REXBURG – Film narration in documentary form and narration in demonstration as Rexburg’s Paramount 5 Theatre hosted the Grand Teton Film Festival on Saturday, May 21.
The festival allowed moviegoers to see a variety of feature films and short films that they would not otherwise have had the chance to see. The films featured a dizzying array of visual storytelling techniques and evoked each and every emotion imaginable.
“This year we won more documentaries than in previous years, which is great,” Steven Vest, the festival’s organizer, told EastIdahoNews. com. , as well as some Boise filmmakers.
The festival screened documentary feature films:
Alongside those films, the festival included a number of narrative and documentary short films. The stories covered a wide range of genres, from science fiction to horror and from supernatural suspense to romantic comedies. The documentaries addressed topics such as plastic pollutants and the cure for alcoholism. .
Vest said some of this year’s festival’s films are linked through several non-unusual themes.
“I think all documentaries have a sense of adventure, empowerment and motivation,” Vest said. “The type of short film covers the full range, but I think the main theme of this year’s documentaries has been to look at themselves. “
“I think (cinema) is a really hard and emotional tool to help other people immerse themselves in someone’s story or a political or social issue,” he added. “It’s different to read anything because you can see the emotion of the story and see other people and how it affects them. That’s what I love about cinema: being able to immerse yourself in the image, the story, the sound and the emotion.
The festival is still looking to get back on its feet in the wake of COVID-19, so this year’s procedures have been reduced to screening the films. Vest said he hopes to return to a full program, adding a gala gala and awards concert, next year.
“Because of COVID and because our sponsors are feeling the pressure, we had to reduce our offerings to basically screen the films,” he said. “We know that films and filmmakers deserve more celebrations than we can offer right now, however, given the circumstances, this is the most productive thing we can do. Next year we hope to get back on track what we did the first year.
Follow the Grand Teton Film Festival by visiting their Facebook page.
Photo via Adam Forsgren
Thanks to Fat Cats in Rexburg for offering film screenings in EastIdahoNews. com.