Dead North tour stops here
Film festival to showcase Inuvik talent at screening
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 31, 2016
INUVIK
The North's premier horror movie festival may have wrapped up in the capital, but Dead North is hitting the road.
Dez Loreen, left, and JD Jones look forward to showcasing their work from the Dead North Film Festival for an Inuvik audience later this month. They hope the event will also encourage other filmmakers to get involved and show their work. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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"We're far away from Yellowknife here, and there are two local films from here," said organizer and film creator Dez Loreen.
"We got pretty good reviews in Yellowknife but this will be a whole new audience."
Loreen and JD Jones both submitted films to the festival last month. For Loreen, it was the latest in a series of projects, but it was Jones' first time at the event. Now they will have the chance to show off their work to a hometown crowd.
The audience at the festival was mostly made up of filmmakers and aficionados, Jones said, whereas taking selections from the festival on the roads gives cinema-goers an opportunity to see what the North can produce.
"The whole point of Dead North is to showcase Northern talent," said Loreen. "There's nothing bigger for that than going on tour."
The showing will take place April 9 at the community lounge at the Midnight Sun Complex, starting at 8 p.m. It will feature the efforts of the two local filmmakers from this year, but also a selection of the best films from previous years.
"This is going to be the first time we have a horror film festival in Inuvik," said Loreen.
"We want to have our own scene, and this is definitely something we can build on for the future."
Jones said part of the draw is building not only an audience, but also getting more people interested in making movies.
"The more people that make stuff the better," he said.
"Anybody who has an interest, a passion, should grab something and make something. Even if it's on your phone."
While the event itself is free, Loreen said donations for the food bank and emergency warming shelter will be welcome. It is also not meant for children, he said.
While teenagers who are into horror movies are certainly welcome, he cautioned anyone looking to come out that there will be films featuring strong language and gore, as well as mature themes.
Still, he said the show is a chance for people to get involved with art in an accessible way.
"We're hoping for a good turnout," he said.
"There's lots of Northern talent out there, not just the people who are submitting stuff to Dead North."
