The inaugural Ely Film Festival will take place March 13-15 celebrating films shot in Ely, Nev. in the last 100 years. Festival attendees will view the movies in Ely’s historic Central Theater, a 79-year-old vintage cinema located in Ely’s equally vintage downtown. The facility has undergone major recent renovations, including a new projection screen, digital projector and sound system.
Ely’s small-town charm and splendor as a year-round-mountain-town has not gone unnoticed by filmmakers who embrace the Nevada basin and range landscape and a place that looks and feels as if it’s frozen in a bygone era
“The Great Darkened Days,” filmed in Ely, will be shown on the first night with a discussion to follow with the film’s director, Maxime Giroux. The film itself was nominated and won several Canadian Screen Awards in 2019.
The following night features the world premiere of “Reaptown.” While it supports the “located in Ely” theme, “Reaptown” has an added Ely connection. White Pine High School alum, Dutch Marich, director of “Reaptown,” has brought his film home to Ely for all to enjoy. The festival also features discussions, location tours, cocktail parties, high school movie awards and a train ride on one of the Nevada Northern Railway’s renowned locomotives.
Attendees can purchase the First 100 ticket which provides access to all festivities throughout the entire weekend-long series of events. General admission tickets range from $12-50.
For the full schedule and to purchase tickets go to ElyFilmFestival.com or contact White Pine County Tourism at 775.289.3720.
About Ely: Located about 240 miles from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, Ely is one of Nevada’s best kept secrets and perfect for people who want to create their own adventures off the beaten path. Sitting on the Eastern edge of “The Loneliest Highway” (U.S. Highway 50), Ely is a great base camp for some of the best outdoor recreation in Nevada, all year round; from mountain biking and climbing to hiking and hot springs. It’s also just a short drive to Great Basin National Park, home of the magnificent Lehman Caves and ancient Bristlecone pine forests.
Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express, and its rich history is celebrated in a series of murals that decorate downtown. . Visitors can also step back in time at the Nevada Northern Railway museum, a National Historic Landmark which offers visitors the opportunity to experience an actual working railroad and provides excursions on steam and diesel locomotives. For more information visit: ElyNevada.net.