Local films to open, close ReFrame festival
15th annual festival running Jan. 24-27 in the downtown to feature 70 films
The 2019 ReFrame Film Festival starts and ends with locally made films this year.
ReFrame kicks off Jan. 24 with 70 films overall, the most to date.
The 15th annual event is spread out downtown over four days and across several venues until Jan. 27.
It features documentary films focused on social and environmental justice issues and includes panel discussions, a live performance, a virtual reality project, a karaoke event and a social gathering.
For the first time since launching, the festival will be bookended by local films, said Amy Siegel, ReFrame’s creative director.
On the opening night, Youth Unstoppable, made by a PCVS graduate, screens at Showplace. Last Beer at the Pigs Ear wraps up the festival on the final night at Showplace as well.
Siegel said she’s really looking forward to the all the films, especially the screening of Youth Unstoppable.
“I’m really excited about a young female, local filmmaker being celebrated as the opening night film.”
More than 10 local films are screening this year, including Adventure in Understanding, A Certain Texture and Gititgaan.
A diverse mix of genres make up the film list, such as arts and culture, politics, sports, LGBTQ, youth, environment, gender, Indigenous, and aging, for example.
Both independent Canadian and international films are a part of programming and screenings take place at Market Hall, Showplace and The Venue. Food vendors will be set up at each location to grab a bite between films.
New this year is a virtual reality project at Venture North building, evening programming at The Theatre on King on Jan. 25 (drag karaoke) and Jan. 26 (social gathering), and a live performance called Postings from Home.
Siegel said ReFrame has always had a social event of sorts, but never had a place where audience members, filmmakers and artist could meet up.
“It’s really exciting for us to have a place where we can direct people to.”
Panel discussions this year are The Future Beings Now: Imagining Indigenous Futurism and Who Gets to Tell My Story, which speaks to representation, collaboration and documentary storytelling.
Festival passes are $60 each or $50 for students and low-income earners. The passes grant access to all screenings from Friday to Sunday.
Festival passes will also save filmgoers 15 per cent at a handful of downtown restaurants.
Tickets to opening night, for Youth Unstoppable, on Jan. 24 are $15 each or $10 for pass-holders.
Day passes are available for $25 each and include access to that day’s screenings and a choice of one evening feature that night.
Fifteen years ago, Reframe started as a travelling international festival that was housed at KWIC at Trent University. It’s now expanded into a four-day event that completely takes over downtown, Siegel said.
“I think that’s amazing and a testament to the community here and (founding artistic director) Krista English’s vision as well as the desire for people here to take in documentaries and to discuss important global issues.”
NOTE: The ReFrame website is at www.reframefilmfestival.ca
I’m really excited about a young female, local filmmaker being celebrated as the opening night film. AMY SIEGEL ReFrame Film Festival creative director