Cloquet’s a star at Highway 61 Film Festival

Movie lovers from all over Minnesota are getting ready to settle down to a feast of films this weekend at the first ever Highway 61 Film Festival in Pine City – and a film starring the city of Cloquet is featured on the menu.  

“Lumber Jill,” directed by Tucker Lucas, is on the bill at the festival, which will feature comedies, action, horror, drama, documentary and animation in 39 short and feature-length movies Oct. 14-15. 

Doors open at the Pine Technical College Auditorium (900 Fourth St. SE) at 6 p.m. Friday for the first session of films, with a late-night session to follow at Danny C’s BeachRocks (10762 Lakeview Shore Dr.) at 10 p.m.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., another session of films begins with a family-friendly selection of movies for young and old at Pine Technical College. 

Saturday goes back to the grown-ups at the 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. film sessions, and the night will be capped off with a horror double-feature and celebration at Danny C’s BeachRocks starting at 10 p.m.

Tickets for each daytime session of films at Pine Technical College are only $5, while there is free (donation requested) admission to the late-night shows at Danny C’s BeachRocks. All funds go to the nonprofit Pine Center for the Arts.

“Lumber Jill” will be shown on Friday night at the festival. The half-hour film is the story of Jill LeBlah, an urban misfit, whose journey to find her birth parents leads her to Cloquet where she finds herself in the midst of magical lumberjacks and talking taxidermy.

“‘Lumber Jill’ is a celebration of Cloquet, and a truly charming film,” commented one of the festival screeners. “It’s sure to be hit with the festival audience.” 

For a full listing of films and their descriptions go to www.highway61filmfestival.org or visit the Highway 61 Film Festival Facebook page. 

Also, on Friday and Saturday nights, drivers and pedestrians will see the walls of Pine City come to life with photos projected by local photographers in “Pictures on Buildings.”

Tags: arts and entertainment, updates, entertainment, movies, cloquet