Film puts comedic spin on city’s riot
An award-winning short film that pokes fun at the 1991 riot in Penticton is getting a public screening this coming Friday.
The film, called “1991,” takes a playful look at the events leading up to the riot following MC Hammer’s performance at that year’s Peach Festival, which left a black eye on the community for years to follow.
Directed by local photographer Nathan Penner with the help of co-creator Danny Riendeau, the seven-minute piece won the People’s Choice Award in the 5-Day Film Challenge that was part of the February 2024 Snakebite Film Festival in Penticton.
Featuring dozens of volunteer actors -- with Ajeet Brar in the role of MC Hammer and Carl Meadows as then-mayor Jake Kimberley, who read the riot act on that fateful night -- the film was shot during the January 2024 cold snap, forcing production to go indoors at the Cannery Trade Centre.
“I was envisioning more of a serious film, but with all the restrictions we had to deal with it just turned into a comedy”, said Penner, who also operates One Eye Shut Media, in an interview Tuesday.
“But we also wanted to bring light to how ridiculous Penticton has become since the riot. The town frowns upon what seems to be anything fun for the younger generation.”
The free, exclusive screening of “1991” is set for this Friday, 7:30 p.m., at the Elks Hall in downtown Penticton. The movie will be followed by a 1990s-themed dance party featuring local DJ and producer DyliAlta.
You can also watch “1991” on the YouTube page of the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking, which organized the 5-Day Film Challenge.
The riot on July 29, 1991, saw an estimated crowd of 1,000 people -- many of whom had attended that night’s concert MC Hammer -- rampage through the downtown core and Lakeshore Drive, according to The Herald’s coverage at the time.
Thirty-seven windows on Main Street were smashed and there were reports of looting from some businesses, including a government liquor store, which had almost its entire front window smashed.
Kimberley read the riot act to the crowd from a police car, and left when the crowd pelted the car with debris.
Additional police officers were called in from throughout the Okanagan, swelling the already reinforced ranks from 55 to 130 officers. This included riot squads from Kelowna and Vernon. Police officers firing tear gas followed the crowd, moving west on Lakeshore Drive, until rioters finally dispersed.
The most infamous act of vandalism associated with the riot saw The Peach concession stand on Okanagan Lake Beach rolled into Okanagan Lake.
The following year, the City of Penticton created a new bylaw that sharply limited possession and consumption of alcohol in public spaces.