ArtZone Sun Peaks is offering an opportunity for local filmmakers to see their work on screen in January. The ArtZone Film-makers Contest is welcoming submissions until Jan. 4, 2024.
Additionally, the winner of the contest will receive $500 from the organization, as well as a prize sponsored by McSporties and HEAD Ski Company, Inc.
“It started out three years ago with a fellow who brought his photography with a trip he had to Zambia, where he worked with orphaned elephants for Thursday locals night, and it was really, really well received,” ArtZone Sun Peaks’ president Marj Knive told SPIN of the film contest’s background.
To continue giving local photographers the opportunity to share their pieces, Knive said ArtZone decided to create the contest. However, when they opened up the contest last year, only one filmmaker submitted their work, according to Knive.
“But I think what that did is show the rest of the people that were watching that anyone with an interest in filmmaking is perfectly acceptable to put a film in the film contest,” she said, explaining this time around she has received much interest from local creators hoping to throw their hat in the ring.
“I’m really hoping we have a nice assortment this year.”
Contest submission parameters
Filmmakers interested in submitting their movies should review the full submission parameters on ArtZone’s website, but there are some things to keep in mind.
Each film should be between two and 15 minutes long, and focused on a story local to Sun Peaks. While complicated film tech isn’t necessary for submission, the format of each film should be horizontal, at minimum 1080 pixels and easy to watch.
Additionally, ArtZone’s website notes some helpful hints: Start early, script your story to keep track of the project, use visual aids and collaborate with others.
To submit a film to the contest, fill out the form provided on artzonesunpeaks.com by Jan. 4, 2024, including a summary, the names of all contributors, supporters and funding sources.
Submissions are free.
4th Annual Sun Peaks Film Festival
Contest winners and runners-up will see their films screened during Locals Night Thursday, Jan. 18 from 7 until 9:30 p.m. at the Great Hall at Sun Peaks Centre.
“We will take the first part of Thursday night’s show and show all the entries that we have, depending on the length of each film.” Knive said. “They don’t have to be long and drawn out, the important thing is that they tell a story.”
During the second half of Locals Night, there will be a screening of Unified, A HEAD Freeskiing Team Movie.
From Jan. 19 to 20, there will be screenings of films from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) World Tour, featuring snippets of international and Canadian mountain life. The films cover an array of life in the mountains, not just sports, Knive explained.
Out of the many films shown at VIMFF, ArtZone curates their picks to fill two nights of mountain-filled fun.
“It usually works out to seven or eight films per night,” Knive said. “They are films taken in the mountains of mountain communities and mountain living. They aren’t ski films, they’re films about people who live in the mountains and the lifestyle of those people all over the world.”
Rather than just ski films, which Knive said many in Sun Peaks have seen plenty of, these films show mountain life from Nepal to Kyrgyzstan all the way back to Canada.
“It is a huge variety of places that not all of us have been, so it shows some different cultures and different lifestyles and certainly different sports – everything from climbing to slacklining to mountain biking, and skiing of course – it’s all different sports that are represented.”
A party will close the weekend with dancing, food, fun and film talk.
“We’ve had one most years after the film festival,” Knive said. “It’s just a really nice way to wrap up the weekend and discuss the films.”
More details on where the party will take place and how to purchase tickets will be updated on ArtZone’s website.
ArtZone received a grant from the British Columbia Fairs, Festivals, and Events to help host Sun Peaks Film festival.
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