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Keweenaw area movie buffs enjoyed a weekend watching the silver screen in Houghton.
The 13th annual 41 North Film Festival took place this weekend at the Rozsa Center.
The theme for this year’s festival was Community—Scandinavian community, Finnish community, the Native American community and a local filmmaker from the Keweenaw community.
Former Michigan Tech Professor Joe Kirkish was honored Saturday afternoon when he was presented with the City Lights award in recognition of his works in the film industry.
Festival director Erin Smith said, “Joel has always been such a champion of film in the Keweenaw. He ran Club Indigo for 25 years. He was a film professor at Michigan Tech for 42 years. He’s really a jewel and I think everyone who knows him knows that. So we’re pleased to honor him.”
The event kicked of Friday night with a showing entitled “Voices of Light”, a silent film from the 1920s about Joan of Arc that was complimented with a real time performance by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Tech Chamber Singers.
Over the next three days, show goers witnessed over 20 films featured from 10 countries, many with local roots to the Keweenaw, including a film called Sami Blood portraying a 1930 indigenous tribal woman and her challenges faced when transitioning to a civilized lifestyle.
The four day festival wrapped up Sunday afternoon, however film information is still available at the festival website for additional viewing opportunities.
