Yorkton's Lobsterfest welcomes filmmakers from across Canada for a taste of Saskatchewan and the Maritimes
One of the Yorkton Film Festival’s (YFF) premier events has come and gone, as “Lobsterfest” kicked off Friday night from the Yorkton Wildlife Federation Clubhouse.
Cancelled for two years due to the pandemic, the event is usually hosted yearly by the Yorkton Lions Club. Over 500 tickets were sold for the event, with guests able to choose between lobster and steak.
The event allows for a more laid back setting where industry executives and filmmakers from across Canada get to kick back and spend time together, getting a taste of Saskatchewan along with the Maritimes.
Fresh lobster is always shipped in from the east coast for those attending YFF, along with many from Yorkton and area taking in the festivities.
Rebeca Ortiz is a filmmaker from Toronto. 2022 is her first film festival, and she already had a positive outlook on the community and the festival just a few hours after arriving by plane.
“I love it. It’s got a lot of beautiful greenery. Everything's great. Everything's beautiful. I love to be here in springtime. This lobster fest is amazing,” she said. “This film festival is a great way to meet other filmmakers across Canada.”
Ortiz’s “Abuela” is nominated for the Emerging Filmmaker Award at Saturday’s Golden Sheaf awards.
Her experience at Lobsterfest though, it’s something she says she won’t forget.
“(It) seems like everyone knows each other here. It's a really good community. Everyone's really into everything that's going on, across the city … The festival seems like everyone's involved in different ways. And I love it,” she said.
This event, and the YFF as a whole, has quite the following. Many filmmakers make it an annual trip out to Yorkton to take in the event, along with the local culture.
Richard Wright is at his second film festival, and represented Saskatoon’s Alchemy Animation.
“This kind of event adds a lot to (the students’) education because with people that are doing this for a living and get to meet people, you get to figure out how to like make this a career,” he said.
“We are just lucky (the film festival) exists here in Saskatchewan. That (students and young filmmakers) can come to you on a yearly basis. And more importantly, it's the longest running film festival in North America. So it's just a gigantic opportunity for (the) up and coming filmmakers.”
Skeet shooting was offered at Lobsterfest, with trained professionals showing the filmmakers the ins and outs of it. It drew a crowd, with many of the filmmakers trying it for the very first time.
The Yorkton Film Festival wraps up Saturday night with the Golden Sheaf Awards at 8 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.