NUMB is Jason Goode’s baby.
On Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. inside the Chief Sepass Theatre at Langley Fine Arts School, he’ll be showing off his pride and joy for all to see, as the local filmmaker’s movie kicks off the Langley International Film Festival (LIFF).
Goode has strong ties to Langley.
While he now lives in White Rock, he attended Trinity Western University and said he has “spent a lot of time in the community.”
Having his film make its Metro Vancouver premiere at LIFF means a great deal to Goode, especially considering proceeds from ticket sales and concession going to support art and film programs in the Langley School District.
“We’re happy to be using our premiere to help raise funds for the arts in Langley,” Goode said. “It’s great to be able to give back.”
LIFF features six films showing from Feb. 19 to 21, as well as an opening night gala featuring wine, hors d’oeuvres and discussions with Goode and his NUMB cast and crew at lelem Arts and Culture Cafe in Fort Langley following the screening.
NUMB is about a couple in financial distress who discover GPS coordinates that promise to lead to stolen gold.
They must partner up with a pair of mysterious hitchhikers to enter the remote winter wilderness to recover the bounty of coins.
“On the surface a film about chasing gold is often interpreted as being about greed. But in reality greed is a symptom of some other deeper lack,” Goode explained. “In the case of NUMB, the central ‘disease’ of the four main characters is pride: finding your identity in what you are capable of.”
The movie was previously screened at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, and was the closing gala film at the Whistler Film Festival, which Goode described as “a huge honour.”
Starring British actor Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica), Marie Avgeropoulos (The 100), Aleks Paunovic (iZombie, War of the Planet of the Apes), and Stefanie von Pfetten (Cracked), as well as Vancouver-based film and stage actors, NUMB will have a limited Canadian theatrical release starting March 2.
The film was shot entirely the Okanagan including Vernon, Kelowna, Enderby, and Lumby, over an 18-day period.
Goode said shooting a film in the Canadian wilderness was often quite challenging, “but the crucible of the elements made for a better film in the end.”
Film festival relies on local talent
The film festival is a fundraiser for the Langley School District Foundation.
All screenings will be held at Chief Sepass Theatre at 9096 Trattle St. in Fort Langley.
Tickets are $10 per screening. The gala costs $25. Three-day pass including all six screenings is $50. Watch for more stories about the films in the coming editions.
For tickets or more information, contact Langley School District Foundation executive director Susan Cairns at 604-532-1464 or scairns@sd35.bc.ca. People can also buy tickets online at www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.
