Rolla residents enter film festival

 

Two Rolla film makers will be showcasing their movies on the big screen.

 

Rio Fitch and Karl Mattson will be presenting their films in the Reel Shorts Film Festival, taking place at the Second Street Theatre in Grande Prairie from May 4-8. The festival will include 62 short films from 18 different countries. 11 of the films have been nominated for Oscars.

 

Fitch’s film, entitled The Driving Accident is a five minute comedy starring his four year old son. The plot of the movie is about a young boy who must use his wits and ingenuity to overcome a minor tragedy during an afternoon of play. Fitch was the director, camera man and editor of the film. 

 

The film is part of the Family Shorts Package, which will be shown Saturday, May 7 at 11 a.m. It’s also part of the Gruff & Stuff package for grades two and three, which screens Monday, May 2 at 9:30, as well as Friday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m.

 

The second Rolla resident, Karl Mattson, will be entering a 26 minute film titled Sisters of Karnataka. This documentary examines a unique solution to the spread of HIV/AIDS through the southern Indian countryside, which has been spearheaded by Shiva Halli. Halli is a native of rural Karnataka, who is now a professor in Canada and sets up clinics that employs sex workers to educate their peers about sexual and mental health. The film is part of the Docs in a Row film package, taking place 1:30 p.m. on Saturday May 7.

 

This is neither participant’s first entry in the festival, as both entered films last year.

 

Tickets for the film festival are $10 for general admission, $5 for students and festival passes are $50. For more information, please visit the festival website or contact the box office at 780-538-1616.