Calling all lovers of long and short films, foreign and domestic! The Sixth Annual Lyons Film Festival is alive. It was delayed from its normal April time frame to this September due to the COVID-19 restrictions. It will be offering a free live introductory program in the Lyons Den restaurant patio, and a virtual film festival online. Local Jackie Brennan, Co-Manager of Colorado Film Productions, has been meeting with her team of production assistants over the past two months to plan the event.
If you love the excitement of attending the Opening Night of a film festival, come down to the Lyons Den on September 25, between 5 and 7 p.m. This community gathering will follow all safety and health guidelines by limiting the attendee numbers, and enforcing local and state social distancing and mask wearing rules. At this time, the state allows gatherings of up to 50 people. People can come and go, so, once three people leave, another three can enter. The Opening Night is free.
Bring your kids, neighbors, friends and lovers. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The presenters will show a series of short films live that will give the community the opportunity to see what type of films will be offered during the virtual online fee-based film festival. The Friday opening night films will not be repeated during the virtual festival.
The full virtual Festival will take place online beginning October 3, at a cost of $35. You can watch films for one month, on your own time schedule. Tickets are currently on sale. Grab your favorite seat and some popcorn, and enjoy your own film festival. Pull out your computer or smart phone and chat or text with your friends about the films. You can be as loud as you want to be!
The 6th Annual Lyons Film Festival opening night films are:
1. Big Agnes and the CDT Coalition: (8 min. 21 sec) Directors: Katie Huges, Carl Zoch
– all about hiking the Continental Divide Trail— and the connections made
2. Visions of the Lost Sierra (14 min. 20 sec) Director Matt Ritenour
– beautiful scenes and experiences
3. Golden (7 min 52 sec) Directors: Kaare Iverson, Charles Post, Daniel Holz
– About a raptor biologist and his love of study of the Golden Eagle
4. Fall Out Dogs (20 minutes) Director Julia Oldham
– about the care of dogs from the Chernobyl disaster
5.. Truly Noble Souls: (15 minutes) Director: Destin Hernandez :
– Destin, our projectionist, will explain the concept and inspiration of his film
6. Un Nuevo Capítulo: (5 min 17 sec) Director: Deanna Schultz
– about Yoga and rehabilitation of women in prison
7. An Eagle’s First Flight (5 min 39 sec ) Director: Cherin Spencer Bower
– about learning to fly
8. Cat Lake City (6 min 42 sec) director Anje Heyn
– an animation about a cat looking for a day off
Buy tickets here for the full festival: ColoradoFest.com The blocks of films contain one longer film, close to one hour in length, and three or more short films.
At the opening night party, paper copies of the Program will be distributed to everyone. There will be breaks between movies for potential comments. The production company likes to celebrate independent trailblazers both behind the camera and in the films. The films range from environmental documentaries and outdoor recreational adventure films to international shorts, including some animation.
Colorado Festival Productions produces four film festivals, including a Boulder one September 26, and a Horror Film Festival October 17. Go to their website for the dates and descriptions and to buy tickets.