Sandpoint is getting its own film festival. The first annual Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest runs October 17-24 — a week of independent cinema across eleven categories, including documentary, animation, action sports, and locally made narrative work, competing for eighteen awards.
The week opens October 17 with a free Film Crawl starting at Matchwood, followed by a Local Idaho Filmmaker Showcase at the Little Panida Theater on October 18. October 19 brings a Sandpoint Cinema takeover in Ponderay, and October 20 goes dark with R-Night, an evening of dark films at Idaho Pour Authority.
The week closes at the historic Panida Theater: Premiere Night on October 23 screens eight films, and Closing Night and Awards on October 24 brings nine films plus the awards. Along the way there's a screening of the action-sports film "Caution: Terrain" with a Q and A at Eichardt's on October 22.
The festival opened submissions at the start of the year and has been building toward this debut ever since, including a September fundraiser at Matchwood. For a town with a deep love of the Panida and its movie culture, a first-year festival is a milestone — and a strong sign that Sandpoint's arts scene keeps growing.
Check the festival's schedule before heading down the mountain — closing night at the Panida is worth the drive.
All submissions fall under eleven categories and compete for eighteen awards, including best documentary feature and best youth entry. The week spreads across Sandpoint and Ponderay — Matchwood, the Little Panida, Sandpoint Cinema, Idaho Pour Authority, Eichardt's, and the Panida — so the festival doubles as a tour of the town's venues. Ticket prices vary by night, from the free film crawl to closing-night tickets, so check the festival site for details before you go. Either way, this debut is worth showing up for.