Film enthusiasts in Sault Ste. Marie are in for a treat as the Reel Film Forum gears up for its next screening.
The group will present Micheal Mann’s neo-noir classic Thief later this month in the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre's Ranger Theatre.
Jamie MacDonald, one of three founders of these organized screenings, emphasized the reason for the film choice.
“I think the movie is relevant today because of the politics.”
He elaborated that the film’s themes of corruption, societal decay and the struggles of individuals against powerful institutions parallel today’s world.
This screening is the latest offering from a passionate trio of “film nerds,” who have been bringing classics and hidden gems to the big screen in the Sault since October.
The Reel Film Forum is the brainchild of MacDonald, Keith Brown and Josh Ingram, who found each other through a shared love of cinema.
Brown and Ingram’s friendship dates back about a decade. During the pandemic, they began regularly watching movies together, sharing favourites and discovering new films.
“We were watching movies that we both loved, or taking the opportunity to share movies that one person loved, and the other person hadn’t seen," Brown said.
The idea of hosting pop-up movie screenings had been thought of even before the pandemic hit. As restrictions began to lift, Brown and Ingram started to put their plan into action, focusing on films from the 1920s to the 1990s.
MacDonald had been thinking of a similar idea independently. A lucky encounter at MacDonald's vintage clothing pop-up store brought the three film enthusiasts together through a mutual friend.
“I thought there’s a logic to making one really good project rather than having two things exist simultaneously and then competing,” MacDonald said.
The trio realized they shared a vision for bringing classic and cult films to the Sault and their movie lists had significant overlap.
“The whole point is building communities and building a community around film,” Ingram said.
“So, there’s no reason why we couldn’t join forces and do this.”
The group’s screenings have found a home in the Ranger Theatre, an intimate space that seats 63 people.
The Reel Film Forum goes beyond simply playing the films. They curate each screening with care, often including introductions from individuals connected to the film industry.
“Like with Texas Chainsaw Massacre, we reached out to actress Terry McMinn, and she sent us a video saying hello to the Sault Ste. Marie fans, introducing the film.”
As The Reel Film Forum continues to grow, they’re considering expanding to include one or two larger events each year.
For now, film lovers in the Sault can look forward to experiencing Thief on the big screen on April 26 at 8 p.m.
For more information on screenings, visit their website.
Tickets, which are $15, are available here.