View the winners from 2008 here.

Poor Boyz Production's new movie, "Jib Jam," will have it's world premier at the Panida. The ski movie, which was filmed this spring exclusively at Schweitzer, features some of the best freeride ski athletes in the world such as John Spriggs, Kyler Cooley and Oscar Scherlin. Poor Boyz Productions, the nationally acclaimed acclaimed production company responsible for the film, brings the event to the Panida along with several athletes who will be signing autographs.

Also at the premier Poor Boyz will also show their other new film for 2008-09 called “Reasons.”

Many valuable prizes, including a Schweitzer Season Pass, will be given away.

Thursday, September 25 Doors open @ 6:00 PM, the film begins @ 7:00 pm Admission is $7.00 per person

Twenty filmmakers took home Eagle and Soaring Eagle trophies from the 3rd Schweitzer Lakedance International FIlm Festival in Sandpoint, Idaho, but only one took home cash.

Chad Christensen of Couer d'Alene, Idaho, entered the North Idaho Filmmaker competition for 2008 with a twenty-eight minute documentary he helmed, "Raising Lucy", which has already played esteemed festivals nationwide including the Newport Beach Film Festival. The film, which explores the Couer d'Alene based true story of Carol and Nick Muzik who found a gosling near their home and raised it until she, Lucy, decided to join other Canadian Geese flying south for winter.

Competing against eleven other works from North Idaho filmmakers, on Saturday September 13th, the Schweitzer Lakedance jury awarded Chad the Eagle trophy for Best North Idaho Filmmaker as well as two other Eagles. As a result of this, and to encourage North Idaho filmmaking excellence, Washington Trust Bank's Sandpoint, Idaho branch presented their own award, a $1000 grant for Chad's next project, which is to be made and entered into Schweitzer Lakedance 2009.

"I'm very excited, it was great, the money and awards were totally unexpected and I definitely want to give back and hire some Idaho folks with the money." Chad Christensen said after accepting a giant $1000 check on stage at the Panida Theater.

The grant, presented in person by Sandpoint Branch Manager Brandon Roth, will actually be funded following the completion of the next film, and will require Chad to spend at least $1000 in the State of Idaho on real expenses and not just salaries for actors, directors or producers.

"Washington Trust Bank is excited to support independent film making in North Idaho" Brandon stated. "We hope this grant will encourage the talented people in our community to follow their dreams of film production."

Although Raising Lucy has already taken awards at Charleston International Film Festival, and won three Telly Awards, this marks the first cash award the film has received.

The Schweitzer Lakedance/Washington Trust 2008 Best North Idaho Filmmaker Grant Program continues on the heels of the successful $500 grant program from 2007, sponsored by US Bank, which saw Esther Johnson, Sandpoint Native, take her award and put it to use to create a film for the 2008 film festival, "In the Rough."

"This is an incredible opportunity and award for Chad to green light his next project, and come to the table with other producers knowing he already has a thousand dollars to complete it. We are thrilled for him and glad to partner with Washington Trust Bank to continue to try to push North Idaho filmmaking to new heights." Schweitzer Lakedance Festival Director Trevor Greenfield said following the presentation Saturday night.

When asked about what his next project will be, Chad responded, "I think I'm going to do a documentary about the three lakes in our area and the residents around it, or I might do a true-story drama that I've been working on... I can't decide quite yet."

You can find out more about Raising Lucy at their official website www.raisinglucy.com , Washington Trust Bank's continued community outreach at www.watrust.com , and get all of the updates leading up to the 2009 Schweitzer Lakedance International Film Festival at www.lakedance.com.

The fun kicks off at 6PM-8:30PM and tickets are just $6 at the door, or $5 for seniors, military or students with ID. See you there!

A gala Soaring Eagle Awards presentation capped Saturday afternoon's incredible day of films, and with royalty like Janelle Frisque (Face of Schweitzer Lakedance 2008), Annie Nash (Mrs. Sandpoint 2008), and KPND key DJ Jonny Knight on hand, it was indeed an incredible closing to Schweitzer Lakedance 2008.

