Ellensburg Film Festival -- It's a big weekend for film lovers

By Patrick D. Muir
ON Magazine
Ellensburg Film Festival -- It's a big weekend for film lovers
Photo by Kendra E. Thornbury
“Sweet Crude” director Sandy Cioffi is photographed with village children in Oporoza, Niger Delta, in August 2006.
Links
Email_black_18  E-mail           Print_black_18  Print            Talk_black_18  Comments
Advertisement

More 'ON Magazine'

  1. An Indoorsman Thanksgiving
  2. An Indoorsman Thanksgiving -- The recipes
  3. An Indoorsman Thanksgiving -- Entertaining tips
  4. An Indoorsman Thanksgiving -- Giving thanks
  5. Josh Blue -- Equal parts inspiration and humor
  6. Dan Peters sees the poetry in everyday life
  7. Local flavor colors La Riviere's latest novel
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

 

The old problem for the Ellensburg Film Festival was finding enough worthy films to make up a three-day program.

The new problem, now that the festival is five years old and has gained momentum, is choosing from all the worthy films that get submitted, said Sarah Haven, the festival's vice president.

"This year it has just really exploded," she said.

Among the most-anticipated films in this year's lineup are "Pirate For the Sea," a documentary on controversial environmental activist Paul Watson; "World's Greatest Dad," a black comedy starring Robin Williams; and "Sweet Crude," a documentary that takes energy discussions out of the academic realm and shows the impact of oil production on people in the Niger Delta.

"There's an urgent reason to act on behalf of people who live in places like the Niger Delta," filmmaker Sandi Cioffi of Seattle said of her documentary. "It's these people in Africa today, but it could well be us tomorrow."

Knowing that a documentary on such a topic doesn't always draw a crowd, Cioffi emphasized that people actually do enjoy her film. And she praised Ellensburg Film Festival organizers for giving it a prominent spot as the festival closer Sunday night.

"Most of the time, documentaries get buried in the political ghetto (of film festivals)," Cioffi said.

Though she won't be there herself because of a prior engagement, at least one of the film's other producers will be on hand for a question-and-answer session after the screening.

Such sessions will follow several of the other films as well, including "Back to the Garden," a documentary by Seattle filmmaker Kevin Tomlinson that depicts 20 years in the lives of latter-day hippies he first met in Tonasket in 1988.

Their "back to the earth" mindset of organic sustainability struck him as interesting during the Reagan administration, before such concepts had crossed over into the mainstream. Back then, his subjects were a subculture far removed from prevailing trends. Now they seem prescient.

"The whole thing has just turned around," he said. "Now everyone wants to be green. We couldn't have been farther away from that in 1988."

Those are the types of films that are perfect for the Ellensburg Film Festival, which has annually had a lineup that celebrates critical thinking as well as creativity. And this year looks to be the biggest and best yet, Haven said. There will be thousands of people attending, but just how many is anybody's guess, she said.

"It's going to be so much bigger than we've ever had it," Haven said. "We can tell by the response we're getting in the community and online."

 

* Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

 

IF YOU GO

 

WHAT: Ellensburg Film Festival.

WHEN: Today through Sunday.

WHERE: Venues throughout Ellensburg.

HOW MUCH: Tickets cost $6 per film or $3 per film for students, $30 for a six-ticket package, $50 for a festival pass.

MORE INFO AND FULL SCHEDULE: www.ellensburgfilmfestival.com.



Commentsicon2
Log in or Register to leave a comment.

Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g., you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason. Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the "report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.

Registered User?