Film series fall season opens tonight

SYDNEY — A hit on the international film festival circuit, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” will be screened as the season opener of the Cape Breton Island Film Series, tonight.

The critically-acclaimed film, from director Benh Zeitlin, tells the story of six-year-old Hushpuppy who lives with her father, Wink, in a southern Delta community in Louisiana. Battling a mysterious illness, Wink is determined to equip his daughter with the tools she’ll need to survive. As Hushpuppy’s world begins to unravel and a catastrophic storm looms, she sets out on a quest in search of her mother.

Zeitlin made “Beasts of the Southern Wild” with Court 13, a community-based, independent film collective in New Orleans.

The film screens tonight at 7 p.m. at Empire Theatres on Prince Street in Sydney. Tickets are $11, and students are admitted for $7. Season passes for all 13 films in the fall season can be purchased for $90.

The Cape Breton Island Film Series launched in 2003 and each year it produces two 13-week seasons, one in the fall and one in the winter and early spring.

The other film set to be screened this season are “Oslo, August 31st” on Sept. 13, “Pina” Sept. 20, “In A Better World” Sept. 27, “Compliance” Oct. 4, “Al Weiwei: Never Sorry” Oct. 11, “Safety Not Guaranteed” Oct. 18, “Laurence Anyways” Oct. 25, “The Intouchables” Nov. 1, “Bernie” Nov. 8, “Your Sister’s Sister” Nov. 15, “Cosmopolis” Nov. 22, and “Alps” Nov. 29.

For more information on the series and upcoming film selections go to cbfilms.ca.