This fall, the Devils Lake movie theater Encore 301, located at 125 4th Street, will present a Fall Film Festival featuring the films of Daniel Bielinski. According to his website he is well known for Canticle Productions, a film production company dedicated to the telling of powerful stories of sacrifice, faith and perseverance that honor the land, history and people of North Dakota. It was founded by Bielinski, who has produced five feature films in North Dakota. He serves as Chair of Dramatic Arts at the University of Mary in Bismarck, where he lives with his wife and six children. He has an MFA in Theater Arts from Columbia University.
Bielinski plans to come to Devils Lake for the showing of “Hazel” to be with us, and to provide a Q&A session for us. He is working to rearrange his schedule so that he can be here for our last show also, “End of the Rope.”
Thanks to a list of investors, see list below, those interested in taking advantage of this special offer will only pay $20 for a punch card to attend all four of the movies scheduled in the series.
What are the movies in the series and what are they about?
• The first film to be shown is “Hazel” on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
When an unexpected blizzard hits Center, ND in 1920, a heroic young girl struggles to keep her two young siblings alive through 25 hours of subzero temperatures. Based on the true story of Hazel Miner.
After the movie, stay for “Building a Blizzard: The Making of Hazel.”
4 weeks, 6 days/week, 12 hours a day:
An exclusive documentary about Hazel: see how a K-Mart was transformed into a film studio, how a blinding blizzard was made, and hear from cast and crew about their experience bringing this incredible true story to life! Free for punch card holders.
• The second film is “A Heart Like Water” to be shown on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
In early Dakota territory, a frontier couple struggles to keep their family and faith alive in a relentless war with nature. You will have a front row seat to their poignant struggle.
• The third film is “Sanctified” to be shown Wednesday, Nov. 19.
An injured outlaw is rescued from death by a nun traveling through 1890 North Dakota. She nurses him back to health in exchange for him guiding her to a church deep in the Badlands. They encounter many challenges along the way.
•The week of Nov. 26 there will be no movie due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
• The fourth film is “End of the Rope” shown on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
When a family mysteriously disappears from the small town of Schafer, ND, suspicion lands on a sociopathic farmhand and the entire community rises up to take justice into its own hands. Based on the true story of the infamous Charles Bannon case of 1931.
Where can you get the punch cards?
Punch cards are $20 and cover all 4 movies. They are available at Encore 301, the movie theater, during all open hours (1/2 an hour before movies start to the end of the last movie each day) They take cash, credit/debit cards. Leevers Grocery Store Customer Service Desk will also have punch cards for sale 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.. they take cash or checks. An ATM is available at Leevers, as well. The Devils Lake Tourism and Chamber of Commerce Office will also have the punch cards available for sale. They are located on US Highway 2 west and are open 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. They also take cash or checks.
Concessions will be for sale in the lobby.
If you are only able to attend one movie, or have a visiting friend you’d like to bring with you to the movie, you may purchase a ticket at the door for a discount of $7.00. That’s still a discount from regular prices.
Will there be future film festivals in Devils Lake?
Hopefully! That depends on how well this film festival goes.
Many sponsors who have helped make this event possible including Encore 301, Canticle Productions, Devils Lake Tourism & Chamber, Lake Region Heritage Center, North Dakota Chautauqua Corp., Doug & Teresa (Tande) Darling, The Leevers Family, Anne-Marit Bergstrom, Devils Lake Cars, Corry & Kristin Kenner, and in memory of Babe Belzer, by Paul & Heather Belzer.
