Soo Film Festival begins on Sept. 12

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Sept. 11, 2017

SAULT STE. MARIE — The fourth Soo Film Festival takes place September 12- 17in downtown Sault Ste. Marie at the Soo Theatre and, for the first time, Bayliss Public Library. Six days of features and shorts from the Great Lakes and the rest of the globe make up this year’s festival schedule.

 

Narrative features come from as near as Iron Mountain, Michigan, and as far as Australia. Robert Vornkahl returned to where he grew up to make Nowhere, Michigan, a tale of a man on the run for his life. A thriller in the grindhouse tradition, Shotgun comes from Down Under to headline the Friday Night Fright section. As You Like It, an adaptation of the Shakespeare classic, will have its world premiere at Soo Film Festival.

 

Documentary subjects cover varied aspects of Michigan. There is poetry and performance in Stone Circle; outdoor adventure in The Michigan Ice Film; and a controversial police unit in Detroit Under STRESS. Human trafficking is brought to light in Stuck In Traffic, Modern-Day Slavery In Michigan. Members of the Upper Peninsula Human Trafficking Task Force and filmmakers will take part in a discussion panel following that screening.

 

Sunday features a segment of Native American films, some featuring members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment will moderate a Q&A panel after INAATE/SE/, which was shot in Sault Ste. Marie. Filmmakers Adam and Zack Khalil will be in attendance with the help of the 2017 Sundance Institute Indigenous Film Opportunity Fellowship.

 

Short film segments span a wide variety of genres. Animation, music video, narrative, and documentary are all on display. Featured segments include student work on Saturday, as well as a showcase of short films from more than 15 countries on Sunday.

 

All films in every category are eligible for an Audience Award. Judging takes place during the festival. Festivities attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorites.

 

A full list of the movies and the schedule are available on the festival website, soofilmfestival.org.  Other events, guests, and discussion panels will be announced soon.

 

Ticket prices are $7 General Admission (per block), $5 Seniors and Students (per block); $20 Daily Pass (admission to all blocks on a single day); $50 Festival Pass (admission to all films and shorts programs, all days). Bayliss Public Library screenings are free. Beginning Sept.  15 tickets will only be available at the door.

 

The most up-to-date festival news is online. Find the festival on Facebook at facebook.com/SooFilmFestival and Twitter at twitter.com/SooFilmFest.