War Eagle Arkansas took home top honors with two Eagles for Best Male Performance (Dan McCabe) presented by Stoneridge Golf Resort and Best Director (Robert Milazzo) presented by Nieman's Floral, and a Soaring Eagle for Best Feature presented by Schweitzer Mountain Resort, while Raising Lucy swept both the Best North Idaho Eagle presented by Horizon Credit Union and the Idaho Eagle presented by Sandpoint Realty, as well as Best Documentary presented by Cafe Trinity and Ivano's Ristorante.

Congratulations to all of the 2008 Schweitzer Lakedance Eagle and Soaring Eagle award winners, grant winner, nominees, and all official selections.

The headline says it all doesn't it? Today, Thursday September 11, 2008, we've assembled 3 great blocks of films.

We begin with our most international block with Film Block #6 at 2PM - incredible short films ranging from suicide bombers ("Rabia") to a Japanese comedy ("Suzuki & Co.") to the feature film, Schweitzer Lakedance's first ever film from Russia, "Fat Stupid Rabbit".

The day continues with Film Block #7 - "Idaho Meets the World" at 5PM... your look at 12 Idaho films, many from North Idaho and many premieres. Additionally, most of these filmmakers will be present and will do a Q&A following their films.

At 8PM, To finish out Thursday, just two films, but what films they are. First, "Patience", a poignant look at the remaining days of an elderly ladies' life in a nursing home. Then, the hit film of 2007 and beloved by music lovers everywhere, "August Rush" returns to the screen for its first ever showing in Sandpoint. This movie stars Robin Williams, Freddie Highmore, But that's not all, the original writer of August Rush, Paul Castro, will be in attendance and will answer your questions on stage live following the film!

It's an incredible day at Schweitzer Lakedance 2008, don't miss it!

Click here to see descriptions of all of Thursday's films.

Just when you thought Wednesday meant nothing is on TV and there's nothing to do... Schweitzer Lakedance brings you 2 blocks of incredible movies, plus your chance to meet the filmmaker behind one of the film festival's most elaborate artistic pieces, "Maro".

Beginning with film block #4 at 5PM, see a comedy, a drama, a dramedy and a documentary all in one sitting! The feature film is the intriguing look at the house known in the famous painting, American Gothic, and the town that it resides in. This American Gothic explores not only the meaning of the painting and the house over the years, but how the town of Eldon, Iowa has largely ignored their most famous claim to fame.

Then continuing at 8PM, Schweitzer Lakedance 2008 introduces "Wars Old and New", a film block loosely themed around the word and noun Verb. First, "Mail Call" examines a soldier's personal story and his letter exchange with his family back home. Then, "Maro", a film that is at times experimental and others simply narrative but always artistically visually pleasing, combines Medieval elements with modern ones to weave a tale of love and heartache. The film will be presented by Director Micheal Tedford and marks the Northwest Premiere. Finally, Schweitzer Lakedance closes the evening with War Eagle, Arkansas, a human drama coming-of-age movie set in the small town of the title name. Starring Brian Dennehy, Luke Grimes, Dan McCabe, Misti Traya, James McDaniel, Mare Winningham, and Mary Kay Place, it's a great ride you won't want to miss.

Tickets are $6 at the door, or $5 for students, military and seniors with ID.

See all about today's films here.

See you at the movies!

As if having your film screened at one of the largest film festivals in the Northwestern United States, in front of hundreds of audience members, in your own backyard wasn't enough... now the Best North Idaho Filmmaker Soaring Eagle award winner of 2008 will receive one thousand dollars to use on their next film thanks to the Sandpoint Branch of Washington Trust Bank. 11 North Idaho filmmakers will vie for this award and many others at the September 7-14 Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival, held mostly at the Panida Theater in downtown Sandpoint.

"Washington Trust Bank has been supporting our community for over a hundred years. Our local family run business is proud to offer support to the arts in North Idaho. It is our hope this grant will help keep the local arts strong for years to come", says Brandon Roth, Manager of the Sandpoint branch.

Trevor Greenfield, Festival Director of Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival added, "We are thrilled to work with such an outreaching organization as Washington Trust, and present our best opportunity yet for North Idaho Filmmakers to achieve their dreams."

