The Roi Theatre is set to welcome another year of the Smithers Alternative Film Series, continuing its long-standing tradition of showcasing award-winning films from around the world. The series will kick off its fall run on Oct. 20, with screenings taking place every second Sunday at 5 p.m.
Founded in 1996, the film series began as an initiative by a small group of Smithereens who wanted to bring a broader selection of films to the community.
“We wanted to provide an avenue for showing the kinds of films that a theatre couldn’t usually bring in,” Bill Price, secretary of Smithers Alternative Film Series said, adding the driving force was to offer films with more depth and artistic value than what mainstream cinema can typically offer while remaining commercially competitive.
Even with the surge of streaming services, the series has maintained a loyal audience of local film enthusiasts.
“You just can’t replace showing the film on the big screen,” Price said. “We wanted to be able to see the film in the form they’re made to be seen. There’s something about the communal experience of watching a film together, in a theatre, that just doesn’t translate to home viewing.”
The fall 2024 series will open with Sugarcane, a poignant documentary examining the abuses and disappearances at an Indian residential school. The film, which has already garnered awards at festivals such as Sundance and Seattle International, delves deeply into the lived experiences of survivors and their descendants from the Sugarcane Reserve near Williams Lake.
While the series is known for showcasing documentaries that confront important social issues, like Sugarcane, it also includes lighter, more accessible films, such as this year's Thelma, a fictional comedy-action film. The movie follows the story of a 93-year-old woman who embarks on a quest for justice after being duped by a scammer. Filled with both humour and heart-pounding action, the film has been described as “a wholeheartedly charming affair,” earning a 98 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Smithers Alternative Film Series has built a reputation for bringing critically acclaimed films to the community—many of which would not otherwise be available in a local cinema. Price explained that beyond entertainment, the series has a broader mission of contributing to the community. Any profits made from the series are donated to local services and organizations. “We live in the community, and we’re quite fortunate,” Price said. “We didn’t want to replace other activities; we wanted to complement them, and give back.”
One of the unique aspects of the series is its sustainability model. Unlike many arts programs that rely on public funding, the Smithers Alternative Film Series is entirely self-sustaining. The organizers pay to see the movies like everyone else, and they don’t draw from government grants to support the initiative. “We don’t use social funding to subsidize our entertainment,” Price explained. “Any extra we have goes back to the community.”
The fall 2024 lineup promises to continue the series' tradition of delivering high-quality cinema that provokes thought and entertains. Following Sugarcane on Oct. 20 and Thelma on Nov. 3, the series will continue with The Old Oak (UK) on Nov. 17, a drama set in a struggling former mining community; Io Capitano (Italy) on Dec. 1, a powerful story about migration and survival; and Kneecap (Ireland) on Dec. 15, a film that mixes comedy, drama, music, and biography.
