The 3rd annual Small Town Shorts Film Festival takes place at the Aron Theatre Co-Op in Campbellford.
The festival is a collaboration between libraries in and around Northumberland: Trent Hills, Marmora & Lake, Madoc, Brighton, Tweed, Asphodel-Norwood, North Hastings and Stirling-Rawdon.
Cofounder and assistant librarian at Marmara and lake public library Kim Hornak says the libraries worked as a resource to help first time filmmakers.
Hornak says it’s a “really collaborative project through the libraries to help get people to create the stories they’d like to see on the big screen.”
And it’s more immersing that scrolling social media.
Chief Librarian at Trent Hill public library and cofounder of the festival Graeme Peters agrees.
This year’s theme was “New Beginnings”.
Nineteen Films were selected. The film must be 6 minutes or less.
Peters says while there is a theme filmmakers can take the idea wherever they want.
A three member jury will select a winner from each age group. This year there are 5 groups:
12 and under, 13-17, 18-64, 65plus and a Family category to encourage the whole family to make movies together.
Peters says there is a trophy for the winners called “The Scrappy”
Though this year’s festival is sold out you can start thinking about next year’s theme “The Seasons”.
Graeme says you have a whole year to get creative and make something and the libraries are there as resources to help.
The festival runs in early October and submissions are due in September.
More information can be found at Smalltownshortsfilmfest.ca
