Town & Country

C M Y K 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY JULY 20, 2019 GIMLI Audiences will find more than sand and screens at the 19th Gimli Film Festival this summer — there will be Lights! Cameras! ... Accessibility! I n addition to a stellar slate of local, national and international films being shown from Wednesday, July 24 to Sunday, July 28, the Gimli Film Festival (GFF) organizers have been finding ways to broaden participation for movie-goers and movie-makers alike. "How could we be more ethical, and how can we serve our community in the best and in the most respectful way pos- sible? That is a big part of our mandate," says Aaron Zeghers, festival director. Zeghers says a number of initiatives are underway to maximize participation. The first group to tackle is the filmmak- ers: To ensure there is equitable represen- tation for women and other groups; and to ensure they get paid fairly. "We want to make sure those who are not typically involved in the filmmaking industry are better represented," he says. "Our Future is Female mentorship program is dedicated to providing access for more women in filmmaking here in Manitoba. "If you look at the top 100 films of all time, you'd be lucky to find one female director in there, but it's changing really rapidly in the independent film world." To women and women-identified persons, the program provides free transportation, meals and beverages, and access to films and masterclasses with up-and-coming and mid-career women filmmakers. "This year, there will be 55 partici- pants on the bus and another dozen or so driving in to take part on the Friday of the festival," Zeghers says. GFF is also putting more work by women up on the screen, ensuring that 40-60 per cent of programming features films by women. "We want to make sure that our festi- val accurately represents the society that we are living in," he says. "For example, Winnipeg has the high- est population of Indigenous people of any major city in Canada, so we work with the Indigenous Filmmakers Associa- tion, who self-curates their members to screen their short films at the Indigenous Film Series at the festival." Content is even more diverse this year with a number of films from Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Central and South America); the Philippines; the Icelandic Northern Lights circumpolar series; and a strong emphasis on local and Canadian films. Zeghers highlights three films by women. "We are excited to be doing the Canadian premiere of Liza Mandelup's Jawline, which just won a special jury prize at Sundance," he says. Mandelup will be in attendance for the film and to teach a masterclass. Also in the lineup is For Sama, by Syrian film- maker Waad al-Kateab, and Hail Satan? from documentarian Penny Lane, who will also be at the festival for a Q&A to contextualize the film. "Hail Satan? was a real blockbuster at Sundance, and we played Penny Lane's film Nuts! on the beach in 2016," says Zeghers. "She is a foremost American documen- tary filmmaker doing work right now and one of my favourite filmmakers, period." Lane explores an organization called The Satanic Temple. "Audiences will probably be a little bit surprised to find that it's less of a blood- drinking cult and more of a political movement aimed at promoting religious freedom and tolerance in the United States," says Zeghers. Lane will also be teaching a masterclass on Strategies of Appropriation, where she shares her views on movie-making with found footage. GFF's mandate to properly pay film- makers follows guidelines determined by the Media Arts Alliance. The practise generates good will amongst filmmakers and makes GFF eligible for government grants. "I am a filmmaker myself and I've been very engaged personally and through the festival to make sure that the artists and staff are all paid properly," Zeghers says. "Canada does pretty well, but across the world virtually none of the major film festivals pay short-filmmakers. "You have bartenders, projectionists, venue rentals, and drivers all getting paid, but the filmmakers are not." GFF is also undertaking an accessibil- ity survey, which reflects recent legisla- tion in Manitoba. "We're really looking to the public for ideas for how we can be more accessible to people that may be living with disabilities that we weren't aware of," he says. Last year, two participants in the Future is Female program required and were provided with American Sign Language interpreters, and the plan is to make that service more available and even include headsets for the theatres. More accessible seating is also on the table. "We really are serving all Manitobans and the community here," says Zeghers. "It's a big part of the festival and we are striving to become more accessible, more diverse, and more inclusive." Find tickets and schedules online at gimlifilm.com. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Gimli Film Festival puts deep focus on diversity PHOTOS BY LAINA BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY The Ambassador and staff of the Embassy of Iceland to Canada send their best wishes for a wonderful celebration of Icelandic Culture at Íslendingadagurinn in Gimli 2-5 August. 360 Albert Street Suite 710 Ottawa, ON, Canada Like us on https://www.facebook.com/IcelandInCanada TOPSOIL SAND - GRAVEL LANDSCAPING FILL - STONE DEMOLITION LAKESHORE REHABILITATION HOLDING TANKS & SEPTIC FIELD INSTALLATION ASPHALT PAVING OFFICE: 1ST AVE. WEST & HWY #9 WINNIPEG BEACH, MB R0C 3G0 PHONE: (204) 389-2023 FAX: (204) 389-4040 eddiesgravelsupply.com Bonnie Franz | 204-642-8818 Office | 204-470-3096 Cell Gimli, MB Content is even more diverse this year with a number of films from Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Central and South America); the Philippines; the Icelandic Northern Lights circumpolar series; and a strong emphasis on local and Canadian films. BY WENDY KING D D

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