Trying hard for TIFF

A Kelowna filmmaker is getting ready to premiere his first film, an artsy and ambitious undertaking for a 21-year-old.

Benjamin Musgrave has been working on his short musical, Late Harvest, for the past year.

After graduating from the Centre for Arts and Technology Kelowna last March, he didn’t waste much time before starting his first project, as writer, director, and cinematographer.

"In the most basic sense it's a story about the generations, a story about family, about the pressures of expectations and about the pursuit to follow one’s own dreams,” said Musgrave.

Late Harvest was filmed in Musgrave’s hometown, Lloydminster, Alta., set in front of the dancing prairie sky and flowing golden wheat fields. Although it is set a province away, the film’s cast was entirely made up of people from the Okanagan, and all the editing, sound design, and post-production was done in the area.
Film producer Natasha Howes, an instructor at the Centre for Arts and Technology, said it was really a Kelowna-based project, which they hope to spread to a much wider audience.

“We really are aiming for some big film festivals and big exposure, so in terms of being able to represent the talent in the area at some reputable international film festivals, it’s a very exciting time for us,” Howes said.

The star of the show is also no stranger to the Kelowna art’s scene. Austin Axenty, Kelowna native and former lead singer of The Newks, took on the project as his debut-leading role. Musgrave said after meeting Axenty he couldn’t pass up on featuring his powerful voice.

They are now focusing on entering film festivals, hoping to premier the film at TIFF, followed by showings at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Berlinale and others.

For more info on Late Harvest go online.

Photo: Contributed