PVCC hosts free Wyoming films

The Platte Valley Community Center is bringing Saratoga its second free film festival Saturday.

“I wanted to bring something to the Valley that we did not have, especially a larger event during the winter months,” said Stephanie Vines, executive director of the Platte Valley Community Center.

This year’s film festival, the Wyoming Filmmaker’s Showcase, will start at 7 p.m. at the Platte Valley Community Center Theater and is completely free to whomever wants to come, Vines said. The festival will be one night featuring Wyoming artists from Buffalo, Riverton, Lander and Jackson Hole.

Last year’s film festival, the Forest Film Festival, was a two-day event, featuring several environmental films from around the world.

“It was so successful I continued to work with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival office,” Vines said.

The success inspired this year’s film festival and, perhaps, more to come, Vines said.

“We are in the planning stages of doing a science film festival, which is really exciting,” Vines said.

Vines’ ultimate goal is to host two film festivals a year, plus bring in the filmmakers for commentary.

Longtime Saratoga resident Sally Patton encourages everyone to attend the festival this year.

“I think one of the things that is great about living here is when we have things like the film festival,” she said. “It brings a new way of looking at things.” The Forest Film Festival really changed Patton, she said.

“Since this film festival, I’ve paid more attention to what is going on around me,” Patton said.