Filmmakers heed siren’s call to Balto Film Fest
Filmmakers from all over the state will descend on Seward the last weekend of July for the first Balto Film Fest.
Balto Film Fest invites the public to participate in free film industry workshops at the Legends building at 412 Washington from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 27. Award winning filmmaker Daniel Hernandez and Alaska Screen Actors Guild representative Ron Holdstrom will offer practical advise for those interested in working both in front and behind the camera, as well as for those who are interested in discovering how to rent their boat to a film crew or what reasonable expectations should be when a reality film crew knocks on your front door.
At 8 p.m. the Balto 48 Hour Film Challenge clock will start ticking, as three prompts will be offered and filmmakers will have two days to complete a five-minute film that includes Seward workshop participants on their team.
Sunday the Balto Film Fest begins at the UAF Rae Auditorium Building at 201 Railway, with a double feature of Paul & Bryant’s hilarious adventures in a 4 p.m. showing of “Beekeeping” (www.imdb.com/title/tt1840905) and a 6 p.m. showing of “Beekeepers” (www.imdb.com/title/ tt1714743). These independent Alaskan productions are cult classics were last screened at sold out shows at the Bear Tooth Theaterpub in Anchorage.
At 8 p.m. entries are due for the Balto 48 Hour Film Challenge. There is no entry fee for submissions. All shorts will be screened and a $400 Judges Award as well as a $100 Audience Choice prize will be awarded.
Following the awards ceremony, from approximately 9 p.m. -12 a.m ., the Alaska Film Forum (alaskafilmforum.org) will screen the Best of Open Projector Night. These award winning films were made by Alaskans for Alaskans, and demonstrate a wide variety of genres, themes and styles.
Open Projector Night (OPN) is presented by the Alaska Film Forum and Out North Contemporary Art House. OPN is the filmmaker’s open mic. For filmmakers, it is an opportunity to meet other people working in the industry, and have films screened for an audience. For everyone else, it is a chance to see the work that the local filmmaking scene is putting out.
The festival is sponsored by Friends of Jesse Lee Home.