Roll the credits: Longtime Dawson City film fest producer retires

Dan Sokolowski has eaten a lot of popcorn in his day.

“Sometimes it’s supper, lunch and breakfast,” he said.

It comes with the territory when you work in the movie business for almost two decades.

But Sokolowski's popcorn intake should now be much less, since he retired last month as the producer of the Dawson City International Short Film Festival.

“I’m not retiring from life, I’m just retiring from the film fest job,” said Sokolowski. “I was coming up on turning 65, and my partner and I just discussed, you know, why don't we look into it.”

Sokolowski says there are many highlights from his tenure guiding the festival, which bills itself as one of the "most northern competitive film festivals in the world." It began in 2000 and happens annually on Easter weekend.

“I helped make 900 perogies for our street festival,” said Sokolowski. “That was under my domain, I guess.”

Sokolowski says bringing filmmakers from elsewhere to Dawson, as well as giving exposure to local emerging talent, are things he’ll remember fondly. He's also grateful for the community support he’s had over the years.

“Dawson is a festival town,” said Sokolowski. “It’s amazing to see all the volunteers come together to help.”

Sokolowski says he's not entirely sure what he'll do next, but he knows at least one thing.

“The festival job was twofold in that it was great to get a job in film, but also it was a great chance to move to Dawson,” he said.

“We’ve moved here because of Dawson — so we’re not going anywhere.”

New festival producer has 'lot of ideas of my own'

Arcane Perry is the new festival head. Before taking over, they shadowed Sokolowski, sifting through his vast knowledge of what the job entails.

“I’m definitely taking a lot of notes but I also have a lot of ideas of my own,” said Perry.

Perry originally came to Dawson as a student at the School of Visual Art (SOVA).

They say they’re excited to build off what Sokolowski created over the years.

“Dan has done a phenomenal job of creating and curating this ecosystem I’ve been stepping into,” said Perry. “It’s been so wonderful and you can tell that the people that are part of it and support him really care about what he’s created. He’s definitely made a lot of filmmakers emerge.”

Perry, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, says giving a broader voice to BIPOC, queer and female filmmakers is one of their priorities.

“There are a lot of people that need their voices amplified and heard right now,” said Perry. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to find those people and make sure they’re heard.”