THUNDER BAY – Steve Robinson can’t imagine a Bay Street Film Festival without the Finnish Labour Temple.
The film festival treasurer said the hall is so ingrained into the decade-old event that moving it if the hall has to close is inconceivable.
“For us it’s all about community and this festival is about local, national and international,” he said. “This hall is really a part of us. To not think of it as part of us would be a sad thing.”
It was announced on Saturday by MPP Michael Gravelle (Lib., Thunder Bay-Superior North) the Bay Street Film Festival will receive $140,000 over three years in grant funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Part of that grant will be used towards facility upgrades in the hall of the Finlandia to improve audience capability and make the site more desirable to other potential community partners.
The Finlandia Association has publicly raised concerns about their long-term future, warning a tenuous financial situation could potentially result in the closure of the hall as well as the world-famous Hoito restaurant.
“I’ve grown up here loving this building and this part of town, watching it develop,” Gravelle said.
“(This funding) will be a big help to building the Bay Street Film Festival, therefore building the Finlandia club and the effort being helped in terms of the operation of the building.”
An internet crowdfunding campaign has already surpassed $10,000 with another 17 days remaining to achieve the $15,000 goal.
Gravelle also announced the Finlandia Association will receive $31,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to hire a community liaison intern.
Finlandia Association secretary Heleena Stephens said working with groups such as the film festival organizers will help ensure their sustainability.
“We want the hall to succeed and keep catering to the different groups, clubs and organizations in Thunder Bay who use the building,” she said.
“We’re really pushing to bring in more diverse groups into the hall…We want to expand and grow and invite all of the groups in to help keep this hall running.”
Robinson said the funding will allow the film festival to hire a technical coordinator as well as purchase production and projection equipment to improve filmmaking and allow for outdoor screenings.
“For the most part, up until this point we had been using borrowed equipment and donated equipment,” he said. “We want to make it professional. After 10 years of the festival it’s really time. We’re able to up the ante.”
The 11th annual Bay Street Film Festival will be held from Sept. 9-13.
