Okanagan films take centre stage at indie festival

KELOWNA – Locally produced, independent films are coming soon to a theatre near you.

The first Okanagan Indie Film Showcase, hosted by the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking, is taking place Friday, March 28 and will feature documentaries as well as non-fiction films.

All are made by local filmmakers using local actors, editors and directors.

OSIF president Kelly Veltri says the festival is a way to bring attention to the talented people who reside in the valley.

“This is the first indy film showcase we’ve put on,” he says. “There are a lot of really cool projects that people have been working on and have been wanting to show.”

The festival takes place at The Habitat in Kelowna and will feature approximately 90 minutes of documentaries and short films.

“The number one thing about this festival is that it’s 100 per cent local,” Veltri says. “And all the films are 15 minutes or shorter."

One of the features is about a local legend named Arnie Davis who two-stepped his way into the hearts of Kelowna residents in a film by Kelowna native Chelsea MacEvoy. The video went viral in November last year and will be one of the key draws for the festival.

Entrants will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, including best actor/actress, best cinematography, best director, audience choice award, best short film and best documentary.

Tickets for the festival are $12 at the door or $10 at Leo’s Video in Kelowna.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428.