This grant will give the winning filmmaker a one thousand dollar rebate following the film's approval by Washington Trust, and comes on the heels of a successful Schweitzer Lakedance North Idaho Filmmaker grant program last year which saw Sandpoint Local Esther Johnson win the award and a similar grant and apply it towards a "In the Rough" a film which will also be screening at Schweitzer Lakedance 2008. To date, Schweitzer Lakedance is the only organization to offer filmmaking opportunities exclusively for North Idahoans.

The Best North Idaho Filmmaker Award and Washington Trust Bank grant will be presented on stage at the Panida Theater at 10PM Saturday 9/13. Most Idaho filmmakers films, including "In the Rough", will screen Thursday, September 11 at 5PM at the Panida Theater. Tickets are $6 at the door, online, or at Stage Right Cellars. See lakedance.com for more details. ]]>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:27:42 +0000http://lakedance.com/content/lakedance/washington-trust-bank-to-award-1000-grant/http://lakedance.com/content/lakedance/washington-trust-bank-to-award-1000-grant/
Sherri Richardson, Manager of Sandpoint US Bank
branch, presents grant to filmmaker Esther Johnson.
Photo: Janice Jarzabek.

At the 2007 Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival, Esther Johnson had her thesis film from the New York Film Academy, "Montana", screen for audiences, and due to her outstanding efforts and achievements, she took home the 2007 Best North Idaho Filmmaker Award.

As part of that award, US Bank's Sandpoint Branch broke new ground, and offered a $500 future filmmaking grant to Esther. Clearly, it worked as intended, because in 2008, Esther will be presenting two more films at Schweitzer Lakedance.

SNUFF, another film from her NYFA days, will screen, as well as her newest project in which she teamed up with Janice Jarzabek and Sandpoint Films to produce, "In the Rough"... the project made with the generous grant from 2007.

Both films screen Thursday in the "Idaho Meets the World" film block #7. See more information at Lakedance.com.

Over a hundred braved a chilled September Sandpoint evening Sunday, but quickly the night air filled with laughter as Schweitzer Lakedance kicked off the 2008 film festival with a tribute to the Buster Keaton masterpiece, "The General". Presented at Sandpoint City Beach, and sponsored by Schweitzer Mountain Resort and Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, the night began with an introduction and welcoming by Festival Director Trevor Greenfield, then the projector lit up the 16 foot blow-up screen, and finally, the audience spent the next 74 minutes trying to contain the tears from laughter.

Schweitzer Lakedance 2008 continues Monday with a first look at North Idaho filmmakers films in a meet-the-filmmakers event at Laughing Dog Brewing in Ponderay, Idaho. Come out, have a beer, enjoy some clips, learn about local filmmakers, then we'll watch the second Monday Night Football game! The event is free, but limited to those over 21 years of age. The remaining 54 films resume Tuesday at the Panida Theater, beginning with a free film block with 5 more Buster Keaton films, then a terrific independent movie block including feature, "Capri, You Love".

See more about the Laughing Dog Brewing event here and the films here.

Not just one, but two different film blocks are free this year, showcasing six films starring the legend of the silver screen, Buster Keaton.

To kick off Schweitzer Lakedance 2008, a free outdoor screening of "The General", the classic Civil War era comedy in which Buster is an engineer of a locomotive and is looking to perform heroics to capture a girl's heart. This feature film will screen at Sandpoint City Beach Park on Sunday, September 7th, at 7:30PM, and is sponsored by Sandpoint Parks and Recreation and Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Bring the whole family, lawnchairs, blankets, and DRESS WARM!

The free fun continues Tuesday with a salute to Buster Keaton's comedic genius at The Panida Theater for film block #2 starting at 5PM. Schweitzer Lakedance will screen The Balloonatic (22m), Cops (19m), Neighbors (19m), One Week (19m), and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (66m). This film block is sponsored by Monarch Mountain Coffee, and dedicated to Jenny Meyers, who was a big part of Schweitzer Lakedance in 2006.

All films are rated for all audiences, and will be great fun for kids... of all ages. See information about all of the films at Schweitzer Lakedance here.

During Schweitzer Lakedance 2008, not only do you "win" by seeing great films and meeting their makers, but you also will have a chance to win dozens of great prizes!

We've partnered with Sandpoint Films Inc., a local non-profit with a focus on film education, and as a fundraiser, they will be raffling off all kinds of great prizes including a handmade bench from Northwest Handmade Furniture, a Sony camcorder, and over a dozen pre-release REPRISE DVD's courtesy of Miramax!

