The Golden Film Festival has been taken over by some local gentlemen, who are putting their own touch on the popular annual event.
“We thought that taking over the Film Festival was a great idea because it was an already established event that people in the community like. We didn’t want to see it die, people look forward to it, so we really wanted to keep it going. It was a great fit for our club,” said Eric Prasloski, member of the Gentlemen’s Leisure Club of Golden.
Prasloski has been a member of the community organization since its inception in November of 2011.
“We are a non-profit, and our first aim is to provide community events to get the community all together. We did the ski-swap, we did the mustache competition, and now we’re doing the Film Festival,” said Prasloski.
“And our secondary goal is to use any extra funds that we may have to help kids in the community, and get them into sports and things like that.”
The Golden Film Festival has had four successful years, but it was looking as though the people of Golden might lose it.
The festival’s founder Cliff Markham, a freelance camera operator who is now based primarily out of Vancouver, was looking for someone to take on the project in October.
“I would really hate to see it disappear,” said Markham. “But I just don’t have the time anymore, and unfortunately, I’m not going to be in Golden enough.”
Soon after that, the newly formed Gentlemen’s Leisure Club of Golden decided they could take on the task.
“We thought that taking over the Film Festival was a great idea because it was an already established event that people in the community like. We didn’t want to see it die, people look forward to it, so we really wanted to keep it going. It was a great fit for our club,” said Prasloski.
The three-day festival will show roughly eight hours worth of films at the Golden Cinema and the RecPlex. There will be non-alcoholic refreshments, and food from Carlito’s.
“We have about 30 movies to play. Some still might not make it, we still have judging to do. We opened it up world wide this year, but our priority is the Kootenays, then British Columbia, then wherever,” said Prasloski.
“People can send us stuff from wherever. If something comes from the other side of the world and it’s amazing, we’re going to want to play it. There’s going to be quite a bit of skiing and snowboarding videos. But there will also be a couple documentaries, some paddling movies, and there’s some interesting short films that people put together.”
The festival runs from March 28 to 30. The first two nights will take place at the Golden Cinema, each featuring two hours of films.
And the final night will be at the RecPlex where they will be showing four hours of movies.
Admission for Wednesday and Thursday night is $10 at the door, and tickets for Friday’s show at the RecPlex is $20. There are also three-day passes available for $30. Tickets are available at Plain Wayne and Jane, or from any of the Gentlemen’s Club members.
For more information go to goldenfilmfestival.com.
