ReFrame festival to feature 65 films

No Real Kids program; 18 local and regional films will be screened

A documentary film lovers’ bliss is just around the corner.

The ReFrame Film Festival returns to the city on Jan. 25, offering 65 films to chose from.

The festival showcases films that document human rights, social justice and environmental issues, produced both locally and globally.

Screenings are spread out between four downtown venues – Galaxy Cinemas, Market Hall, Showplace and The Venue – over four days.

This year, there are 10 local films and eight regional films (within 100 kilometres of Peterborough) in the lineup.

Three Oscar-nominated shortlist films are also on the bill. Unrest plays Jan. 26 and Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 and Abacus run Jan. 27.

But movies aren’t all the festival has to offer. There are also dance performances, spoken word artists, panel discussions, photography exhibits, question periods and a community art project.

Plus, residents have a chance to win a dinner for two and two free passes to a feature film. ReFresh and Refuel launches Thursday and involves five downtown eateries: Brio Gusto, St. Veronus, Publican House, The Night Kitchen and Olde Stone. Anyone dining at those restaurants between now and the festival can enter their receipt in a ballot box to win the prize.

The four-day festival kicks off Jan. 25 at Galaxy Cinemas with an evening screening of California Typewriter. It’s a documentary about the history of the typewriter as well as those who’re passionate about it, including Tom Hanks.

California Typewriter inspired this year’s community art project. Typewriters will be stationed at venues for festivalgoers to write a message. Local printmaker Jeff Macklin will then create a threedimension art piece using the messages.

Two panel back-to-back discussions are happening Jan. 27 at The Venue. The Magic of Documentary Storytelling runs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Then it’s Indigenous, Impressive, Intimate: A Panel Discussion on Relationships Revitalized from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.

Q and As will follow a number of screenings, with 17 filmmakers or their subjects on hand to engage with the audience.

Due to the continued growth of the festival, Krista English, ReFrame executive director, said Real Kids – a kids program – won’t be running this year. With only one full-time and part-time staff manning the helm, English said there wasn’t enough resources to make it work.

When the festival launched 14 years ago, it garnered audiences totalling about 1,200. Now it about 14,000 people attend.

That type of growth says a lot about the festival, English said.

“It’s wonderful that people have embraced the festival in such a meaningful way and it says that people do want to come out and watch really important documentary films,” she said.

But throughout ReFrame’s growth, its staff has remained the same. One full-time and one parttime employ man the helm.

To help keep the festival running, organizers launched a campaign, Reach for ReFrame, to collect funds to hopefully hire more employees.

English isn’t a fan of asking for money, but the goal is to keep ReFrame affordable so everyone can go.

The executive director hopes those who could afford to pay more to attend the festival will contribute. Donations can be made online at www.reframefestival.ca

Passes to the festival are available online, at GreenUp on Aylmer St. and at Happenstance Books and Yarn in Lakefield.

Daytime passes are valid for screenings before 7:30 p.m. and pass holders will receive 40 per cent off evening feature films. It’s $30 a pass or $20 for students and low-income earners. Feature film tickets are $15 each.