The Regent Park Film Festival is gearing up for another exciting year of diverse films, created by young directors, editors, and producers from the community. The program also promises to deliver international films produced as far away as Afghanistan and Australia.
"This year's festival is particularly exciting for us, because local and international emerging and established directors will be in attendance, from the Yukon, Bella Coola, Nairobi, Burundi, Kabul and NYC," says Festival Director Karin Hazé.
The festival has several new highlights including:
Communities Stories Opening Night Program (November 5, 6 p.m.)
Films related to their communities, international and local, are showcased on this night. Featured guests: Adonis Huggins from Regent Park TV, Biki Kangwana from Slum-TV (Kenya), Christopher Redmond from the Burundi Film Centre, Jack Johnson & Samantha Edgar from Our World.
Featured Guests (November 6, 7:30 p.m.)
Street nurse, Caroline Brunt, will present Bevel Up, a documentary directed by Canada's Nettie Wild and co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada and Regent Park Community Health Centre.
Panel Discussion (November 8, 1 p.m.)
A lively conversation exploring issues around relocation. Featuring community activist and writer, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, NYC filmmaker Lauren Feeney (Garlic and Watermelons) and Regent Park community residents.
Performances: November 8, 10 p.m.
Juno award-winning dub poet and OCAD Professor Lillian Allen and producer, artist and activist Jarret Prescott will give a performance to remember at the Dominion on Queen restaurant (500 Dundas St. E.)
Also don't miss:
RPFF Professional 3D Live Animation Film Workshop for Everyone: November 1 and 2
This two-day film workshop will create a 30 minute animated film mixing
green screen techniques with performance to insert the participants
into archival photographs and 3D simulations of Regent Park.
Participants will examine historic neighbourhood photos, and then
develop short scripts in small groups with Cayle Chernin, acclaimed
Canadian producer, writer and actor. Participants will then perform
their scripts in a green screen session with filmmaker Jason J. Brown.
The final result will screen at the Regent Park Closing Ceremony: an
animated film using participants as actors in the historic and future
world of Regent Park! No previous experience necessary. Register by calling 416.981.6737 or Email your contact info to rpffoutreach@gmail.com. Workshop takes place at 600 Dundas St. E. rear basement at Focus: Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre.
All RPFF screenings are at Nelson Mandela Park Public School. Screenings and childcare are free.