Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/70344
In honour of Gimli's Icelandic heritage, the festival, which runs from July 25 - 29 this year, specializes in films from Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Arctic. And it strives to bring its audiences entertainment that can't be found anywhere else. F "We look for films that don't get the same distribution as those made in Hollywood," festival director Cheryl Ashton says. "The films we choose always present another point of view. Because of their independent nature, you're able to witness individuals' stories rather than those of the studios." If you've noticed an increase in the number of films from Scandinavia lately, it's not an accident. Ashton says the Scandinavian countries have declared culture to be their economic driver. They formed committees and created working groups to identify the major centres where their artistic works needed to be distributed in order for the world to start taking notice. And Scandinavian filmmakers are now subsidized by their governments. "This was very, very smart of them. The quality has always been there, but no one was paying attention," she says. "The government realized that they weren't just producing films for their country — they were producing them for the world. Arts should be supported to the same degree as mining or forestry." Since the films selected for the Gimli festival are independent, they also serve as a barometer of society, she adds. "Year after year, you can see a theme. When the world's happy you see a lot of happy films, and when the world's unhappy you see a lot of unhappy films being made. The Gimli Film Festival is an opportunity to stop for five days and get a sense of what people are thinking around the world." or those who are tired of comic book movies and sequels, the Gimli Film Festival is a breath of fresh air. In its 12th year, the festival will offer 130 films in four different venues and will continue the immensely popular Cinema Under the Stars, with a screen set up just offshore on Lake Winnipeg. "Last year we screened Jaws and had over 3,000 people on the beach," Ashton says. "The Gimli Film Festival is relaxed. A lot of bigger festivals have a specific hype — there is no hype here. If you're a first time festival goer, this is a great place to start." Since offering films that were never available on DVD is becoming more and more difficult, the festival focuses on documentaries and short films that will premiere in Gimli. And it will feature a venue dedicated to horror movies this year. "We've gotten more sophisticated about choosing films that will appeal to our audience. We have some committed cinemaphiles and we make sure we've got films for them, but we do try to include films which moms and dads can see with their eight-year-old," Ashton says. Along with film screenings, the festival runs a full slate of workshops and events, and it will take over a channel of Gimli Public Service Television for the duration. "We turn a television station live and work with Gimli High School students, who do all of the interviews and film reviews. It's fantastic," Ashton says. "Professionals work side-by-side to mentor the students. It's really fun." The Emerging Filmmaker competition is back with a new sponsor, the Royal Bank of Canada. Amateur filmmakers compete for a $10,000 prize by making public pitches at the Gimli Theatre on July 26, starting at 5 p.m. "Part of the prize is being mentored by a film company, and the following year, the festival will premiere the film. It's a fabulous opportunity for whoever wins," Ashton says. Filmmakers of the future can also >> INTERLAKE ARBORG & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ASHERN & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ERIKSDALE & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FISHER BRANCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIVERTON & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TEULON & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEW & NOTEWORTHY >> The Arborg-Bifrost area is experiencing a population boom as a top-10 destination for new immigrants. Arborg & Riverton Immigrant Settlement Services has welcomed more than 330 newcomers to the area since 2009, and Arborg-Bifrost Community Development Corporation has stepped up efforts to attract new businesses and development. www.growingarborg.com >> Sunova Credit Union's Selkirk branch recently held a retirement party for its first Director of Greetings (D.O.G.). Takoda the St. Bernard joined the company as a puppy in 2006 and was so popular with clients that five more D.O.G.'s were hired to greet customers at Sunova branches in Manitoba. www.sunovacu.ca MBiz June 2012 37 INTERLAKE