Oneota Food Coop Upgrades to Film Festival Primary Sponsor

The Oneota Community Food Coop announced that the Coop will be a primary sponsor of the Third Annual Oneota Film Festival.   The 2012 film festival will take place January 20 -22, and will once again be hosted and presented by Luther College.

"We feel that supporting this local event is directly in line with the Oneota Coop mission.   Our member / owners have been very supportive of our commitment to OFF.  We're excited to be able to participate with the Festival at this level, and encourage the community to take part in the weekend," said Nate Furler, Marketing Specialist for the Oneota Community Food Coop.

OFF will continue with its theme of "sustainability", showing films that support their mission: "Through film, discussion and other media to engage a large and diverse audience in the critical issues of our time."

"We are gratified to have this kind of support from the business community in Decorah and the surrounding area" said Kyrl Henderson, President of the OFF Board.  "This film festival was originally started for economic development during a time when there is nothing but opportunity in that area.  We were also grateful for the support of the Hotel Motel Committee last year, and we feel with their help and the help of other sponsors and supporters were able to grow at a manageable rate".  The attendance of the Oneota Film Festival almost doubled last year from 368 year one to 700 year two.  The Festival has also received renewal commitments from Luther College to present and host the Festival, Decorah Bank & Trust as a major sponsor and from the Decorah Newspapers as the primary media partner for the event.  "I know it sounds like a cliche, but we really couldn't have this kind of an event without this kind of support.  We are most grateful." said Henderson.

OFF is currently accepting sponsorships and also open to suggestions for other ways to support the festival weekend.  For more information about the Oneota Film Festival, please visit www.oneotafilmfestival.org.  Interested persons are encouraged to find out more, volunteer, donate, and give feedback at the web site, and to "like" OFF on Facebook.  "We're looking forward to a better OFF in 2012, and we'd like to encourage every business and individual in Decorah and the region to get involved" said Kyra Bellrichard, Director of OFF.  Kyra can be reached via email: kyra@oneotafilmfestival.org, or by phone on 808 372 5958.



Photo: Oneota Community Coop associates are presented OFF t-shirts as they celebrate the Coop's Primary Sponsorship of the Film Festival.  ( l to r:  TJ Casper, Carl Haakenstad, Hannah McCarger , Kristin Evenrud, Nate Furler, Oneota Food Coop Marketing Specialist; Kyra Bellrichard, OFF Director; Kyrl Henderson, OFF Board Pres.)