Shawn Conner lists five reasons to check out the outdoor screening of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.
1. Outdoor Summer Film Series
The non-profit Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth is presenting this outdoor screening of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. The free, family-friendly screening marks the start of what R2R hopes to make an annual tradition.
2. The Prophet Originally published in 1923, this enormously popular tome is a collection of 26 poems by Lebanese author Gibran. It has been translated into over 40 languages and since publication has never been out of print.
3. Animated adaptation
Roger Allers (The Lion King) wrote and directed the 2014 animated feature, which combines Gibran’s poetry and animated sequences. Salma Hayek (one of the producers), Liam Neeson and Quvenzhane Wallis voice characters, while Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Yo-Yo Ma contribute music. “Think of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet as a gift: a work of essential spiritual enlightenment, elegantly interpreted by nine of the world’s leading independent animators,” wrote Peter Dubruge in a 2015 review for Variety.
4. Vancouver connection
Several different animators contributed to short segments in the film. Bardel Entertainment was responsible for the animation, modelling and cinematography for the overarching main story. Bardel Entertainment is responsible for the actual animation. The local company (which has offices in Vancouver and Kelowna) also worked on the DreamWorks feature Puss in Boots and the TV series Bob’s Burgers, among others.
5. Free animation workshops
Prior to the screening, the National Film Board will hold animation workshops and VR demonstrations at Performance Works from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
KAHLIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET
When: Friday at sundown (9:15-ish)
Where: Ron Basford Park (Granville Island)
Info: r2rfestival.org