Indie film scene gains momentum in Sioux Falls

As cold winter winds start to whip through Sioux Falls, many residents find refuge in movie theaters.

Thanks to local independent film organizations such as Cinema Falls and Indievents, the selection of movies showing in Sioux Falls has expanded in recent years, giving film-lovers a variety of choices.

"We have a lot of adventurous patrons who are really happy to see films that maybe make them think," said Julie Friesen, founder of Cinema Falls. "And some of them may love to go see "Thor: Ragnarok" too, and that’s great. We're serving a menu of cinema that didn’t exist before on an ongoing basis."

Cinema Falls, founded in 2012, offers a steady flow of indie films, documentaries and world cinema. On Sunday night, Cinema Falls will screen "Saving Brinton" at the El Riad Shrine with pre-film soup and bread.

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The documentary follows Iowa-based collector Michael Zahs and his discovery of century-old show reels. The canisters of film once belonged to William Franklin Brinton, the man responsible for bringing moving pictures to America’s heartland.

"I love how (Zahs) really focuses on bringing the magic back to cinema," said Friesen, who see the heartwarming story as a perfect holiday film.

"Saving Brinton" premiered at an American Film Institute event this summer and continues to receive national attention. It was selected for inclusion in the annual documentary film festival Doc NYC and has been picked up for distribution.

"It's about legacy, community and history and how those things are intertwined, specifically through the lens of the Midwest," said director Andrew Sherburne, who will show clips of the original film following the documentary.

Sherburne and Zahs will be in Sioux Falls for the screening and post-film Q&A, adding significance to the event and Cinema Falls' success.

"One of the things I’ve seen grow with Cinemas Falls is our access," said Friesen. "Because we have larger audience numbers, those distributors want to work with me, even if it's for a single night."

At the organization's near-weekly screenings, attendance ranges from around 125 to over 400 people. And each year, the number of season pass holders grows.

The biggest challenge for the organization is not owning its own venue. Often, Cinema Falls shows films at West Mall 7, utilizing the facility's digital technology.

"In a perfect world, someone would call me up and tell me I want to build you a tiny movie theater with comfortable seats and appetizers," said Friesen. "But I also love our mobility and I love that we can chose a venue that matches the film."

Nailing down locations for showings can be difficult, but Friesen enjoys collaborating with local businesses such as the Washington Pavilion and El Riad Shrine.

"Sometimes it’s a little hard on our backs but in the end, it makes people feel like we’ve completed this missing piece of the arts scene in Sioux Falls," said Friesen, who strives to offer a balance of films from laugh-out-loud comedies to heart-wrenching dramas.

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Season pass holder and retired counselor Ann Henkin has seen the number of events Cinema Falls hosts grow in recent years.

"While each season is unique, I’ve found all of the films to be one or a combination of these—entertaining, thought-provoking, highly creative, historical, humorous, educational, internationally diverse, and often cutting-edge," said Henkin.

Indievents, based out of Club David, also regularly shows a wide variety of films. The organization supports the growing Sioux Falls film-making community by putting local projects in front of an audience and raising funds for film festival entry fees.

"We do have a nice scene," said Indievents founder Jamie Wede. "I think it would grow a lot quicker if the people who are making films here started supporting each other more by getting out to screenings."

Wede also brings in films from around the country and is pleased distributors are becoming aware of Sioux Falls as a growing market.

Three shorts by Sioux Falls filmmaker John Barnes will be shown Sunday at 7 p.m. Barnes, a 48-year-old patient account representative for Sanford Health, has been making movies for nearly a decade.

"For an actor, director, screenwriter, or anyone that wants to get involved with any of that, Indievents is a great resource," said Barnes, who hopes to see the art community's interest in the subject grow, especially when it comes to local events such as the Sioux Empire Film Festival and Dancing Spider Film Festival.

"I think the indie film scene is growing by word of mouth and I think people would be surprised how many filmmakers there are in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area," said Barnes.

Friesen also hopes to see more films shot in Sioux Falls. Not only would it be exciting to see the city as a backdrop for a movie, but it would also mean more business for local restaurants and hotels.

"If you’re a producer on an indie film project, you’re probably going to take your film and shoot it in a state that’s going to give you tax incentives," said Friesen, who has tried to initiate conversations in Pierre on the subject.

This summer, Los Angeles director and Sioux Falls native Rebecca Flinn was planning to film only a part of her new short "Hutterite" in the area. With a little convincing from Friesen, Flinn decided to shoot the whole project in southeastern South Dakota and did not regret it.

More: Sioux Falls native brings 'big screen' to hometown

“Sioux Falls has just been amazing to film in," said Flinn while on set this summer. "We will definitely be back. We are already talking about it.”

With a growing number of people in the audience and more out-of-state filmmakers setting their sights on Sioux Falls, it seems the local indie film scene is gaining momentum.

If you have an event or story idea that fits into the Sioux Falls dining or entertainment theme, Alexa Giebink can be reached at agiebink@argusleader.com. Follow her on twitter @ArgusAGiebink

IF YOU GO

What: "Saving Brinton"

When: Sunday at 6:45 p.m.

Where: El Riad Shrine

Tickets: $15 at cinemafalls.com

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What: Movies with John

When: Sunday at 7 p.m.

Where: Club David

Tickets: $8 at eventbrite.com, $12 at the door