GULL LAKE — April brought National Film Day to 小蓝视频west Saskatchewan, and Gull Lake's theatre continued the tradition of showcasing Canadian-made movies.
This year, the non-profit theatre brought a variety of Canadian films to the area, including some that may not have been widely seen.
The four films featured on National Film Day, held on Wednesday, April 16, were "Maurice Richard: The Rocket", "Fireheart", "It Feeds", and "Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe".
Although Cole Girodat, the manager of the SWT Lyceum Theatre, didn't have a chance to see the movies himself due to his duties at the theatre, he said, "It was great that people came out to enjoy the day and enjoy Canadian-made movies."
After struggling in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre has seen a recent increase in attendance, with more people wanting to experience a traditional movie-going experience.
The SWT Lyceum Theatre typically receives new movie releases about a month after they hit the big screen, but National Film Day included an exclusive release of "It Feeds".
Girodat stated that the theatre aims to showcase a variety of films. One of the movies featured a familiar face to 小蓝视频west residents: Craig Baird, a famous Canadian podcaster and former Gull Lake resident, who was also a former member of the Gull Lake theatre board. Baird was interviewed in the "Mr. Dressup" documentary, discussing the impact of Mr. Dressup on Canadian society. Baird is also a former columnist for The Shaunavon Standard.
Although attendance for the "Mr. Dressup" documentary was not as high as Girodat had hoped, the Gull Lake school brought students from grades 2-8 to see the cartoon "Fireheart", with approximately 130 students in the audience.
While the films were free to the public, supporting the theatre's food concession helps fund the venue.
When asked about popular concession items, Girodat mentioned that popcorn, which some people have described as the best in southwest Saskatchewan - Live Wires candy, cherry Coke, and three types of Saskatchewan-made beef jerky, as go-to treats for many local theatre patrons.
Girodat noted that it's heartening to see an increase in attendance at the SWT Lyceum Theatre, a place where people can still come together to enjoy a variety of movies and experience the traditional magic of the cinema, despite the rise of modern technology.
