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Film Festivals opening night set to inspire

Mixture of local and distant subjects show power of community
Film Festivals opening night set to inspire

Barney’s Version hit the big screen with great aplomb. Paul Giamatti has just won a Golden Globe for his performance. Dustin Hoffman is a delight, as is Rosamund Pike. There will be laughter, there will be tears, but most of all the audience will be happy this film is the gala opening choice of the 10th Anniversary Powell River Film Festival.

Barney Panofsky, one of Mordecai Richler’s most infamous characters, smokes too much, drinks too much, and falls in love too much. Having filled his life with many highs and lows, and some mistakes and regrets, Barney sets about presenting his version of events. What follows is a desperately funny and poignant telling of a story of a highly flawed but mostly lovable character, a reflection on life, love and friendship spanning over 30 years. Twelve years in the making, this is a film that was definitely worth waiting for.

Gala reception starts at 7 pm, Thursday, February 17 at Evergreen Theatre and will be catered by Manzanita. Displays of Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First Nation, community groups, the Timberlane Quilters Guild and the Malaspina  Arts Society will create a lively space in the foyer where people can mix and mingle for an hour before the movie begins. Stinging Nettles will entertain in the foyer, adding to an ambiance of community creativity that everyone is encouraged to experience.

Four days of films and film related activities continues through Saturday, February 20. During the day on Friday, starting at 12:30 pm, is a collection of three films: Cedar and Bamboo, directed by Diana Leung and Kamala Todd, examines the historical relationships between Chinese Canadian and first nations communities in BC. Director Banchi Hanuse’s Cry Rock asks whether an electronic recording can capture the true meaning of the oral traditions of the Bella Coola Nuxalk and, more importantly, can it be considered cultural knowledge? Jeremy Williams creates a visual poem to the sockeye’s historic return on the Adams River run in his short piece The Return.

Director Jeff Malmberg documents the gray area between obsession and art, the compulsive need to create something when the world leaves a person with nothing. Mark Hogancamp’s recovery from a severe brain injury comes with a creation of a richly detailed World War II-era European village in his backyard, one-sixth life-size and peopled with modified GI Joes and Barbie-like dolls. This is the place called Marwencol, and it is lovingly photographed by Hogancamp as he acts out his healing adventures. Marwencol starts at 3 pm Friday, February 18.

Tickets and passes are available online, and at Breakwater Books and Coffee, 6812A Alberni Street; Coast Realty, 4766B Joyce Avenue; Armitage Mens Wear, Town Centre Mall; and the film festival office, 201A 7373 Duncan Street. For more information readers can call 604.485.0325, extension 224, or visit the festival website.