A mustachioed gentleman being impaled by a narwhal being ridden by a skeleton is all within the realm of cinematic imagination at Dead North Film Festival, kicking off today at the Capitol Theatre.
Films from Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Simpson and as far as Sweden and Iceland will be on the reel for a week of Northern horror. Dead North has 48 registered films this year — an all time record.
This year's Dead North Film Festival is adding a new first-ever industry award for most unique, remote or fascinating location for their film.
"From pingos to salt plains to Great Lakes and the Mackenzie Mountains, the Northwest Territories is a filmakers dream," said Wally Schumann, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment in a news release Feb. 23. "The creation of the NWT Film Commission (NWTFC) Best NWT Location award celebrates filmmakers, both local and from abroad, who choose to explore, scout locations and ultimately produce films in the NWT."
The NWTFC provides added funding incentives for projects filmed outside of Yellowknife to distribute economic benefits across the territory.
The film festival, which promotes film projects in the North has seen submissions come from as far as Sweden and Finland. Some films have gone on to major festivals, including Cannes, Fantasia, BFI, NYC Horror Film Festival and Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival.
Scheduled Events
Feb. 28 to March 4
Screenings of Dead North films run from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre until March 3. Two extended "super screening" viewings of every film will play on March 4 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a second showing at 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
March 1
Dead North Karaoke Night at Twist Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
March 2
Gold Range Two-Step at the Gold Range Hotel, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
March 3
Zombie Special FX Makeup Workshop at WAMP, 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Distributing Genre Films 101 at the Capitol Theatre, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival Strategy at Capitol Theatre, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Circumpolar Partnerships Panel with Greenland, NWT and Sweden at Capitol Theatre 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Zombear Ceremony and Dance Party with DJ Taylor Saracus at Black Knight Pub, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.