Film Festival hosts screening party at the Grange for high school basketball teams

From left to right — Coach Brandyn Pedersen, Jeffrey Volk, David Markham, Pierce Kleine, Jaxson Waldron, Drake Goodrich, Nathan Posenjak, Cyrus Rollins, Jasper Williamson, Jack Anderson, Jonah Parsons, Mason Clark, Mason Smith, Chris Gustafson, Mamadou Hoskins, Andrew Rezabek, Coach Brian Germaine

The organizers of the Friday Harbor Film Festival share a story about a recent screening party they hosted for the island’s high school basketball teams.

Friday Harbor High School’s varsity and junior varsity basketball teams met up at the Grange on Sunday, Dec. 11 to watch a special screening of the film Alaskan Nets, presented by the Friday Harbor Film Festival. The film tells the true story of a small island accessed by a one-hour ferry ride from the mainland of Alaska. Their small population makes it difficult to get a full basketball team. The whole town supports them as they win the championship against Anchorage. But the real story is of the players learning to pull together as a team and then go on to win.

After seeing the film at the Friday Harbor Film Festival last October, Rob Waldron thought of presenting a special screening of Alaskan Nets for the boys basketball teams. He reached out to the parents of the team members, who rented the Grange for the event. He asked FHFF for help. They supplied the film and projectionist, Norris Palmer. FHFF provided enough pizza to satisfy teenage boys, thanks to a discount from Kung Fu Pizza. Ben Waldron brought drinks for everyone, and it was a party!

Special thanks to Windermere San Juan Island for proudly sponsoring the film.

The kids were reminded that all local students are encouraged to come to the Friday Harbor Film Festival for free. Each year Suzy Mygatt Wakefield provides a generous grant to support their attendance.

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