From flood to film

Jake Fink looks to revitalize with the Lyons Film Festival

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Lyons has a new man in town and he’s starting up a film festival. That man is Jake Fink. Fink spent 15 years as a journeyman on film sets, starting out as a production assistant in New York City, before moving on to work for the NHL. A project on alien abduction got Fink out of New York and brought him to Arizona, where the warm desert air hooked him. Then a soonto-be launched web series, Mother Nature’s Warriors (highlighting positive actions people take to improve the environment), landed Fink in Lyons. That was nine months ago.

“I got acquainted with the flood and what happened to people in town and did some productions for the local organization, the Lyons Community Foundation,” Fink explains. “I know the families and I know intimately what happened. I just really felt at home here and I wanted to stay. I said, ‘What can I do?’” 

That’s when it hit Fink: A successful film festival could mean an awful lot to a town that was nearly washed away a year ago.

“Let me help bring business, help revitalize the town and hopefully put Lyons on the map,” he says.

We presume he means on the map for film, as Lyons is already a renowned destination for bluegrass and folk music fans.

But starting a film festival is no easy task. Fink received a $500 grant from the Lyons Community Foundation last month to get things going.

“It’s only $500 and we have a $40,000 budget,” Fink says chuckling. “Regardless of the money we get, we’re going ahead with the film festival and the whole town is really supportive.”

At the time of publication, there are 182 days left until the debut of the Lyons Film Festival ( June 5 and June 6, 2015). Fink knows now’s the time to start rattling the can.

To start, Fink needs to inform the community that a film festival is coming and get people excited, and that all starts on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew when Fink will host the first Lyons Film Festival Monthly Movie Screening. The film being screened is being selected through a voting process that had not finished as of press time, but Fink says it will be a holiday film.

Although the Wednesday event isn’t officially designed as a fundraiser, Fink is more than happy to accept donations.

“Licensing a film alone is not cheap,” Fink says. “It’s a sacrifice I’ll make so I can get up there and let them know how much a reality this film festival is essentially. And get people as excited about it as possible.”

Fink isn’t the only one excited for a Lyons Film Festival; Jessica ( Jesse) Garland is on board and helping Fink out with the day-to-day tasks.

“Jesse’s been my partner in it,” Fink says. “From selecting venues [Oskar Blues, Red Fox and Lyons Cinema have all signed on] to getting physical sponsors and finding grants.”

Joining Fink and Garland is Rebecca Louzon from Louzon Marketing and Sam and Mindy Tallent from Stone Cup who, “decided to be my fiscal sponsor so it would be easier for me to get money,” Fink says.

Fink is currently tracking down more sponsors and deciding on programming for the festival.

“Feature films to feature documentaries, all genres,” Fink explains, “versus being a niche-type of festival.”

But Fink has a lot of hard work ahead of him. 

“I definitely have very large aspirations to turn it into something pretty significant and help make [Lyons] a destination,” Fink says. “Not just for filmmaking but for people to take a second look.”

And the Lyons Film Festival Monthly Movie Series is where that all starts. In addition to the free movie and information on the festival’s progress, Fink has Lyons Love hosting a free chocolate workshop — with a lesson about the history and benefit of chocolate — and a fundraiser raffle for some of those delicious wares.

“We’re definitely looking for a turnout,” Fink says. “Some of that money we can put toward the festival, but I’m not reliant on it in any way. Through grants, through sponsors, we’ll get the money that we need.”

Come hell or high water, Fink is going to bring a film festival to Lyons, one that will bring life back to businesses and put the town in the news and back on the map.

“Regardless of what happens with the money,” Fink says. “I’m going to make it happen. No matter what.”

T-minus 182 days and counting. 

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