P.E.I. Fest kicks off July 13 in Charlottetown

The inaugural edition of the Prince Edward Island Film Food and Ideas Festival (P.E.I. Fest) starts next week with film screenings, lively talks and food events.

The festival’s opening night kicks off Thursday, July 13 includes an award-winning film, amazing entertainment, and delicious food and drink. “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” will screen at 6 p.m. at Holland College’s Florence Simmons Performance Hall located at 140 Weymouth St., Charlottetown.

Individual tickets are available for $20 through the website or in person at the festival box office at Florence Simmons. The screening is followed by a festive opening night celebration at Confederation Landing Park at the end of historic Great George Street.

The event features indigenous performer Pura Fé, P.E.I.’s own Scott Parsons and a Mi’Kmaq drum group, Hey Cuzzins, along with P.E.I. oysters, Upstreet Craft Brewing and locally sourced food items created by Chef John Pritchard. Tickets for this are also $20. An opening night ticket package is available for $30, which provides access to both events.

Then on Friday, July 14, 6 p.m., it’s “Girl Unbound: The War to Be Her”, directed by Erin Hei- denreich at Florence Simmons. film explores the world of Maria Toorpakai Wazir, a champion female athlete who defies the Taliban to pursue her dream.

The festival’s closing night film “Chasing Coral”, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Jeff Orlowski, in collaboration with the San Francisco based Redford Centre, is being presented on Saturday, July 16, 6 p.m. at Florence Simmons. Jamie Redford founded the centre with his father, Robert, and will be introducing the film and moderating the question and answer session, after the screening.

Charlottetown native, event founder and veteran festival producer Colin Stanfield is thrilled with the program.

“We’ve combed through a huge number of films looking for those gems which will resonate with our audience and whose filmmakers will inspire and drive the highly interactive event,” he says.

This is the inaugural edition of a unique cultural event featuring films, salonstyle dinners, and inspirational talks, taking place in the seaside capital of Prince Edward Island.

P.E.I. Fest also includes a youth conference that will provide training and tools focusing on social entrepreneurial initiatives.

SUBMITTED PHOTO American Native singer-songwriter Pura Fé headlines the festival’s Opening Night Celebration at Confederation Landing Park, July 13 from 8:30-11 p.m. A composer, seamstress, teacher and activist, she is also the founding member of the women’s a...