A short film playing at Powell River Film Festival this weekend has a local connection.
Veronika Kurz’s 20 Minutes to Life will be playing before the main feature Science Fair at 1:30 pm this Sunday, February 10. Kurz grew up in Terrace, but her mother is from Powell River and she spent a lot of time visiting family here over the years. When it came time to pursue a career in film, she started her education here.
“After high school I wanted to go to film school and heard about Powell River Digital Film School,” she said. “In my year between graduating and starting university I went there with Tony Papa teaching. I did the program for five months and it was awesome.”
Kurz went on to complete the Motion Picture Arts program at Capilano University, and today works in lighting for film and television, as well as directing her own films.
20 Minutes to Life is a comedy telling the story of a good student getting her first detention and imagining it like a prison, complete with barred windows and prison guards.
“It’s sort of like a childhood over-the-top imagination thing,” said Kurz. It was awarded the MPPIA (Motion Picture Production Industry Association) Short Film Award at the 2017 Whistler Film Festival.
The film education she received in Powell River helped set the course for her future successes, she said. “It definitely got me on the right track and going to university I felt like I knew a lot more and was more confident.”
Returning to the community to screen her movie is a thrill, she added.
“I’m so excited to be coming back. I love Powell River so much, and the Patricia Theatre is my favourite theatre ever.”
20 Minutes to Life screens at 1:30 pm this Sunday, February 10 at the Patricia.
