The Montrose Shopping Park Association invites everyone to some family fun movies in the shopping park.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The Montrose Film Festival is this weekend and will feature four films: “Ice Age: Collision Course,” Ratatouille,” “The Princess Bride” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

The Montrose Film Festival was just an idea when Steve Pierce and Tony Smith were having coffee at Black Cow Café a few years ago when they began reminiscing about the Montrose Theatre that once stood in the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue. The movie theater had been in operation from 1924 to 1987 when it was destroyed by fire. The parking lot of Andersen’s Pet Shop now occupies what was once the location of the theater. The only reminder of the theater and the fire is a utility pole that has scorch marks on it from the fire that stands erect in the corner of the lot.

When talking, Pierce and Smith thought it would be a great idea to offer outdoor movie screenings in the location of the old theater that would be free to the community. They contacted Andersen’s Pet Shop owners who gave the green light and so began the first Montrose Film Festival. That was eight years ago.

The film festival is a free event that is open to the public. There is free popcorn, and soda and water are for sale with the profits benefitting the Crescenta Valley High School Prom Plus and robotics clubs. The Montrose Shopping Park Association sponsors the event.

With every year the festival grew in popularity, so the Association decided to expand its offerings.

“Last year was the first [time the event] was held in two locations at the direction of the MSPA board,” said Dale Dawson MSPA business administrator/events coordinator. “[With more choices it makes the event] feel more like a film festival, and can accommodate up to 1,000 movie goers instead of only 500.”

Although all the films shown are family-friendly, having two separate areas allows the Association to offer films for a younger audience at one area, and families and older kids at another.

On Friday at the Andersen’s location will be “Ice Age: Collision Course,” a 2016 animated film directed by Michael Thurmeier, co-directed by Galen Tan Chu. It was written by Michael Wilson, Michael Berg and Yoni Brenner from a story by Aubrey Solomon.  The stars lending their voices to characters include Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Denis Leary, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Robert Cardone, Ray Romano and John Leguizamo.

The film “Ice Age” first appeared in 2002 and “Collision Course” is the sixth in the series.

On Saturday at Andersen’s, “The Princess Bride” will be presented. The movie was released in 1987, and was directed by Rob Reiner, with the screenplay and book written by William Goldman. It stars Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal and André the Giant … just to name a few.  

On Friday at the newer location, Montrose Travel Agency parking lot in the 2300 block of Honolulu Avenue, “Ratatouille” will be shown. This film was directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava. The screenplay was written by Brad Bird from the original story written by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco and Brad Bird. The animated film stars the voices of Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Peter O’Toole, Will Arnett and Brad Garrett.

Presented on Saturday at Montrose Travel Agency will be “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” directed by David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling. The film’s stars include Eddie Redmayne, Sam Redford and Colin Farrell.

Showtimes each night are 8 p.m.; however, prior to that there will be live bands with Paul Mars Black performing on Friday at Andersen’s and Saturday at Montrose Travel Agency. The Honolulu Avenue Strummers will play Friday at Montrose Travel and Saturday at Andersen’s.

“Seating is provided and everything is free to the public,” Dawson said, “including the freshly popped movie popcorn.”

  Mary Okeefe