FLIC opens Friday in Polson

The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest (FLIC) gets underway this weekend, Jan. 29 to 31, at the Showboat Stadium 6 on Main Street in Polson. Films will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday on multiple screens.

FLIC screens feature length films, shorts, animation, student films, and documentaries. FLIC 2021 will feature two world premiere feature films and two North American premiere features.

The Ukrainian film “Pulse” screens at 6 p.m. Friday and tells the true story of a young female Ukrainian field athlete, whose dream to become an Olympic athlete is shattered by a car accident that causes her to lose most of her eyesight and who seeks to prove that it cannot prevent her from achieving her dreams. The film’s director, Sergii Chebotarenko, is traveling from Ukraine to Polson to share his film and participate in a Q&A.

The other world premiere film is “Killing the Shepherd,” a documentary about a remote community in Africa, led by a woman chief, that attempts to break the stranglehold of absolute poverty by waging a war on wildlife poaching. Representatives from the film will join in the Q&A following its screening at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

The feature documentary film, “More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story” has its North American premiere at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Morita played Arnold, who ran the diner in the popular TV show “Happy Days,” as well as the iconic karate instructor, Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid.” The film presents a painfully revealing account of Morita’s journey from being bed bound as a boy to racial discrimination in Hollywood to the demons he battled later in life.

The second North American premiere from Portugal, “The Soul of a Cyclist,” premiers at 3 p.m. Saturday. Through a group of “classic” cyclists this film explores the values lost in modern society and the keys to a happier life.

The FLIC 2021 weekend draws to a festive close with an Awards Show 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday and is free to the public.

The Showboat Stadium 6 will host FLIC 2021 encore screenings from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5. The schedule is available at FLICPolson.com. A virtual festival will also be available Feb 5 to March 4, accessible on the FLICPolson.com website beginning March 4.

FLIC 2021 program schedules and festival passes and tickets are available at FLICPolson.com.