Washington Trust Bank Awards $1000 Grant to Chad Christensen

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.