Never mind their lack of experience with online fundraisers, the Victoria Film Festival got it done: they raised virtually enough to buy a new digital film projector.
Between its web-based campaign and other outside donations, the non-profit raised nearly $47,000 of the goal of $50,000 to purchase the equipment, which will allow them to show digital format movies at the Vic Theatre.
Festival executive director Kathy Kay said the order for the projector was put in a while ago once the board determined the purchase could be managed.
“We had no idea how to do fundraising like this,” she said, calling the community support for the campaign “just amazing.”
The closure in October of its main venue, the Capitol 6 Theatre, combined with the fact distributors now deal almost exclusively in digital as opposed to film reels, forced the festival society to take action toward its future.
The projector is expected to be installed at the Vic by the Vancouver supplier sometime in the next week or two, Kay said. Donations are still being accepted at canadahelps.org.
The Victoria Film Festival is scheduled for Feb. 7 to 16. Visit victoriafilmfestival.com or call 250-389-0444 for more information.
