Charlottetown goes to Scotland
Nine Island films presented at Shetlands festival in Island-to-Island film exchange
The Charlottetown Film Festival (ChFF17) sent a slate of nine short films by Islanders over to Lerwick, Shetland, in Scotland to be presented at ScreenPlay, the annual film festival hosted by Shetland Arts. Works by Jenna MacMillan, Jason Rogerson, Justin O’Hanley and Mille Clarkes are among those selected to introduce Prince Edward Island to film enthusiasts on the other side of the Atlantic. The Island screenings take place Aug. 27 and 30.
Cheryl Wagner, executive director of ChFF17, is the driving force behind this effort.
“It has been a big dream of mine to show the world our unforgettable Island through the lenses of our talented filmmakers.
“This is a terrific first step,” she said.
JoDee Samuelson’s charming animation “A Brief History of Charlottetown” kicked off the 90-minute screening of surprising variety that includes Harmony Wagner’s touching drama “Queen of the Crows,” Justin O’Hanley’s silly “No Parking,” Jenna MacMillan’s documentary “Lennox Island” highlighting Mi’kmaq culture and, appropriately, “Islands” – Mille Clarke’s first foray into narrative filmmaking. In exchange on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. at City Cinema, the 3rd Annual Charlottetown Film Festival will screen a selection of short films from the Shetland Islands as this year’s International Atlantic Island Outreach participant. Films from Iceland and Ireland were invited by ChFF in the past as part of this outreach, but this is the first exchange. “Films can be such ambassadors,” Wagner mused. “I think with this exchange, we are sending a great introduction to Prince Edward Island out to the world.”