Paradise presents ‘The Magic of Movies’

• Films also feature Pine City shorts

by Kirsten Blake
With a new digital projector and spruced up interior, the Paradise Theatre in Mora is hosting its first film festival, “Paradise Presents—The Magic of Movies,” to celebrate and draw movie goers into Mora.
The festival will feature six films shown over two days starting Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m. and running through Sunday, April 21. This is the first time the theater will be hosting the event, but hopefully not the last.
“Our goal is to create an event that will draw people to Mora,” said Paradise Theatre manager Eric Carlisle.
Each of the six films being shown are actually movies about movies or theater. For example, “The Purple Rose of Cairo” playing April 21 at 4 p.m. is about a film character who leaps from the screen and into the real world to form a relationship with a member of the audience.
A short film created by local filmmakers from the 2011 and 2012 Highway 61 Film Festival in Pine City will play before each feature film. The producer of the short film may also be present to talk about the film.
Tickets are $2 to see a short and feature pair, or $5 for a day pass.
The movies will be:

Saturday, April 20, 2 p.m.
Short: “Whistle” by Mike Gainor
Feature: “Hugo” (PG)

Saturday, April 20, 5 p.m.
Short: “Spaceman From Space” by Jack DeFlorin
Feature: “The Majestic” (PG)

Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m.
Short: “Pants” by the “Mutts”
Feature: “Waiting for Guffman” (R)

Sunday, April 21, 2 p.m.
Short: “The Paper Jam” by Josh Palmer
Feature: “Sherlock Junior” (PG)

Sunday, April 21, 4 p.m.
Short: “The Dream” by Jimmy Keebs
Feature: “The Purple Rose of Cairo” (PG)

Sunday, April 21, 6 p.m.
Short: “What If?” by Noah Schwell
Feature: “Cinema Paradiso” (PG-13)

The Paradise Theatre recently updated its facility adding digital projection equipment and surround sound in June 2012 and this spring completed the renovation and decoration of the auditorium including new anti-microbial acoustic sound insulation.
Funding for the upgrades and for the film festival came from grants from the East Central Regional Arts Council, the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the Onan Family Foundation as well as donations from many local businesses and individuals including Jerome Carlson.
For more information on the film festival, visit www.paradise-theatre.com or call (320) 679-3964.