EDITOR RICHARD HODGES

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2018 4

Women in film celebrated in festival

8th Annual International Women in Film Festival features films, workshops and more

By SERA AKDOGAN

trap in for a ride Vancouver film

lovers, it’s that time again — the

8 Annual International Women

in Film Festival is back at the Vancity Theatre.

Vancouver filmmaker Karen Lam will be leading a horror genre work- shop on Friday with a special effects team. The workshop will include di- recting, script writing, special effects and dealing with the genre as a whole.

As a feminist, Lam feels strongly about gender equality and is happy to have her work featured in the festival.

“T don’t see how you can work in this industry and not be a feminist,” Lam said. “If women are not writing and telling our stories, our voices are not heard.”

Created in 2006, Women In Film + Television Vancouver (WIFTV) is a non-profit society to assist women in film and further their careers in the in- dustry. Running from March 7 to March

10, this popular festival includes three days full of professional workshops, Q- and-A sessions and a whole lot of femme films.

According to Lam, only six per cent of feature film directors are women. She’s thankful to help break this barri- er and will be receiving an artistic in- novation award at the festival Thursday.

“Tm really excited,” Lam said. “It was completely unex- pected and a real privilege.”

About 27 feature-length flicks and short movies made by women will be shown, in- cluding a mix of amateur and

get a chance to see and to provide film- makers with a platform to showcase their work and speak with audiences.”

Combs said women continue to be marginalized in the film industry and the festival is a way to address that.

Workshops presented with BC Film + Media will be there to help produc- ers, directors, writers and oth- ers working in the film indus- try.

With the popularity of the Save BC Film movement, this festival comes at an opportune time to shine some light on the local film industry.

“We have some of the most

award-winning films. These KARENLAM incredible talent in this prov- films cover a large range of horror filmmaker ince,” said Lam. “Our indus- topics like sisterhood, friend- and film feminist try has been a victim and it’s

ship, love, loss and new begin- nings.

WIFTV executive director Carolyn Combs explained that the importance of the festival is to “bring film to audi- ences that people wouldn’t normally

hard to compete with big in- dustries.”

Films are $10 for WIFTV members or $12 for the general public. Full week- end passes are $80 for members and $100 for non-members.

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BRIAN CAMPBELL photo

The passengers of a pleasure cruise in Egypt most solve a heinous crime after a jilted love triangle leaves one of the passengers dead.

Grainger kills it in Murder on the Nile

Metro Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s stage adaption of Death on the Nile promises an all-ages evening of murderous intrigue on the banks of Egypt’s largest and most famous river

BY BRIAN HORSTEAD

ann Grainger brings life to Mur-

der on the Nile, the Metro The- atre’s production of Agatha Christie’s famous whodunit.

Grainger plays Jacqueline, whose energy and charm easily provide the most engaging and memorable mo- ments of the evening.

“T absolutely love it, it’s one of my fa- vourite types of character to play,” said Grainger. “It’s something dramatic and over the top, really carefree. I can do whatever I want.”

Understudy Tom Kavadias stepped in to replace Harry Seddon as protago- nist Canon Pennefather and delivered a strong performance despite stammer- ing the delivery of several lines throughout the play.

A: exuberant performance by Bre-

“Basically [had four days. I took four days off work to learn the role. I just stayed at home and ran lines,” Kavadi- as said.

Murder on the Nile is set on board a steamboat cruis- ing through Egypt, carry- ing Simon Mostyn and his wealthy new bride, Kay, on their honeymoon.

When Kay’s body is dis- covered with a bullet wound

ring Jacqueline produces a pistol and confronts her ex-lover, Simon, demand- ing he take responsibility for the pain he has caused her.

“That one scene where I get to be drunk and I’m over acting and I get to shoot the gun, I’ve never had to do something so freeing and _ loose,” — said Grainger.

The elaborate set looked great, even if it adversely affect-

to the head all fingers point BREANN GRAINGER ed the acoustics. : ye plays Jacqueline ei wD “ay : to Simon’s jilted paramour, gp Bellefort The way it’s set up, it’s a lit-

the effervescent Jacqueline de Severac.

Although there are shootings in both acts, the play is not violent and is suitable for all ages, according to Di- rector Alison Schamberger.

One of the highlights of the evening comes when a drunken, speech-slur-

tle difficult for the audience to

hear. I think part of it is because

the wings go way out wide and a lot of

the time we’re talking into the wings,” said Kavadias.

Murder on the Nile runs through to

March 16 and ticket prices are $23 for

adults and $20 for seniors and students.

METRO

theatre

UPCOMING PLAYS

THE WINSLOW BOY By Terence Rattigan March 23 - April 20

BLITHE SPIRIT

By Noel Coward May 4 - June 1

Source: Metrotheatre.com

New Kokanee movie a rare beast indeed

The Movie Out Here’s shot in B.C., set in B.C., and for B.C. consumption; is it the answer to B.C. film woes?

BY NIALL SHANNON

with mythical beasts. It is uncom- mon, rarely seen, and highly cov- eted.

Beer company Kokanee is contribut- ing to Canadian cinema with its own The Movie Out Here, featuring the company’s famous mythical beast, the sasquatch.

With the B.C. film industry suffering, does the Kokanee film offer the possi- bility of new life for the local film indus- try?

“Of course the film is a good thing for B.C.,” said Matthew Tingey, a film industry worker. “Lots of movies are made in B.C., but finished off else- where, like in L.A. or New York, and are rarely made about B.C.”

Tingey is involved with the Save BC Film movement, an advocacy group that seeks to bolster B.C.’s film indus- try by getting more tax credits for the struggling industry.

Film industry worker Chester Dixon on the other hand disagreed, saying that while it was positive, it will not change the industry.

“It’s a long beer commercial, basi- cally,” said Dixon.

The plot finds Toronto-based lawyer Adam returning to his hometown of Fernie, B.C. on a business trip, where he reunites with his friends, ladies’ man Jason and eccentric Theo. Theo’s stuck with a failing waxing business and must throw together a giant party to save the business from evil develop- ers.

Playing on over 27 screens, The Mov- ie Out Here drew an estimated $15,300 over opening weekend.

The film stars Robin Nielsen, Leslie Nielsen’s grand-nephew, who was also in the Steve Austin and Danny Trejo action flick Recoil. Nielsen’s amorous buddy is played by Viv Leacock, who has played bit parts in the films 2012 and Hot Tub Time Machine. Theo is played by James Wallis, a former writ- er on Canadian comedian Jon Dore’s show.

Gren: film has a lot in common