Polson’s 9th annual FLIC film festival opens in January
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POLSON — The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest premieres its ninth annual winter film festival during the weekend of Jan. 29-31, 2021, at the brand new stadium-seating Showboat Cinema 6 on Main Street.
FLIC screens full-length features, shorts, animation, student films and documentaries. FLIC 2021, once again, offers a broad selection of international films, featuring entries from 17 countries and many from Montana.
Even amidst today’s uncertainties, many filmmakers plan to travel to Montana to participate in the festival in person. FLIC has become a destination film festival for all the right reasons, chief among them being that the area’s attendees are so supportive of independent cinema. Spirited discussions between audience and filmmakers cap off most screening blocks.
COVID-19 safety guidelines will be observed if they are still in effect at the time of the festival. In that scenario, Showboat Cinema 6 will continue to employ its current social-distancing seating. FLIC Director David W. King said: “The Showboat Cinema 6 has kindly made all six of its new stadium seating theaters available to FLIC, which will make it possible for us to screen a single film block simultaneously on several screens. This will help offset the reduced theater seating capacities under possible ongoing COVID guidelines. The goal is to make the festival experience as comfortable and safe as possible.”
“We’ll also make most of the FLIC 2021 film lineup available for online viewing on a virtual screening platform for about a month following the Showboat Cinema 6 in-person encore week. This will enable film festival aficionados who miss the live event to purchase individual screening blocks (or full festival passes) to enjoy the films that spark their interest in the online FLIC 2021 program, which will appear at FLICPolson.com shortly after the first of the year. So, there will be a way for everyone who’s interested – even if they’re in another state or country – to enjoy the FLIC film festival experience.”
FLIC’s judges enjoyed discovering this year’s gems. Included among them is the Ukrainian film “Pulse,” which is about a young Ukrainian field athlete named Oksana who has a dream to take part in the Olympics. After a horrific car accident, Oksana almost loses her eyesight. It seems that she will have to forget not only about qualifying for the Olympics but also about leading a normal life. Oksana refuses to give up.
Another standout this year is the feature documentary “The Girl Who Wore Freedom,” which transports us to Normandy, France. Once an idyllic landscape, Normandy had succumbed to German invaders who overran farms, manors and the countryside. Witnesses to history recount their unique relationships with the Allied forces, who liberated Normandy on June 6, 1944. The journey from occupation to liberation and acceptance and forgiveness is explored through interviews with French survivors and American veterans in this powerful, personal film that tells stories handed down over two generations. The film’s director, Christian Taylor, plans to attend FLIC 2021 and will participate in the audience Q&A following the screening.
The beautiful documentary film Navajo Math Circles follows Navajo students in a lively collaboration with mathematicians. The math circles approach puts children in charge of exploring mathematics. Applications of math in native culture highlight the special connections between Navajo culture, natural beauty and mathematics.
FLIC kicks off on Friday, Jan. 29, with an informal gathering in the spacious lobby of the new Showboat Cinema 6. Film showings, on multiple screens, begin at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, Jan. 30, screenings resume at 8:30 a.m. with a free animated children’s film. Festival film screenings resume at 10 a.m. and continue on multiple screens into the evening. There will be a break in film showings from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for an informal gathering at The Cove Deli & Pizza at 11 3rd Ave. West. This event is popular with our attending filmmakers.
The FLIC 2021 weekend draws to a festive close with our awards show and pre-packaged, COVID-19 observant dessert reception on Sunday, Jan. 31, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The audience award will also be given to the FLIC audience’s overall favorite film. The award ceremony is free to the public and is located at Showboat Cinema Stadium 6.
If you miss FLIC weekend, the Showboat Cinema Stadium 6 will host a FLIC 2021 encore screenings from Feb. 1 to Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m.; 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The encore screening schedule will be available at FLICPolson.com in January.
All film times and events are subject to change. The FLIC 2021 program and screening schedules will soon be available for download at FLICPolson.com, where festival passes, individual screening tickets and FLIC merchandise may also be purchased. FLIC is also on Facebook. For more information, email FLIC at contact@flicpolson.com.
