From Feb. 5 to 11, the Victoria Film Festival (which itself runs Feb. 5 to 14) will be making its way to Sidney for year two at Star Cinema. With 12 films shown over the week, there will also be a variety of special guests in attendance as well.
“We’re just excited to return back to Sidney. There was a really good response last year so obviously people in Sidney and North Saanich are interested in the festival and it’s nice for them because they don’t have to make the journey into town …” said Communications Co-ordinator for the Festival, Fulya Ozkul.
Last year was the first year the Festival came to Sidney. They had tried it years ago in Langford, but Ozkul said there just wasn’t the response they were looking for. She said with the Festival reaching out to Sidney, everyone really enjoyed it. People can even get a Sidney pass which gains them admission to all of the films shown at Star Cinema.
“So it’s nice in February especially when its really grey to kind of have the week of films.”
The films coming to Sidney include When Elephants Were Young from local filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark. Both filmmakers will be present at the showing.
Five Nights in Maine, a drama from first-time director Maris Curran, will be playing.
A film with local ties and a global connection is the documentary Lost and Found, which is about the 2011 Japanese tsunami and the debris that washed up on the pacific northwest coastline. Directors John Choi and Nicolina Lanni will be at both screenings.
Canadian director Patricia Rozema of Into the Forest will be coming out from Toronto. The film is about a widowed father and his children who are forced to figure out how to sustain and protect themselves in what appears to be a permanent blackout.
Al Purdy Was Here, a film celebrating the life of Canadian poet Al Purdy. Fifteen years after his death, the film touches on his impact on a young generation of Canadian poets, writers and singers. Director Brian D. Johnson will be in attendance.
Director Ryan McKenna of The Heart of Mrs. Sabali/ Le Coeur De Madame Sabali will be in town. His film centres on a woman with a severe heart condition which keeps her trapped in a suburb of Montreal.
The opening gala film, My Internship in Canada, will see one of the actors, Irdens Exantus, here. The film follows a Haitian who navigates his way through the world of Canadian politics alongside MP and former hockey player Steve Guibord, as he becomes the deciding vote in a move to declare war.
Director of The Steps, Andrew Currie and actor Benjamin Arthur will be in attendance. It’s a story of a clash between two families and many situations that follow.
Of the 12 films, there are guests for over half of them.
For details on times and shows playing at Sidney’s Star Cinema, visit www.victoriafilmfestival.com.
