With the event spread out between two days, he has to be a bit more selective of what movies he wants to see.

"Hopefully you get to see three or four movies," Law said. "It’s even changed from last year where you could watch movies in the evening now it’s limited. I’d liked to see more movies. But I think this is outstanding. The film club shows movies every second Thursday of the year. Thank god Silvercity was flexible enough to allows us in."

Miriam Ketoenen and her husband, Simon Hoed split up to see different movies. Hoed went to see the Inside Job while Ketonen went to see something else.

The next movie Ketoenen had her eye out for was Another Year by Mike Leigh. The comedy/drama looks at four seasons in the lives of a happily married couple and their relationships with their family and friends.

"There are always great movies at the film festival that you are never going to see else where," Ketonen said. "It’s all about the movies. You get to see movies that you would otherwise get to see in Thunder Bay."

North of Superior Film Association President Marty Mascarin said his advice for those struggling to pick is to chose movies that aren’t available for sale on DVD.

‘The suggestion I make to people is to look really hard at the titles," Mascarin said. "If you’re really concerned about making a premo choice because you have a (short) amount of time, then look at the titles that seem to be of the more obscure variety."

Since Steam of Life and Music from the Big House aren’t appearing in regular theatres, they might be a good choice for viewers who are on the fence about what to see, he added.

While the two-day screening may make the festival feel less like an event, Mascarin said the festival was a success and people were coming out of the theatres feeling positive about what they saw.

The film festival will also show movies on Sunday, April 3.





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