“You know you have a great festival lineup when an Academy Award-winning film isn’t scheduled for opening night,” says Janet Fairbanks, a director for the World Community Film Festival.
Now in its 23rd year, the volunteer-run festival is billed as British Columbia’s premier documentary film festival. Beginning the evening of Friday, Jan. 31 and continuing Feb. 1, more than 30 documentaries will run at five venues in downtown Courtenay.
The films explore the realms of arts and music, food security, environmental issues, labour, social justice and human rights.
“A few years ago feedback indicated some people found the films a little too dark,” says Fairbanks. “So we really made an effort to obtain more positive material. This year’s films don’t avoid the hard issues but many of them are uplifting and inspiring.”
“One of my favourites is Sweet Dreams, a story about Rwandan women empowering themselves through a drumming co-operative and ice cream business,” says Wayne Bradley, another longtime director.
“It’s timely, as it’s the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. But it’s difficult to imagine anything other than a bleak, dark film," Bradley says. "But Sweet Dreams covers a wide range of emotions.
"It’s moving, dramatic, tense and also hilarious. It doesn’t dodge the issues but it doesn’t hit you over the head with them either. And the music and dancing is incredible.”
Reconciliation and healing is the theme of opening night, which also showcases Project Heart: Honoring Residential School Survivors. This made-in-the-Comox Valley film was directed by Ed Carswell and features students at École Puntledge Park Elementary and residential school survivor Verna Flanders.
Another favourite for Bradley and Fairbanks is the Saturday night closing film, Al Hein: Martin Luther King in Palestine. Gospel music is the primary medium in this film as the Palestinian National Theatre and an African-American choir mounts a touring play about Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, which parallels what is happening in Palestine today.
Prospective festival films are screened by individual committee members, who meet to make the final decision.
“In the beginning we concentrate on what we feel are the very best films,” explains Bradley. “We don’t worry about how many of them there are.
"But sooner or later, we have to face the limitations of time and venues. It gets interesting when we have to cut one-third of the films we’ve selected. Choosing the films that are good is easy compared to choosing the ones to give up.
“We always try to include films with local topical interest so there are usually several food-related films,” he adds. “A lot of people in the Comox Valley produce honey or depend on bees to pollinate their crops. So we’re really pleased to screen More Than Honey. As well as the content, the cinematography is incredible — it’s like you’re flying along in a swarm of bees.”
Several productions are award-winning films including Innocente, which received a 2013 Academy Award for Best Short Documentary. This 40-minute flick depicts the power of art as a 15-year old homeless girl struggles to create a life for herself.
From 12:30 to 2 Saturday, a special family program shows kid-friendly films in the lower Sid Williams Theatre. These short documentaries are geared for six to 12-year olds and are free for children accompanied by an adult with a film festival pass. Two — Huband Deceives and Kids to Kids — contain Comox Valley content.
On Saturday, the Social Justice Bazaar opens in the Upper Florence Filberg Centre. This is the place to go for free trade goods sold by community groups, information about a variety of topics, as well as delicious food.
Many of the films will travel to other communities as far away as Antigonish, N.S. Films from past festivals can be borrowed at WCFF libraries at Rewind Coffee Bar in south Courtenay’s in Tin Town and Seeds Natural Food Market in Cumberland.
Tickets for day/evening passes or the entire 2014 festival range from $3 to $35 and are available at the Sid Williams Theatre. A limited amount of low income passes are offered.
For more information, contact the theatre or visit www.sidwilliamstheatre.com or www.worldcommuntiy.ca. The WCFF website provides reviews and links to trailers to help viewers select films they want to s