THUNDER BAY - There are so many options now for watching the films with all the buzz, many of which involve staying at home, but there are some cinematic works that just need to be experienced on the big screen, such as a climber scaling a 3,000 foot rock face without any ropes.
“Something like Free Solo that has breathtaking scenes of this fellow scaling a rock face without the benefits of rope and the cinematography is astonishing,” said Marty Mascarin, president of the North of Superior Film Association. “You would really be missing out if you didn’t see that on the big screen.”
The 26th Annual North of Superior Film Festival opened this past week, offering up nearly 30 feature-length films this year by acclaimed filmmakers from around the world and short films.
The festival opened this past Wednesday with screenings of Wild Rose and The Sisters Brothers.
“We had a Strong showing for both of those films and more importantly, some good feedback from our patrons,” Mascarin said. “And even this morning we started off really strong.”
On Sunday, 20 films were being screened at Silver City, including two documentaries that had a lot of buzz among local filmgoers.
“Right now, there is a lot of interest in Free Solo,” Mascarin said. “Also, Anthropocene: The Human Epoch, which is a Canadian made film on man’s impact on the environment.”
Free Solo is a 2018 American documentary about climber Alex Honnold, who performed a free solo climb of the Californian natural feature, El Capitan in 2017.
Local moviegoer, Diane Eynon, said she was looking forward to seeing Free Solo on the big screen the most.
“It’s a great athletic feat that he accomplished,” she said. “He climbed without any safety ropes and I’m curious to see how it was filmed. I think it will be thrilling.”
And while Free Solo may be generating a lot of excitement among local film fans, the festival brings a lot more to the big screen in the city that may otherwise go unseen.
“The film festival brings in some movies that you typically wouldn’t see in the theatre,” Eynon said. “They bring in Oscar-winning movies, movies that have won at Cannes. There are a great variety of films to choose from.”
Eynon, who described herself as a bit of a movie buff, said she has gone to the festival nearly every year and takes in as many movies as she can.
“Last year and this year I picked up a six-pack of tickets,” she said. “I did six movies last year and I’m going to do six movies this year. That’s enough. I think there are more than 20 movies to choose from.”
The festival appears to be off to a strong start with people lining up to make sure they don’t miss out on these unique cinematic experiences.
“You got to stand in line to get in and you have to rush out to get in line for the next one,” Eynon said. “It’s all part of the fun.”
The North Superior Film Festival continues on Wednesday with The Bookshop and Can You Ever Forgive Me? and will wrap up next Sunday with 12 films screening.
For a complete list of films and times, visit the North of Superior Film Festival website.
