For the love of cinema, one local volunteer has spent almost 20 years at the College of New Caledonia Film Festival taking care of whatever needs doing.
The 21st CNC Film Festival takes place at the Prince George Playhouse showcasing the best of Canadian cinema this Friday through Sunday and the organizers' claim to fame is offering snacks for a dollar.
Claudio Massini loves unique films of all kinds and that's what drew him to the CNC Film Festival in the first place as an audience member.
"But then I thought I'm here anyway, why not volunteer," said Massini. "The CNC Film Festival shows films that we don't usually get around here and that was the biggest inspiration to start to volunteer."
This wasn't his first film fest volunteer gig. The Red Cross used to present The Reel World Film Festival and it was a different kind of festival where films addressed world issues of the time.
"So really a love of film gets me volunteering," said Massini.
Peter Maides, a founder of the CNC Film Festival, is the main organizer, said Massini.
"We all do what we have to do and most of what I've done during the festival is look after the concession - the food, the beverages, the popcorn."
That's so important.
"Hey, at the movies you got to have the munchies," said Massini. "Before the film festival, because it's become a fine oiled machine, Peter does most of the organizing with a bit of input from all of us."
There is a core group of about seven that has volunteered long term, he added.
"In the past we used to divvy up chores like fundraising, advertising - that kind of thing, and we all did different things," said Massini. "But now, you know, mostly we show up on the weekend because Peter's got it all organized and the films picked and all that, and we just do the physical running of the film festival, be it concession, tickets, cleaning, organizing."
Massini said Maides always recruits college students to help during the festival so there's never a lack of volunteers to keep things running smoothly.
"At any particular movie during the festival we can have as many as 10 or 12 volunteers and that's great," he added.
Massini, whose day job is assistant branch manager at Western Equipment, is on the other side of the film industry in another volunteer capacity as he films the Prince George Cougars' game videos for the coaches.
"So that keeps me busy all winter and hopefully this year into the spring and playoffs," said the ever-hopeful Cougars super fan. "Well, we'll make the playoffs we just gotta see how far we go."
So between the two volunteer positions, he explores his love of film and hockey.
"As far as film goes, we usually get pretty mainstream stuff here and that's OK, I just like the film festival because these are really good films - Peter just really has a knack for picking them and they're fun to watch. I'd like to encourage everyone to catch one or as many as they can. No one has ever come and said 'I don't like it'. The films are always enjoyed. It's probably the type of stuff most people don't watch so it's something different and it's a great atmosphere."
The CNC Film Festival features eight feature films and a bunch of short films.
The schedule:
Friday at 7 p.m. is Koneline, with special guest Nettie Wild, the filmmaker.
Friday at 9:30 p.m. is Weirdos.
Saturday at 1 p.m. is Mean Dreams.
Saturday at 7 p.m. is Hello Destroyer,
Saturday at 9:30 p.m. is Window Horses.
Sunday at 2 p.m. is It's Only The End of The World.
Sunday at 7 p.m. is Maliglutit.
Sunday at 9:30 p.m. is Jean of the Joneses.
A festival pass is $48 for all eight films, Friday is $14 for two films, Saturday is $21 for three films, Sunday is $21 for three films available at Books & Co., CNC Bookstore, UNBC Bookstore. Single tickets are $8 at the door. For more information visit cinemacnc.blogspot.ca.
Flip through The Citizen's Volunteer City series, featuring stand-out volunteers in Prince George:
