Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
We're working to fix a technical issue causing problems with our broadcasts. We'll have it resolved as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Cinemafest In Polson

Courtesy Flathead Lake International Cinemafest

Downtown Polson will be a hub of activity this weekend, when more than 80 films will be shown during the 2015 Flathead Lake International Cinemafest. Some of those films will win awards. MTPR's Chérie Newman talked with two of this year’s judges, Mac Swan and David King, to find out what they want to see in a film.

Newman: Mac, as a judge, what are you looking for?

Swan: Well I look for high-quality films that keep my attention.

Newman: And David?

King: Watchability. If it’s hard to watch, I don’t think anyone else is gonna wanna watch it. Although we have 3 judges and it’s interesting how much disparity there is, occasionally, between what we consider to be watchable.

Newman: Was there a standout film for you in this year’s entries?

King: Without doing a hat-tip to any of our awards, I must say that a film called "Void" probably had the greatest emotional impact on me. It’s a lot like the film "Gravity". It’s about an astronaut who gets caught in space after a catastrophic mechanical failure. The emotional hook for me was the relationship between the husband and his wife—her objection to him going back into space as a hired astronaut, because she loves him and she’s already been through that with him and she thought he was gonna get a job on the ground as a consultant. So there’s a lot of pressure for him to perform financially, for the family, so they don’t lose their house. And, on her part, she wants to keep her husband on the ground.

Credit Courtesy Flathead Lake International Cinemafest
In "Void", an astronaut who gets caught in space after a catastrophic mechanical failure.

Newman: And you have a clip of that, right?

King: I do. I’d be pleased to play that for you. It’s the moment when he announces that he got the job. The caveat to that is she thinks it’s a consulting job. And this clip plays the moment when she realizes that it’s not.

King: It’s just a very moving, compelling piece done with exceptional production value, a really nice score, good acting. And, uh, I was just impressed.

Newman:What other films do you recommend, Mac?

Swan: There are several Native American that are extraordinary:  "Sitting Bull" is going to play on Saturday night in the 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. slot. And that’s the story of Sitting Bull’s grandson, Ernie La Point, and it’s a riveting documentary. And then there’s another one filmed on the Blackfoot Reservation called "Where God Likes To Be". That will be shown on Friday between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., and again on Sunday in the 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. slot.

Newman: What other things are happening, besides showing all of these films?

Swan: Well, there’s a gala party on Friday starting at 5:30, and the theme is SPECtacular SPECtacle. And everyone’s going to dig out their sunglasses and glasses that look like characters from movies and show up at the KwaTaqNuk Resort for some beverages and hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets cost $5.00 for a two hour screening block, or $25 for a day pass.

You can find the schedule of events and ticket information on the 2015 Flathead Lake International Cinemafest website.

Chérie Newman is a former arts and humanities producer and on-air host for Montana Public Radio, and a freelance writer. She founded and previously hosted a weekly literary program, The Write Question, which continues to air on several public radio stations; it is also available online at PRX.org and MTPR.org.
Become a sustaining member for as low as $5/month
Make an annual or one-time donation to support MTPR
Pay an existing pledge or update your payment information
Related Content