On the cusp of reading week for VIU students, the Nanaimo Global Film Festival will be showing over 30 films from around the world February 21 and 22, on Nanaimo’s campus.
Robin Davies, a Media Studies professor at VIU, works with the department to provide technical support to students and the Nanaimo Global Film Fest.
There will be many Media Studies students involved in this year’s festival, “we help with projectors, sound systems, social media, and website management,” Davies said. “One of the most important things we can do in Nanaimo is connect films with individuals and organizations in the community who are passionate about a specific film’s subject matter.”
According to the Nanaimo film fest website, (which was designed by fellow Navigator Jessica Reid) “The films are a celebration of activism.” They will feature stories from people who are striving to “re-invent” their world and future. The films are local to Vancouver Island and BC, spreading to encompass the world.
Davies said most of the films are documentaries, “certainly some big names are involved with the films, many of which have been honoured at other Festivals such as SXSW, Sundance, and Calgary.”
She is personally looking forward to A Dangerous Game, which, according to the website is about “environmental, cultural, historical and human costs of golf” and suggests you check it out 7 pm Saturday.
The NGFF is similar to the recent Vancouver Island Short Film Festival, in that it’s driving force is the aim to celebrate the production of films that delve into social and economic issues, and bringing those films to a local audience.
Beginning in 2005, the festival has partnered with the World Community Travelling Film Festival, which will show the traveling collection of films to other BC cities after the weekend to provide rural and urban communities with the film festival.
The 25 year old Comox Valley-based organisation creates “awareness of the social, economic and environmental consequences of human activity at both the local and global levels.” The organisation has pioneered the selling of fair-trade coffee on the Island, and working with Tide Change on Earth Day events.
The films run from 10 am – 11 pm on Saturday, and 11 am – 9 pm on Sunday, making sure that no matter what you’ve got planned, there’ll be a show to fit your schedule. The schedule is on their website. Refreshments are going to be served by VIU’s WEST program.
Tickets are $30 for a weekend pass, $20 for students. A six-punch pass and double bill tickets are also available. All tickets will be sold at the door; presales can be purchased at The Green Store on Wallace Street and Van Isle Video on Bowen Road.
