Events

Elys Historic Theater  

Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work the next morning, Joe finds out Ann's regal identity and bets his editor he can get exclusive interview with her, but romance soon gets in the way.

Young lovers Sailor and Lula hit the road to start a new life together away from the wrath of Lula’s deranged, disapproving mother, who has hired a team of hitmen to cut the lovers’ surreal honeymoon short.

Rated R for sex, nudity, violence, gore, profanity, and moderate alcohol/smoking use. Be warned, not for the faint of heart.

Synopsis: IN THE LAND OF PALM OIL focuses on the casualties, both human and environmental, of palm oil exploitation in Indonesia. The film fuses first hand accounts of villagers -- victims of land-grabbing by large global corporations who pay off local and national officials -- and vérité observations of young Dayak activists who are trying to expose the brutal human rights violations.

Synopsis: "Antarctic Voyage" is a new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Kevin Schreck about a biological research expedition to the remote island of South Georgia, starring charismatic field biologist, Dr. Samantha Monier. Part modern-day adventure film, part visual tone poem, "Antarctic Voyage" sheds a light on the current state of the polar region's majestic wildlife, and the intrepid explorers who are dedicated to preserving and understanding what remains of our fragile, vital natural world, all through a refreshingly unconventional manner from the standard nature documentary genre.

Synopsis: Two brothers, disinherited and desperate for cash, journey into the Canadian wilds to find themselves, their people and their fortune.

Synopsis: In the Iron Range of Minnesota, 12yo Michael is just learning to flirt with girls and find his place among his friends, when one night his mother is badly hurt. Desperate to fix what happened, Michael tries to become a man in a world where he learns some men cause harm.

Synopsis: This shorts block description

Short Films Included:
The Story of Us: Finding Belonging on the Edge of Wilderness
Misfits
Saving Silence
Rectangles
Metamodernity
The Nature Girl
To Be A Good Home

Synopsis: Short block description

List of Films:

The Call
Goin' the Distance
Chairs
The Josh Movie
Left Out!
The Night with the Bear
The Good Brunch
The Wild World of Frolf
Plus One

Our traditional EFF Opening Ceremony will take place in the State Theater on Thursday, March 13th at 7PM. We will kick off with a performance from Waabani Noodin Drum, remarks from Indigenous cultural leaders & representatives from Ely Film Festival and Ely's Historic State Theater, followed by a showing of the regional documentary film Electric Indian. Filmmaker Leya Hale will be in attendance!

Synopsis: A documentary from filmmaker Leya Hale, The Electric Indian follows Ojibwe hockey legend, Henry Boucha. A stand-out hockey star from Warroad, Minnesota, Boucha impressed on the ice from the 1969 Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament to the 1972 Olympics to the NHL, but an on-ice assault and injury ended his athletic career that unexpectedly led to a journey of healing and cultural reclamation.