When asked how themes for the World Community Film Festival are selected, founding member Wayne Bradley replies, “We don’t choose themes, they choose us.
“Each film reflects the social conditions of the moment. That’s why
there’re always topical and relevant.”
Guaranteed to make you think, laugh and maybe cry, the 21st World Community Film Festival takes place at the Sid Williams Theatre and adjacent venues the night of Feb. 3 and all day and into the evening Saturday.
“Just Do It, the opening film, is really a British version of and precursor to the Occupy Movement in North America,” explains Bradley.
The film follows and documents the environmental direct action movement as various groups blockade factories, attack coal power stations and take over bank trading floors.
“The film is a reflection of what’s going on worldwide,” Bradley adds. “People have had it with the existing power structure in general and are demanding the right to have a say in what’s happening in the world.
“It’s an exciting film with lots of action, yet there is a sardonic humorous tone that is very funny. It’s very balanced in that way.”
Opening night also includes a five-minute clip from a film Velcro Ripper is working on titled Love in Action. As an added bonus, Ripper, who will be in New York at the time, will join folks at the Sid via Skype.
“We’ve done this before and having someone present like that on a big screen is amazing,” says Bradley.
“There are also some interesting films that look at over consumerism and the environment and the aggressive marketing targeting very young children,” says Janet Fairbanks who is a festival curator along with Bradley, Gordon Darby and Heather Wilkinson.
Consuming Kids; The Commercialization of Childhood reveals the subtle ways youngsters are primed to become lifelong mega consumers. This multi-million-dollar marketing machine even goes so far as to use psychologists to help them “own the mind” of potential consumers.
“The goal of all this marketing is to make children think that the more stuff they have, the happier they’ll be,” explains Fairbanks. “It’s very interesting because the festival is also showing films that reveal what truly does bring happiness and purchasing things has nothing to do with it.”
The only opportunity to view the two happiness films, The Economics of Happiness and Happy, is at the festival as they will not become part of the World Community Film Festival lending library.
“Every year we reject some fabulous films because the bummer factor is just too high,” notes Fairbanks. “We’re especially pleased that this festival features numerous films depicting people’s amazing ability to remain positive despite what’s going on around them and in the world.”
Kinshasa Symphony does just that by following members of Central Africa’s only symphony orchestra.
“Even though they get up extremely early and work very hard to earn a meagre living — and sometimes even need to make their
own instruments — these people get together to make music for the sheer joy of it,” says Fairbanks.
“And the film is stunning from a visual point of view,” adds Bradley. “It’s a real example of brilliant cinematography and jaw-dropping creativity.”
But some issues can’t be avoided. White Water Black Gold takes an up close and personal look at the potential impact of development on the environment, including the Enbridge Pipeline Proposal.
“This is very timely, as the Enbridge hearings will come to Courtenay at the end of March,” Bradley says.
This year, for the first time, WCFF will take components of the current and past festival to Highland Secondary for a full day of screening for Highland, Vanier and Mark Isfeld students.
“We’re really excited about this,” Bradley says. “Next year we hope to coordinate a major festival that involves all three schools.”
Each festival requires the dedication and work of approximately 100
volunteers. And it’s estimated that over the last 20 years, there have been 75,000 film viewings in Courtenay alone.
“That’s the potential for a lot of learning,” says Fairbanks. “And that’s what we always ask ourselves: Did we learn something? Can we remember it? Did the film challenge our assumptions?”
Advance tickets for the film festival range from $10 for Saturday evening to $32 for a full pass and are available at the Sid Williams Theatre. A limited number of low-income tickets are also available. For more information visit www.worldcommunity.ca.