Additional prizes include a snow-cat trip for 4, massages, t-shirts, cd's, and many others. Stop by the Sandpoint Films table located in the lobby of the Panida Theater during the festival for your chance to win!

Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival is very pleased to welcome the original writer of 2007 hit film August Rush and UCLA undergraduate and postgraduate professor of Screenwriting, Paul Castro, who will be bringing two screenwriting secrets workshops to the 2008 festival. The first workshop, Screenwriting Essentials, will move beyond the basics and talk about the necessary key elements you need for a good screenplay. The next workshop, Trading Daydreams for Dollars, is a condensed version of the very exclusive class Paul Teaches at UCLA under the same title, which lays out many of the key points screenplay writers will need to navigate through the treacherous waters of selling a screenplay or producing one. Both workshops will be held on Friday, September 12th, at the Panida Theater in downtown, Sandpoint. The cost to attend workshop 1 is $25 and the second is $45, or you can buy both for $70 and get a free ticket to both of the evening film blocks!

You can read all about the workshops here or get your tickets here

Friday, August 29, 2008 -- Last Stop For Paul, the hit adventure feature of 2007 Schweitzer Lakedance and winner of two Soaring Eagle Awards, returns for an encore showing at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, as the last film in the Schweitzer "Movies on the Mountain" summer screening series. For those that missed "Last Stop" the first time, you won't want to miss this chance to see the film that had the audience rolling in the aisles.

IMDB lists this as a summary for "Last Stop", "Charlie and Cliff decide they want to go to the Full Moon party in Thailand. Along the way they travel around the world sprinkling the ashes of their dead friend Paul. As they go from country to country they meet a wide variety of crazy people and have insane adventures." That would be putting it mildly.

The screening begins in the village at Schweitzer Mountain Resort at "dusk", or roughly 8PM-9PM. Admission is totally Free, but due to topics of adult nature, Parental Guidance is suggested. What a great way to end the summer - under the stars, watching an incredible movie!

Schweitzer Lakedance International Film Festival is adding many new events and a full new day at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint, Idaho in 2008 - and, not coincidentally they are celebrating the largest sponsorship the film festival has had since its inception in 2006.

"Our film festival's budget is pretty simple; our sponsors like Schweitzer and Horizon Credit Union are the budget. We're going to put on a heck of a show in 2008, and they're the reason why." explains Schweitzer Lakedance International Film Festival Director Trevor Greenfield.

In all, Schweitzer Lakedance celebrates nearly 40 partnerships with local and regional groups, with new sponsors including Sandpoint Marine & Motorsports, Lisa VanDerKarr, Sandpoint Furniture, Grizzly Glass, The Acting Center Northwest, Cafe Trinity, and Ivano's Ristorante. Returning in 2008: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Horizon Credit Union, Laser Image, Inc, K2 Inn, Laughing Dog Brewing, Stage Right Cellars, Montana Saddlery, SandpointOnline.com , Captured Image Video Productions, Sandpoint Realty, Nieman's Floral, The Music Store, Elsaesser & Jarzabek Attorneys at Law, 95.3 KPND, Sandpoint Films, Lake Pend Oreille Cruises, Stoneridge Golf and Recreational Community, and Six Star Automotive.

When asked how people could thank the sponsors for their support, Trevor added, "Simple -- Do business with them and thank them!"

Besides all of the obvious schedule additions, many improvements have gone on behind the scenes, including upgrades to projection computer systems thanks to Laser Image, Inc. and additional signage and artwork thanks to Lisa VanDerKarr.

Schweitzer Lakedance International Film Festival takes place September 7-14 in Sandpoint, Idaho at the Historic Panida Theater and will feature more than 50 international independent films and over 30 events, all culminating in the Soaring Eagle Awards Presentation.

Appearances in the episode by:

• Neil Mandt, Star/Writer/Director of Last Stop For Paul
• Eric Wolfson, Writer/Director of CallBack
• Derrick Lui, Writer/Director of Colours
• Michael Graves, Star/Writer of The Urge
• The Kayfabe stars and crew
• Andres Londono, Star of The Journey
• Tom Chasse, CEO of Schweitzer Mountain Resort