The 2012 Kalmiopsis Nature Film Festival was a great success!
Nearly early 200 people attended from as far away as
Grants Pass--though most were from local communities from Brookings to North
Bend. The theater was abuzz with lively conversation in between the various
films --as people mixed and mingled. The stage was festooned with lovely boughs
of cedar and ferns --and a couple of carved western grebes, and we had special slideshow featuring photos by local
photographers Lois Miller, Tim Palmer, Steve Thompson, and Gary Maschmeyer.
Local beekeepers from the Coos County Beekeepers Association came to view Vanishing of the Bees and to share their plans for a Curry Beekeepers group. In the evening, we also showcased the premiere of Wild Oregon, a film by local filmmaker David Fortney with original music scored by Claire Shepard. We also
featured Salmonskin and footage of salmon shot on our own Elk and Chetco rivers by underwater filmmaker
Thomas Dunklin. The finale was a showing of Ghost Bird about the Ivory-billed woodpecker.
We’ve received a number of
calls and letters of positive response. Many festival-goers were struck by how
engaging it was to sit together and watch a series of thought-provoking movies
in a community setting. Others were struck by the sheer beauty or moved by the
stories in the films.
This
special event would not have been possible without the help of many Kalmiopsis Audubon Society
volunteers, the support of local newspapers with publicity, and, most
important, the interest, enthusiasm, and generosity of the audience. Thanks to
entrance donations, we covered the costs of putting on the event. Thanks also to
Chris Speed for making the Savoy Theater available to us.
Already I’ve heard from
some people who are interested in being part of next year’s film fest team.
Maybe that means the Kalmiopsis Nature Film Festival will become an annual or
semi annual event!
