For local film buffs, it's like the nine days of Christmas. The Edmonton International Film Festival returns tomorrow for its 28th season of sights, frights and pure cinematic delights.
While it will see a fair number of international offerings, it also shows us just how Edmonton and Alberta look on the big screen, something that actually occurs more often than many people realize.
"People like to see their own part of the world on-screen," explained festival director Kerrie Long. "Growing up in small town Alberta, I will never forget the first time I saw 'my home' on the big screen – the place I come from, where my roots are. That was when I decided that at some point in my life, I would tell stories. Alberta stories."
That film was Anne Wheeler's Bye Bye Blues. Then she saw Francis Damberger's Road to Saddle River and was once again reminded of the impact of Alberta's beauty and majesty, among other things. The province is overflowing with all kinds of talent, she said.
"I'm still working on that decision I made back in 1989 – to tell stories. For right now though, I'm perfectly happy to be a part of curating and sharing other people's stories. Alberta has been a character in many films over the years – sometimes as a leading lady, other times as a background actor – and our crews have been making sure she's ready for her close-up for decades. I couldn't be prouder to kick off this year's EIFF with 'one of our own'."
The fest launches with its opening night gala spotlight on Cut Bank, filmed last year in Edmonton and Innisfree. The Matt Shakman movie stars such heavyweights as Teresa Palmer, Liam Hemsworth, John Malkovich, Bruce Dern, Oliver Platt and Billy Bob Thornton, plus a wealth of Edmonton-area talents (on screen and behind the scenes) including Eric Spoeth, Justin Brunelle and Sam Reid.
The fest is sure to have something for everyone with a "thoughtful mix" of dramas, shorts and documentaries.
Some of the notable screenings include the family-oriented tale Midnight Sun, the story of a boy and a polar bear that was filmed in Churchill, Man. Edmonton's Peter Wunstorf was the film's cinematographer and he will attend the screening to conduct a Q&A.
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, the documentary on the fallen country music icon, made Long bawl, she confessed, offering nothing but praise for a long list of other features scheduled on the slate.
"Jalanan – inspiring. Mommy – Xavier Dolan blows my mind. Charlie's Country – powerful. Gone Doggy Gone – laugh-out-loud. Just Eat It – I promise never to waste food again. The list goes on ..."
The Match
Frederick Kroetsch and St. Albert's Kurt Spenrath have been hopping in order to bring The Match to the fest through their production company, Open Sky Pictures.
"I've never been this busy, to be honest," Kroetsch explained. The company has barely had time to breathe, what with this project and a rush TV documentary mini-series called Invincible, coming to OptikTV this fall.
The Match explores the lives of independent wrestlers in Alberta. The project won the 2014 Bravo Factual Award
"We were the only guys in Western Canada to get a Bravo Factual Award in its first round. That was kind of an honour," he said.
Getting the film into this festival was, to their minds, "the absolute dream place to have our world premiere."
Even submitting it a month late didn't hinder their chances.
"They said, 'You know what? Don't worry about it. We'll let it fly. We love it! We'll take it!' I was still editing it when I submitted it. My dream has always been to have something at the Edmonton International Film Festival. It's a huge honour to me."
He added that the wrestlers are "stoked" and will be attending the screening … in costume, of course. It premieres on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Landmark City Centre Cinemas.
Closing Night Gala – Gone Doggy Gone
Triple threat actors/writers/filmmakers Kasi Brown and Brandon Walter created this hilarious send-up of L.A. dog culture after Brown's own dog, Laila, became the subject of her dogwalker's relationship issues.
"I had a dogsitter and her name was Jill. She started taking Laila to lunch dates and to movies and then to her waxing appointments. She'd send me little videos of herself with Laila. She started calling Laila her BFF. Then she started bringing her home later and later from their playdates. Brandon said, 'What if she just never brings your dog back?'"
Being Los Angelenos, they've seen the dog culture get bigger and more off the leash, so to speak. It was not much of a stretch for them to create a movie based on someone who made a dog their confidante and BFF, Brown continued.
"We've seen L.A. dog culture get bigger and bigger. There's a boutique on every corner with baby strollers for dogs … everyone calling themselves 'mommy' in reference to their 'furbabies'. We thought that a mixture of what's happening in popular culture and what was happening to me personally might be hilarious."
Gone Doggy Gone is about a couple with a blasé marriage. They treat their dog like royalty but when their dog walker kidnaps the animal, everything turns upside down. They hire an investigator in their crazy chase to get the pooch back.
Perhaps the filmmakers themselves have a bit of a wacky relationship too. Walter described the film as "a weird, dark comedy." Brown said that it's a "genre bender." "It's a lot of things," Walter rebutted.
Interestingly, Laila portrays the dog in the movie.
Walter joked about the prospect of dog culture getting to the point where they might one day have their own pets.
"That's the sequel."
It has toured around to a bunch of festivals already, including San Diego just last weekend. Brown said that she is proud of the work and it has always been met with the kind of acclaim that is appropriate for a broad, intelligent comedy.
"I'm the happiest when I'm at a festival and I'm sitting in a room full of strangers and they're laughing and laughing and laughing."
In true satirical fashion they even joked about their trip to the Prairies in the middle of what would undoubtedly be a frost-laden fall.
"Canada is south of America, right?" Walter cracked, tongue-in-cheek.
"Yes, it's really hot there," Brown answered him. "Oh good," he responded. "I'll bring my trunks."
Roll credits
Regular films (including SUBWAY® Lunchbox Shorts) are $13/everyone. Gala and Special Presentations are $25 and include the feature film plus post-reception with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.
An all-access, Reel Deal Festival Pass costs $129. The 6-Pack Pass is only $65.
The Edmonton International Film Festival runs tomorrow to Saturday, Oct. 4. People can learn more about the schedule, ticket pricing, programming and venues through the fest's website at www.edmontonfilmfest.com.
