NEW NAME, SAME FOCUS
Wakefield film fest now Doc Fest
The eighth annual edition of Wakefield’s small but mighty film festival starts this weekend, sporting a new name and a desire to expand its audience beyond the West Quebec region.
It’s now called the Wakefield Doc Fest, and organizers say the name change more accurately reflects the type of films brought to the picturesque village along the Gatineau River.
“Our entire focus has always been documentaries,” said Melanie Willis, artistic director of the festival, which was founded in 2010 by Wakefield filmmakers Brenda and her late husband, Robert Rooney.
“Our philosophy is that documentary film has the power to promote conversation and social action. We want to challenge people and we want them to talk about things.”
The core program of this year’s festival, which unfolds over the four weekends in February, again features eight feature-length documentary films, both Canadian and international, with two screenings of two each weekend. Core program tickets are $15; weekend passes are available.
For the first time, there’s also a series of matinee screenings on Saturday afternoons, this year revolving around the theme of humans and nature.
Although there is a half-price ticket offer for youths 12 and under, parents should be advised that these are not necessarily children’s films.
“We’re in a period of growth,” Willis said, noting that many visitors come to Wakefield for the films and stay for the weekend. “We’re really moving outside our own community to appeal to people further afield.”
In general, Willis has selected films that will let viewers explore remote corners of the globe, from the wilds of Quebec to the mountains of Mongolia. Many screenings will be augmented by panel discussions, director visits and receptions.
“People often watch films in their basement,” she said, “and they don’t get a chance to talk about what they’re seeing. That’s part of the reason for having a festival: to converse about the issues that are presented.”