Film festival unveils new gender-neutral logo, statue
RIFFA expands commitment to extolling cinema, inclusiveness
As an organization designed to enrich the community while celebrating film and diversity, the Regina International Film Festival & Awards took a major step on Tuesday.
In addition to announcing an expanded schedule with films from around the world, the festival also unveiled a new design for its logo and statuette awards. Gone is the statuette of a naked female body, replaced by a genderneutral form.
“We had a very fruitful discussion that went well beyond the question of what form the statue should be but what should the festival be, what it represents and what we want it to say to the audience, the world, about Regina,” said Dr. Phillip Charrier, a member of the RIFFA board of directors, at the news conference.
“So over quite a lengthy process, with a lot of different models that we suggested, a clearly human figure that was not necessarily evoking any particular gender or cultural background seemed fitting for where we saw ourselves going in the future.”
The change was not an insignificant issue for the board.
“Changing a trophy seems like a small issue, but it was a huge one for us because all of our branding was centred on that trophy, so it was an expensive undertaking,” explained Charrier.
“It was something that was quite challenging for us because we don’t have a huge budget, and yet collectively we felt very committed to representing in the best possible way to the world but also being forward-looking. This is how we see ourselves in the next five, 10, 15 years, advocating quality and difference and inclusiveness, a festival saying the best about ourselves and our city and everyone who comes to the festival.”
The festival, which will run from Aug. 14-18, will also include a panel discussion — Speaking The Truth: Power Balance, Sexual Abuse and Gender Discrimination in the Entertainment Industry — along with master classes taught by Bill Plympton and Alanis Obomsawin.
An opening reception is scheduled for Aug. 14, with the awards ceremony slated for Aug. 18. Both events will be held at the Casino Regina Show Lounge.
Screenings will be held at Cineplex Southland Mall from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Aug. 15-17, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 18.
The festival will showcase 130 films from 39 countries in 31 different languages. It will include 20 world premieres, 55 Canadian premieres and 50 Saskatchewan premieres. Of the 130 films, 25 were under the guidance of female directors.
For more information on the festival, go online to riffa.ca.