Get up close and personal
Most film festivals are all about the movies.
The inaugural Coeur d’Alene Film Festival, which begins its three-day run on Friday, offers much more than mere moviewatching. There’ll be opportunities to get up close and personal with filmmakers, take in a few parties, attend forums on filmmaking and even go on a movie-screening lake cruise.
And, of course, see movies.
Sponsored by an organization called Bonne Soirée Fluid Film Festivals, the festival will feature 37 films programmed in five different film blocks a day. Genres explored will range from children and family to X-treme sports, from dramatic features and shorts to documentaries and even a foreign-language film or two.
“What we’re trying to do, really, is to stay within a corridor of wide appeal,” says Shelley Austin, one of the festival organizers. “That’s a really huge corridor, and there is a volume of really good films that are available that would appeal to a broad audience.”
Most of the venues, with the exception of Regal’s Riverstone Cinemas, are within easy walking distance of the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Following are some of the festival’s high points:
“”Lonely Hearts” screening, Friday, 6 p.m. and Saturday, 3 p.m., Riverstone Cinemas: John Travolta stars as a detective investigating the infamous Lonely Hearts murders whose tenacity causes disastrous problems with his marriage. Also starring James Gandolfini, Salma Hayek, Jared Leto, Laura Dern and Scott Caan.
“Filmmaker’s reception, Friday, 7 to 10 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Resort Conference Center, 115 S. Second St.: Opening-night party to introduce the filmmakers. Tickets: $20.
“”Source to Sea” screening, Friday and Saturday at noon, Theater 107: Andy Norris’ documentary about Christopher Swain’s attempt to swim the length of the Columbia River.
“Lake cruise, Saturday, 6 to 9 p.m. on the Mish-an-Nock: Features exclusive screening of Raymond De Felitta’s jazz documentary ” ‘Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris.” Tickets: $50.
“”Teenage Dirtbag” screening, Saturday, 6 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Resort; repeats March 4, noon, Sorensen Elementary: Based on filmmaker Regina Crosby’s high school experiences in Coeur d’Alene, the film – which was shot locally in 2005 – explores the angst of Lake City adolescence.
“Le Grand Soirée and film festival awards gala, March 4, 7 to 10 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Resort Ballroom: Dinner and no-host-bar party to announce the festival’s audience award winners. Tickets: $50.
Films will be shown at Theater 107, 107 Fourth St.; Coeur d’Alene Resort Theater, Resort Conference Center, 115 S. Second St.; Sorensen Theater, 311 N. Ninth St.; Regal Riverstone Cinemas, 2362 Old Mill Loop; and Riverstone X-treme Sports Theater, 2362 Old Mill Loop (100 feet west of Regal Cinemas).
Tickets for individual films are $9 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 11. A festival flex pass (good for seven ticket vouchers) runs $50, a festival movie pass runs $75 and an all-event pass (which includes the filmmaker’s reception, lake cruise and awards ceremony) is $125.
For further information, including a full schedule, film synopses and ticket ordering instructions, go online towww.cdafilmfestival.com. Or call the festival ticket office at (208) 964-4469.