Local short films screening this weekend
Inuvialuit Communications Society hopes to increase presence in community
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 20, 2017
INUVIK
Local short films are being screened at the Inuvialuit Communications Society office Saturday, July 22.
Dez Loreen, manager of the Inuvialuit Communications Society, invites the community to a screening of short films Saturday, July 22. The films are intended for a mature audience. -
Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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Five short films, about an hour's worth of content, will be shown before a question and answer session with some of the filmmakers.
Jerry Thrasher and Tamara Voudrach will present their film The Last Walk for the first time in Inuvik.
Dez Loreen will show Daddy's Girl and The Mad Trapper. Jeff Jones will present Phylactery and Old Ways.
Loreen, manager of ICS, is hoping to raise his organization's profile in the community and encourage people to get into filmmaking.
"We really want to bring attention to ICS," he said.
He's looking to hold workshops and engage with the community to help people get into the industry.
"We want to make this the creative hub of the town," said Loreen.
ICS is hoping to hold regular screenings and is currently setting up another one Aug. 19 in conjunction with Yellowknife's Dead North Film Festival.
Though ICS is an Inuvialuit organization and is hoping to train beneficiaries in all manner of filmmaking and related pursuits, Loreen emphasized that the organization is here to serve all people in the community.
"We don't want to just be inclusive only to Inuvialuit and say sorry to everybody else," said Loreen, adding that the organization will still be promoting Inuvialuit history and values. "We are the Inuvialuit Communications Society, but it's 2017 and we want grow within the community as well."
Though the ICS office is at the edge of town by the Nova Inn, Loreen encourages anyone interested in filmmaking or communications pursuits to come by, talk shop, find out what the ICS does, rent equipment or anything else.
"We're trying to build capacity right now," said Loreen, adding that the more people in the community get engaged with filmmaking, the more funding opportunities will likely open up.
His hope is to work with the school to get a film program going, similar to what Yellowknife has.
"If there's anybody in town (who's interested in learning more or engaging with ICS), I'm urging you to come forward," said Loreen.
"There's no ceiling from here. I want to push this place as far as I can. We have great staff, great support, but we're looking for more of it."
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the ICS office, with films to begin at 7 p.m.
Loreen advises people to arrive before 7 p.m. and also strongly warns that the films are intended for mature audiences.
Admission is by donation to the ICS.
