Local filmmakers are getting playtime on the big screen in their hometown this weekend, showcasing talent that ranges from animation to dramatic shorts.
Films conjured up by Okotokians Shawna Koski, Chantel Kapiniak and Dave Elder are among 48 to be screened at Okotoks Cinemas May 31 to June 2 in the third annual Okotoks Film Festival.
Up for best animation, Shawna Koski and sister Alyssa combined their animation skills to create Death-in-Training, a story of a young skeleton training to become a grim reaper.
“I submit every year and I was trying to come up with something that was uncomfortable while making it fun,” said Koski.
Koski said she began working on the film after receiving a grant from the Okotoks Arts Council. Among the grant criteria was showing the film publicly.
“I thought it would be perfect for the film festival,” Koski said.
Death-in-Training, which took the Koskis four months to complete, incorporated Koski’s talent in stop motion with Alyssa’s in two-dimensional animation.
“A lot of times we mix our styles together,” Koski said. “The biggest challenge was the timeline. From when I got the grant to when the deadline was pretty tight.”
The sisters also created an animated short in this month’s 48-Hour Filmmaking Challenge, which will be screened in the Okotoks Cinemas June 2 at 7 p.m. with eight other films created that weekend.
Also returning to the Okotoks Film Festival is 19-year-old Kapiniak, whose first film, My Evil Teddy Bear, was screened in the festival’s inaugural year.
After winning the Zooom Youth Festival last summer with the short screenplay Love, about a couple’s argument that turns drastic, the minute-long film was entered in the Okotoks Film Festival.
Kapiniak created Love with fellow Alberta High School of Fine Arts students Dominic Shoop and Alex Vander Maaten in their film production class
“I thought it was amazing that it got selected,” said Kapiniak, who plans to pursue film in post secondary school. “I hope everyone enjoys it.”
Kapiniak said she plans to not only watch the feature and short films at this weekend’s festival, but also take in the three workshops offered to industry professionals.
The weekend’s workshops address screenwriting for micro-budget films, acting in film and how films are selected for awards.
The weekend also includes opening and wrap up parties and meet-and-greets with 16 filmmakers in attendance.
Festival founder Katie Fournell said more than 700 films were submitted to the festival this year.
Of those, 48 were selected representing 14 countries, plus the nine from the 48 Hour Filmmaker challenge - with most participants from Okotoks.
“I find that we’re seeing different filmmakers jumping in with new films each year,” said Fournell. “Sometimes there’s films that don’t make it into the festival that we really wish we could, but time doesn’t allow for it.”
Three films have been nominated each for best picture, best screenplay, best performance, best editing, best overall sound, best visual and special effects, best animation, best cinematography and best art direction – all of which will be showcased throughout the weekend – by a jury of three people in each category selected by peers.
“We feel there is value in having actual industry professionals judge these awards and say, ‘This one is the best,’” she Fournell “It’s tough to just narrow it down to three.”
Audience choice will also be awarded, giving the audience the opportunity to select their favourite.
Award winners will be announced during the screening of those films, Fournell said.
In addition, discussions will be held following the films to get the audience engaged.
“After the screening I bring a few filmmakers with me and the audience can ask whatever they want to know,” she said. “We’re seeing filmmakers travel to the festival from all over to be able to network with other filmmakers at the festival and to see our audience’s reactions. We have filmmakers from California, Toronto and Vancouver.”
New this year is free screening for children watching the kinder reels, said Fournell.
“It’s very important that kids get exposed to this kind of art,” she said. “The cool thing about film festivals is you’re getting tapped into different cultures. It creates an understanding of what’s going on and a bit of camaraderie with the rest of the world.”
To purchase tickets to the festival go to okotoksfilmfestival.ca
