The Dawson City International Short Film Festival returns this year from April 17-20
“We start in October, viewing the approximately 400 submissions for the festival”
playing at the Festival
It’s that time of year again for residents and visitors in Dawson City. This year’s Dawson City International Short Film Festival (DCISFF), from April 17-20, will showcase films from around the world and host educational workshops, live music and even a street party.
The months leading up to each year’s festival are always busy for its selection committee.
“We start in October, viewing the approximately 400 submissions for the festival,” says DCISFF producer Dan Sokolowski. “The committee meets twice weekly to view and then score the films. Anyone from the community can attend.”
The committee creates its master list for the festival program based on the scores given to each film.
“We also look at what workshops and guests, including filmmakers in residence with KIAC, that are available to come to Dawson and what would be of interest to our audience,” says Sokolowski.
“Although the structure of the film festival remains similar every year, the fact that it’s over 80 new films and filmmakers keeps it fresh. It’s always a challenge to create the final program as there are so many good films and we have only a limited amount of screening time, so many worthy films are not shown.”
Though film technology is constantly changing, Sokolowski says it’s been reasonably stable these past few years, but notes that files sent in tend to get larger every year, so budgeting for necessary hardware and software upgrades is important.
“When I started years ago, we were showing videotapes and CDs and that kind of stuff,” he says. “It really has changed.”
The opportunity to show different films, discover new filmmakers and welcome new attendees is always exciting for Sokolowski. One addition this year is a pre-festival workshop by Montreal filmmaker Steven Woloshen, who makes camera-less 35mm films by painting or scratching directly onto the celluloid.
Woloshen will be running workshops daily from April 15-17. Community members are welcome to attend any or all of the three sessions.
“People are actually going to get to draw and paint right on film,” says Sokolowski. “Steven is going to scan it all in before the final screening and we’re going to show the completed work on the Sunday night.”
The DCISFF has shown many of Woloshen’s films over the years, and Sokolowski is thrilled to have the filmmaker teach his craft in person at this year’s festival.
“I was always curious as to how he was able to get the 35mm film scanned and projected; that technical aspect always intrigued me,” says Sokolowski.
“I noticed he was going to festivals and doing this and showing the films right away, so I asked him if he could do that here. He uses these little electron microscopes to scan the films in — it’s a really interesting process. I’d been meaning to ask him for years.”
Putting the actual programs together is very rewarding for Sokolowski and his fellow committee members. This involves choosing which films will play together, making sure each one is in the best possible slot with the films that precede or follow.
Another favourite moment during the festival for Sokolowski is when he gets to sit in the KIAC Ballroom at the festival and gauge how the audience reacts to the selections.
“We like to screen a bit of everything, including all types of genres from documentary, narratives, animations and non-narrative works, on a wide variety of subject matters,” he says. “A lot of consideration goes into how the films play together into a cohesive unit, despite being different styles and content.”
Other activities throughout the weekend will include a workshop on editing software DaVinci Resolve by local filmmaker Arcane Perry, and the infamous Street Feast, which Sokolowski says has become so popular the festival can never get rid of it. The Street Feast will feature a live performance from local band Big Leisure.
“It’s nice to get out of the ballroom and into some fresh air and listen to some music and have some good eats,” Sokolowski says. “Out of my 18 years here, we’ve only had to move it indoors once. It’s late April, so things should be good.”
To stay up to date with the DCISFF’s news, programming and schedule, visit dawsonfilmfest.com.
“It’s always fun to see all the events and work that builds up to the festival, from the selection screenings, our now infamous pierogi-making party, in which volunteers gather to make 700 pierogi for our Street Feast, the fundraisers throughout the year and greeting the guests and out-of-towners that come in for the festival,” he says.
