Films from the Toronto International Film Festival catalog will return to Nanaimo, starting this fall.
TheatreOne’s Fringe Flicks’ eight month, 10-film series, which spotlights a different film every few weeks, will play at Woodgrove Centre’s Avalon Cinema starting in mid-October.
TheatreOne general manager Jonathan Greenway said the intention is to show topical films that are of public interest while still offering a variety of genres.
“The fun thing is that sometimes you get all kinds of films, some of those quite obscure, quite independent, from different corners of the world – we try to get a really eclectic mix,” he said. “The arts and culture scene of Nanaimo, I think, is really hungry for diverse pieces of art that showcases a focus on Canadian filmmaking – that we tend to focus on with our selection – but also for world pieces that open up Nanaimo to a mosaic of cultures, and seeing what different forms of artistic representation and filmmaking can be brought in.”
The series opens with Phantom of the Open, featuring Mark Rylance, about a crane operator gaining entry to the British Open golf championship qualifying in 1976, despite never before playing a round of golf, and will show from Oct. 16-19.
Fire of Love tells the tale of two French volcanologists who chase eruptions and document their discoveries, and will play from Nov. 13-16.
Happening, as adapted from Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical novel, recounts a woman’s battle to access illegal abortion, and will play from Dec. 11-14.
Films slated to be screened next year include Scarborough, about three kids from “a low-income neighbourhood that find friendship and community in an unlikely place;” Run Woman Run, which follows a single mom who reclaims her dreams and family thanks to an unlikely coach; Official Competition, featuring Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz, which tells the tale of “a wealthy businessman who hires a famous filmmaker to help make a hit film;” Hallelujah, a Leonard Cohen journey exploring the singer-songwriter as seen through his renowned song Hallelujah; and Peace by Chocolate, about a Syrian refugee as he settles into a small Canadian town.
For the last two yet-to-be-announced films, Greenway said TheatreOne will select from TIFF’s most recent films.
Showings are on Sundays at 1 and 4 p.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13 or $113 for a season subscription.
More information on Fringe Flicks can be found at www.theatreone.ca.
READ MORE: New film festival shines light on Vancouver Island Indigenous stories
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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