Sign up for the paNOW newsletter
A look from the projection room at the Shellbrook Theatre. (Rempel Filmscapes/Facebook)
FILM FESTIVAL

The Sask. Film Festival is coming to Shellbrook

Nov 25, 2022 | 8:00 AM

The stars and the red carpet will be out in the Town of Shellbrook for the 2022 Saskatchewan International Film Festival.

The annual event will be held outside of Saskatoon for the first time ever and around 20 entries will be screened throughout the event, which kicks off with its Opening Gala on Saturday.

Mayor Amund Otterson said he knew people on the organizing committee and wanted to showcase the new Shellbrook Theatre.

“They came to see our theatre and decided to host the entire event here,” he said.

But it wasn’t just the theatre that caught the attention of organizers. As President of the SIFF Joyce Malayba explains, they saw an opportunity to help with a major community project.

“We agreed to have the opening gala at the Shellbrook theatre but when we found out they also have this ongoing project of building a bigger community pool, we thought that we might as well bring the film screenings also in Shellbrook so we could help raise funds for the project.”

Malayba hopes this will be an annual occurrence to have a different community host the film festival.

As for the buzz around Shellbrook, Otterson said word has already gone out that his town is hosting the big event.

“I’m getting the occasional call from people who don’t live here or have lived here in the past wondering about the schedule and what’s going on with it,” he said. “Sounds like they’ll come to town to take part in it.”

He added the media group working with SIFF has already been out to the town to take images and stock footage for social media videos showcasing the community as the host town.

The opening gala is set to go on Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Shellbrook Theatre with screenings of the different films running from Nov. 27th to the 30th.

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock

View Comments