And now let’s look forward to 2006

And so, with a Giovanni Ribisi -piloted helicopter ascending toward the heavens, the 2005 edition of the Spokane International Film Festival comes to an end. Ciao, Gianni!

I’ve spent a lot of time praising the films – 10 new ones, four retrospectives – that comprised this year’s schedule. Not only that, but I’ve kept busy congratulating not only festival director Bob Glatzer, the sponsoring board Contemporary Arts Alliance and AMC River Park Square Theaters but also the audiences that have filled most of the 300-odd-seat house that AMC devoted to this year’s event. All of it has been deserved.

Let’s face it, though. We’ve been fortunate to have such an event hit Spokane. Fact is, it’s all part of the upsurge that has improved the ambience of downtown. The Davenport Hotel was reborn. Get Lit! , which will hold its next run April 3-10, is bringing in names such as Kurt Vonnegut, Garrison Keillor and this year Salman Rushdie and David Sedaris. (for the second time).

The Big Easy brings in contemporary music acts that used to play Spokane rarely if ever. Along with already existing area eateries such as Luna and Mizuna, Moxie opened its doors. CenterStage has given us Ella’s Supper Club. And so on.

So you can forgive me for gushing when I’m able to attend a series of films, festival style, that any city in the nation would be proud to screen. Next year I’ll probably go back to being a bit more critical, which actually is my job – and my responsibility.

For now, though, I prefer simply to let the good feelings glow within me.