International Wildlife Media Center and Film Festival Center says Roxy has been perfect fit but funds are needed to complete purchase- (Can you help please?)

One year after moving in, IWMCFF still fund raising to fully purchase theater

The Roxy Theater has been a perfect fit for the International Wildlife Media Center and Film Festival, says the director of the Missoula nonprofit organization after a year in its new home.

By DARYL GADBOW of the Missoulian

The IWMCFF reached a deal to buy the Roxy in February last year for $340,000, and a campaign was started to raise the funds. The organization, which has produced an annual wildlife film festival in Missoula for the past 25 years, moved into the theater in March 2002. The Roxy had been closed as a movie theater since January 2000.

The theater, which has three movie auditoriums, would be ideal for IWMCFF, predicted director Janet Rose. It would serve not only as a venue for activities during the annual International Wildlife Film Festival, she said, but for a variety of special events year-round, especially educational opportunities for children and young people.

"It’s been wonderful," says Rose a year later. "As a venue for the festival and as a media center, it meets and exceeds our greatest hopes."

However, she adds, the organization still needs to raise $175,000 to complete the purchase of the Roxy.

"I knew that the outpouring of funds would slow down once we were in here," says Rose. "So fund-raising’s still one of our primary concerns and a focus of our efforts until we get rid of most of the debt associated with the Roxy. Support to keep it as a cultural and community performance center has really been very heartening and rewarding."

As a kickoff for the 26th International Wildlife Film Festival, set for April 19-26, IWMCFF will hold its second annual benefit auction and dinner Saturday. The event will be in the former Marianne’s Restaurant at the Wilma Theatre. The restaurant has been closed, but the facility has been donated for the occasion.

The auction will feature artwork donated by well-known local artists, including Ron Jenkins of Charlo, Tom Sanders of Kalispell, Matt O’Connor, Larry Burton, Marty Baker and Kikki Peters of Missoula, Cynthie Fisher of Hamilton and Denise Hunter of Lakeside. In addition, there will be wildlife photography by Ryan Killackey of Missoula and Denver Bryan of Bozeman.

Other auction items include western jewelry, handmade western clothing, furniture and artifacts, 500 pounds of fresh buffalo burger donated by the Heart Bar Heart Ranch, a whitewater raft trip for two from 10,000 Waves, a weeklong journey to Churchill, Manitoba, to see polar bears with local bear expert Charles Jonkel, a day of horseback riding and fishing in the Bob Marshall Wilderness with outfitter Jack Rich, a kids’ wildlife party at the Roxy, and an elegant dinner for six.

Lakeside artist Hunter was the winner of this year’s IWMCFF poster art contest. Her painting, "Painted Bear," will be the featured image of the 26th International Wildlife Film Festival on festival posters, T-shirts and advertising.

Hunter will be available at the auction Saturday to sign posters that will be for sale.

The Roxy and IWMCFF received a major boost from Craig Beardsley, a technical adviser and designer for the electronics company Sony. Beardsley donated a public address system and telephone system for the theater, Rose said.

Sony has been a major supporter of IWMCFF. A Sony executive is on the organization’s board of directors. And the company donates projection equipment for the film festival showings at the Wilma Theatre each year.

Rose says she’s excited for this year’s Wildlife Film Festival, which has more film entries than ever before, more rigorous judging guidelines and an esteemed panel of international judges.

"I think we’re up to 270 entries," Rose says.

The public can get a sneak preview of this year’s top films, meet the final judges and enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres and desserts at the festival’s annual Wild Awards Night at the Roxy on March 18.

Programs at the Roxy have continued to expand over the past year, she says.

Special film events are scheduled at the theater each Friday, and are repeated on Sunday.

The first Friday and Sunday of the month feature a new wildlife film, as well as a gallery showing for a different local artist or wildlife photographer. Second Fridays and Sundays feature a "best of festival" film from past International Wildlife Film Festivals. Third Fridays and Sundays are "kids’ night," with films for the whole family. And fourth Fridays and Sundays feature a lecture series, "Conservation at a Crossroads," with local speakers presenting different viewpoints, in conjunction with corresponding films.

"We’re getting a lot of response from a variety of performers and organizations to use the facility," says Rose. "It’s so exciting to be able to give a venue and have a place where so many people can have a voice and the community can take advantage of it."

However, she says, "We still don’t generate a lot of revenue. We’re still looking for one more angel to complete our global campaign to purchase the Roxy."

Reporter Daryl Gadbow can be reached at 523-5264 or at [email protected].

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