Documentaries kick off Sandpoint Film Festival

Sandpoint Film Festival kicks off today with “How to Defuse a Bomb”, which tells the story of Project Children, which brought both Protestant and Catholic children to the U.S. to escape the violence in Northern Ireland. On Friday, the festival welcomes “Skid Row Marathon,” which tells the story of a criminal court judge who started a running club among L.A.’s homeless.

Both documentaries will screen at 7:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater.

The film festival itself takes place on Saturday, with three blocks of films — the first screening at noon, the second at 3 p.m. and the third at 6 p.m. This year’s program consists of 41 films, 20 minutes or shorter ­— all picked from about three thousand submissions from around the globe. Besides several films from the U.S, the films originate from countries as diverse as India, Spain, Algeria, France, Syrian Arab Republic, Norway and many others.

On Friday, Nov. 2, there is a pre-production party at Café Trinity from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday morning starts with Filmmakers Coffee at Creations on the Cedar Street Bridge at 9 a.m. The festival concludes with a post-production party at the Café Trinity Lounge starting at 9 p.m.

The price of admission is $7 per block or $20 for an all-access pass. Advance tickets are available at panida.org or through Sandpoint Films at 208-290-0597.

Janice Jarzabek, Erik Daarstad and Bernice Webb work together as an all-volunteer board. Rob Lindner downloaded and prepared the films for screening. Eric Ridgway will host the event. Cafe Trinity, Best Western and Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott and Macdonald have sponsored the festival since 2010.