Fly Fishing Film Festival Back At The Orpheum

The art of fly fishing is not simple, but it is beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that there is an entire film festival dedicated to the craft, culture and community. 

 The International Fly Fishing Film Festival will be coming to Chatham on April 3 for the third year in a row. Cape Cod Trout Unlimited, the local chapter of a national nonprofit dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring cold water fisheries and their watersheds, will be hosting the festival at the Chatham Orpheum starting at 7 p.m.

The two-hour event will feature seven professionally produced short films from around the world illustrating a deep-rooted community passionate about a complex sport, all set against a breathtaking backdrop. 

Bob Lewis, the Cape Cod Trout Unlimited treasurer and organizer of the event, said he is blown away every year by the films’ landscapes.

“It’s the most beautiful scenery because it’s fly fishing films from literally all over the world.”

Some of the films focus on the science and conservation aspects, and others dive deep into the story of people who left their mark on the fly fishing industry. But all of the selections take viewers on an extraordinary visual journey. 

“One of the films [this year] is about fishing for giant trevallies, which is a really big fish in the Seychelles, an atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean halfway around the world and just absolutely gorgeous scenery,” said Lewis.

Fly fishing novices will also find the films educational. 

“If someone is interested in fly fishing, to me, this fly film is the quickest way to get a good understanding of what the sport is all about,” he said. “You’re going to see fishing for all different kinds of fish, all different methods around the world. You're going to have a really good idea after watching one movie, as opposed to if you took a casting class.”

 While Lewis loves to see members of the fishing community show up, he said it’s not just for anglers. Nature enthusiasts, film documentarians and cinephiles will all get a kick out of the production value in these features.

As of March 14, the Chatham Orpheum has upgraded its sound system and screen in the main theater, so the high-resolution visuals will be even more stunning.

To watch the trailers for each film, visit flyfilmfest.com/films. Tickets are available at the film festival’s website for $22 and will be available at the door for $25. 

“Part of the experience is seeing a diverse group [of people],” said Lewis. “We’ve had three generations, you know, grandfather, his son, and then a child come and sit together. There’s husbands and wives, men and women, we seem to draw a really diverse group of people.”