Easton Goodwin and Desmond Smyth tied for the People’s Choice Award at the Atlantic International Film Festival’s youth film competition. (Rick Conrad)

Listen to the audio version of this story here:

Two young filmmakers from Liverpool have won the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Atlantic International Film Festival youth film competition.

The short films by Easton Goodwin and Desmond Smyth tied for the award, which was decided by a round of online voting. Their films were among 16 finalists out of 40 submissions.

Desmond, 16, says he’s happy that he and Easton are sharing the award. 

“I got an email that said I had been selected for the People’s Choice Award but there were two really great films that tied for the category. And I was like, man, if there is one person that should have gotten this award it was Easton. So I texted him to see if he got anything and it ended up he did.

“It’s a very cool experience and I’m glad that Easton got the award because he really does deserve it. He put a lot of time and effort and he put all of his heart into the film.”

Desmond’s film November Moon is an homage to David Lynch’s movies. It follows a teenager who has visions of creatures haunting him.

Easton’s film Past Echoes is a more personal look at a young boy dealing with depression, anxiety and bullying at school.

“I couldn’t believe it honestly,” Easton, 17, said Wednesday in an interview.

“Growing up, film was one of my biggest dreams and to get to share this award with one of your best friends, it really is a pleasure. I loved Desmond’s film so much and so much work was put into it, it was great and I loved it. I think it’s awesome that we get to share it.”

The two students at Liverpool Regional High School have collaborated before on a short that also got attention at the Atlantic film festival’s youth competition. Last year, they and some friends made The Absence, which was the runner-up in the people’s choice vote.

Desmond and Easton are members of the Astor Theatre’s filmmaking club, which began in September. More than a dozen youth meet every week to work on their own projects and collaborate on bigger ones.

The club is overseen by three adult mentors, Desmond’s parents Kyle and Lori, and Dan Williams.

“There’s a lot of really, really talented kids at the film club,” Desmond says. “They certainly helped me with my film. They’re very supportive of the whole thing, which I think is awesome.”

Easton says that being part of the film club has helped him hone his filmmaking.

“The film club we can’t thank them enough, they were really helpful. They all have talent and they really did help our (pictures).”

The club wraps up for the year when school’s out for the summer. But Easton says more kids should join when the club starts up again in September.

“If you have children who might be interested in film tell them to come out because we have a great group of people and they’re all so welcoming.”

In the meantime, Easton and Desmond say they’re going to keep working on their own projects and help spread the word about the film club and the Astor’s stop-motion animation club, which will also get going again in September.

“I guess keep making films and hope for the best,” Easton says. “The best advice I ever got is to just making films, keep writing, keep filming every day and eventually it will improve and then hopefully I’ll be in the industry at some point.”

To see all the finalist films in the Atlantic International Film Festival’s youth competition this year, go to the festival’s YouTube channel.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the audio version of this story below

Kaleb Whynott, Desmond Smyth and Thomas Lenco edit parts of The Movbee, one of the films that will be featured at the Astor Academy Film Festival on Friday. (Rick Conrad)

A small group of young filmmakers in Liverpool is already making a splash on the big screen.

Two members of the Astor Theatre Academy’s film club were finalists in the Atlantic International Film Festival’s youth film competition in Halifax last weekend.

Easton Goodwin’s five-minute short Past Echoes and Desmond Smyth’s four-minute November Moon made the final cut from about 40 submissions.

Now, movie lovers in their hometown will be able to watch those two short films and others produced by the club at the Astor Academy Film Festival on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Astor.

About a dozen youth from 13 to 17 years old meet every Monday at the Astor Theatre to learn the craft of filmmaking. It’s the first year for the club, overseen by three adult mentors: Kyle and Lori Smyth and Dan Williams.

Members of the film club have created their own projects and have collaborated on a bigger film.

The shorts and the longer film will premiere at the film festival on Friday. 

QCCR dropped in on the club this week to talk to some of the members while they put the finishing touches on their group project, The Movbee.

You can also vote for Easton’s and Desmond’s films for the People’s Choice Award in the Atlantic International Film Festival’s youth film competition by going to the AIFF YouTube channel.

Listen here:

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Cineplex Cinemas Bridgewater will close on April 29. (Rick Conrad)

While moviegoers on the South Shore may be mourning the impending closure of Cineplex Cinemas in Bridgewater, Liverpool’s Astor Theatre is getting ready to welcome film fans back.

Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell confirmed online rumours late last week that Cineplex will close its seven-screen multiplex on April 29.

No one from Cineplex was available for an interview on Tuesday, but the company sent the following statement to QCCR:

“We’ve made the difficult decision not to renew our lease and to close our Cineplex Bridgewater location, the last day of shows will be April 29.

“We are grateful to our team and the community for their support over the past 11 years.”

Mitchell said he’s contacted Cineplex to see if they would remain in town at a different location or in a smaller venue. He said Tuesday he hasn’t heard back from the company.

“Other than the date, I have no additional information from Cineplex,” he said in an interview. 

“It’s a huge loss just because it’s an entertainment venue, it’s a place where all ages could go out and socialize. It’s a loss in terms of that social aspect in the community.”

But Bridgewater’s loss could be Liverpool’s gain.

The Astor Theatre has regularly shown movies in its 200-seat space. It just recently got a new sound system installed. Executive director Jerri Southcott says they plan to begin showing movies again by mid-April. She said it may keep more Queens County moviegoers at their hometown theatre.

“Personally, I think it’s sad. The timing is really interesting. While it’s not going to make a huge difference, because we’re not sure people will make the trip here, but it might help.

“We will certainly be looking at the opportunities that it will have for us as a functioning theatre.””

News of the Cineplex Bridgewater closure comes amid a few tough years for the movie theatre industry. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, theatres have struggled to bring people back. Competition from streaming services has also bitten into the bottom line.

According to a 2023 study by Telefilm Canada on Canadian movie consumption, 95 per cent of Canadians watch feature films. But 98 per cent of that movie watching was happening at home.

Big budget action movies are still a draw to the multiplex, the study found. But many older and rural consumers watch a majority of movies at home. Fewer than a third of people made two or more trips to cinemas in the previous 12 months.

“High spectacle genres are the preferred lures to cinemas, especially for younger moviegoers,” the report found. “By contrast, many older and more rural consumers watch an overwhelming portion of their movies in the home.”

Ironically, Cineplex has been reporting better audience numbers in the past year, though box office receipts are still lagging behind 2019.

Smaller theatres like the Astor, which are considered second-run movie houses, had been restricted in what kinds of movies they could show. They had to wait until new releases cycled through Cineplex. 

With the Bridgewater theatres closing, Southcott isn’t sure how that will affect what the Astor can offer.

“We tended to be a place where they could see movies that they wouldn’t necessarily be able to see at a big cineplex anway. We’re excited about getting it up and running again. I’ts a great venue. Seeing a movie here is a really great experience.”

Mitchell said he thinks there’s still a great moviegoing market in Bridgewater. 

“I don’t think this is the end of movies in Bridgewater. You can watch a movie in Liverpool and you can watch a movie in Chester at the two playhouses, which is great. But regionally, this is the only multiplex. There is a market here for the multiplex.”

In the meantime, an online petition has been created to convince Cineplex to reverse its decision. It has more than 800 signatures so far.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the audio version of this story below