Wide shot of the Paramount Theater captured by Prabhu CANNON 200D / Downtown Kamloops Victoria Street

The Kamloops Film Society (KFS) is a cultural organization that operates the Paramount Theatre and Twin Rivers Drive-In, as well as four main events: the Thursday Film Series, Indigenous Film Festival, CineLoops: French Film Festival, and the annual March Kamloops Film Festival (KFF). The KFS has been operating for 50 years, officially incorporated under the British Columbia Societies Act in 1994. The society has screened 35mm films since the late 1980s, moving to the old Odeon Cineplex Theatre in 1999 and the Paramount Theatre in 2019. The KFS provides publicly screened, hand-picked, diverse, high-quality films and supports film-related activities in Kamloops and Area. The KFS also promotes and supports filmmaking and related visual media in the Kamloops area through grants.

Point of view shot of the films showcasing at KFS captured by Prabhu CANNON 200D/ Downtown Kamloops Victoria Street

The Paramount Theatre is a unique cinema that re-releases classic films from the 1970s and 1980s, a golden era for cinema. The theatre connects younger audiences with cinematic masterpieces that shaped modern storytelling, while older audiences can relive the magic of watching their favorite movies in a communal environment. This effort mirrors the current trends in New Hollywood, where there’s a growing appreciation for the art of filmmaking from previous decades. With Hollywood’s increasing focus on sequels, reboots, and CGI-heavy spectacles, many film enthusiasts find solace in the simplicity and innovation of 70s and 80s cinema. The Paramount Theatre’s decision to showcase these films taps into that nostalgia, making it relevant to both seasoned moviegoers and newer generations discovering these gems for the first time.

Low-angle shot of Paramount Theatre captured by Prabhu CANNON 200D/ Downtown Victoria Street Kamloops

My close friend, born in 2002, had a different perspective on modern Hollywood after seeing Evil Dead 2 and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The amazing stunts in Temple of Doom made him want the more realistic and tactile adventure movies. At the same time, Evil Dead 2’s unadulterated inventiveness and physical effects felt more audacious than today’s CGI-heavy horror flicks. Upon viewing these 80s masterpieces, he found himself yearning for the same level of genuineness and audacity in contemporary movies, highlighting the extent to which Hollywood has moved towards more refined and secure narratives. Therefore, Kamloops Film Society’s Paramount Theatre celebrates classic cinema, supports indie filmmakers, and hosts community events, re-releasing 70s and 80s films for timeless storytelling.

CITATIONS

About the KFS – The Kamloops Film Society. (n.d.). The Kamloops Film Society. https://thekfs.ca/about-the-kfs/