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Devo gets creative for film festival

Inaugural event is Thursday at Smiley
The inaugural Durango Devo Explorers Film Festival Features “An Alien Gesture,” a film created by youths in the Devo’s Explorer program.

So here’s something you don’t see at many film festivals: A band playing live during the showing of a nine-minute film.

Leave it to the kids of Durango Devo to give that a go during Thursday’s inaugural Durango Devo Explorers Film Festival.

The festival, which features all local films and photography – and music – begins at 6 p.m. at the Smiley Theatre. Tickets are $5 at the door, and proceeds will help Devo programs.

Devo’s Explorer program takes middle and high school youths on cycling adventures. On a couple of these mountain bike trips last year, the kids got busy with cameras and created the film “An Alien Gesture.” At the festival, a Stillwater Foundation group, Latin Jazz Combo, will play live, orchestra-style, to complement the film.

Devo Executive Director Amy Haggart said there’s a huge participant crossover between her program and Stillwater, and the two nonprofits embrace any opportunity to work together. Latin Jazz Combo will play several songs during the evening.

Four other films are on the bill: two by Devo graduate Daniel Walker, one by Devo Explorers coach Steve Fassbinder and one that Haggart wasn’t quite ready to describe.

“Devo has just created this creative group of people who want to go out and ride bikes and film,” she said. “We thought we’d highlight it and try to expand it year after year and make it into a real local adventure bike kind of film festival.”

More is on tap for the festival, titled “Journey.” A silent auction will feature an Explorers adult-style trip. Parents are often jealous of the trips the students make, and this is a chance for the parents to participate, Haggart said. Food and drinks will be available, too.

The festival is the brainchild of Devo Explorer coach Jon Bailey, who is often helping the kids get rolling for two- to five-day trips.

The Explorer program is for middle and high school youths to venture on bikes into the outdoors. There are now three levels:

Rovers, who are first-time signups.

Ramblers, who have at least one year of experience.

Trailblazers, who have a year of experience and are in high school.

Registration for Devo’s spring programs began March 2. Already, 350 have registered, and some programs are filled, but others remain open.

Haggart emphasized a new program that introduces youths to mountain biking. In Durango, if you’re 15 and haven’t started the sport, it can be intimidating to ride with some of your peers. Elke Brutsaert and Stephan Davoust are the coaches.

Looking ahead a bit, Devo opens its summer camp registration on April 2 and will host its annual bike swap on May 2.

“We just have so much going on,” Haggart said.

johnp@durangoherald.com

If you go

Doors will open at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Smiley Building theater for the inaugural Devo Explorers Film Festival. Several films and photography, live music, a silent auction and food and drinks will be featured.

The cost is $5 and proceeds go to Durango Devo programs. For more information on Devo’s programs and to register, visit www.durangodevo.com (click on registration) or email Executive Director Amy Haggart at amy@durangodevo.com.



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