Kelly Veltri is one of the founders of the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers (OSIF), which provides equipment rentals, a list of cast and crew and support services to members across the region. The society is hosting its seventh annual HorrorFest in Kelowna next Friday night. (Photo supplied)
If you live anywhere in the Okanagan Valley and share a passion for independent filmmaking, you might want to join the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers (OSIF).
The society has been a registered non-profit film community based in Kelowna since 2003.
Members range from film industry professionals, to students, to those simply wanting to learn more about the filmmaking process, said Kelly Veltri, one of the founders of OSIF and the president of the organization’s board of directors.
OSIF is committed to providing its members with networking opportunities, workshops, on-set experience, film events and screenings, production advice and providing the equipment necessary to enable members’ ideas to come to life, said Veltri.
One of the organization’s biggest and most popular events is coming up soon as the seventh annual OSIF HorrorFest will take place on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Film Factory building in downtown Kelowna.
“HorrorFest has become a huge success and we get people coming in from across the entire Okanagan Valley and as far away as Vancouver,” said Veltri. “The horror genre has always been a favourite for independent filmmakers and we’ve had some outstanding horror films made right here in the Okanagan that are presented at this festival every year for the past several years.”
Veltri’s latest film, called The Habitat, will be featured at this year’s HorrorFest.
Veltri is expecting tickets to sell quickly for HorrorFest once again.
“It’s just a really good time,” he said. “A lot of people get dressed up in costumes and we make it a real party. It’s a chance to do something different and really enjoy Halloween and some outstanding independent horror films in one fun evening.”
Veltri and several of his friends have been interested in filmmaking since they were teenagers growing up in Kelowna and decided to incorporate OSIF as a non-profit organization back in 2003, said Veltri,
One of the most important services offered by OSIF is renting out its large collection of equipment to prospective filmmakers, said Veltri.
“Of course, the average independent filmmaker doesn’t have the money or resources to purchase the equipment needed to make a small film, so we offer everything they need to shoot their films at a very reasonable price,” he said. “We’ve managed to stockpile an excellent inventory of equipment over the years.”
OSIF has also stockpiled a list of cast and crew that can be hired by filmmakers looking to produce a movie, he said.
While most of the members of OSIF are from Kelowna and area, there are several members from the north Okanagan and a few from the South Okanagan, said Veltri.
“We called it the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers because we wanted to offer opportunities to filmmakers from across the entire Valley,” he said. “Most of our members are from Kelowna, but we welcome new members who live anywhere in the valley.”
Making a movie on a tight budget does present many challenges, but independent filmmakers are producing outstanding quality work across this region and around the world, said Veltri.
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a quality film,” he said. “And a movie doesn’t have to be two hours long to be good.
“There are some great short films being made that are only one minute long or five or 10 minutes long. As long as you have a good story, then you can make a movie.
“At the end of the day, it always comes down to telling a good story.”
Modern technology now also allows filmmakers to produce quality work on a shoestring budget, said Veltri.
“There are some movies being shot entirely using their Iphone … some of the technology available on these smart phones is better than top of the line video editing equipment we were using five years ago,” he said. “You can buy amazing digital editing programs for a couple of hundred dollars. Popular sites like YouTube also provide an excellent platform for filmmakers to reach an audience.”
Veltri and the board with OSIF are also planning to launch the inaugural Indie Film Challenge next spring, which would provide an annual festival for members to showcase their work.
They are also planning to sponsor a battle of the bands and music video contest some time in early 2016, said Veltri.
The cast and crew registry offered by OSIF has landed work for many members, he said.
“There are a lot of Vancouver production crews shooting work in the Okanagan and they often use our cast and crew members,” he said. “A lot of our people are getting work and that’s great.”
Membership fees to join OSIF range from $20 for a regular membership to $50, which gives them discounts for equipment rentals and other benefits, he said.
Tickets for the upcoming HorrorFest are $20 and can be purchased at the Film Factory in Kelowna or on the website at www.osif.org/horrorfest.
If you need more information about OSIF, you can also visit the website or send an email to Veltri at [email protected].
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
