Staff
Student film makers Brendan Rogers of Kincardine, and Markdale’s Drew Juby will be joining Georgian Bluffs resident Katherine Forsyth along with Dalton Follis of Owen Sound as they share the Meaford International Film Festival screen with productions from Palestine, Russia, England and the U.S. beginning Thursday September 3rd.
“We have been opening each night with a student film for four years now and it’s been a terrific crowd pleaser.” said MIFF Artistic Director, Christopher Thomas. He added, “this year they cover a wide range of styles and themes, from a caper about “heisting” filled with original music, to a unique space voyage, poetry, and one man who stands up to tyranny.”
The films are largely drawn from the Grey Bruce Youth Film Festival, run by the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library in conjunction with other local libraries including the Municipality of Meaford. “We are very grateful to Youth Services Librarian Nadia Danyluk, (the dynamic force behind the GBYFF) for helping us tap into this amazing reservoir of talent” says Rod MacAlpine, Chair of the Meaford Hall and Culture Foundation. “The audience really enjoys hearing from the youth as they come on stage to talk about their work.”
One of the interesting by-products of the student participation at MIFF is that many friends and family members who show up to watch their youngsters’ film discover MIFF and Meaford Hall for the first time. They walk away overwhelmed by both the event and the venue. “We try to give people new perspectives on the world with our films” says Thomas, “but it’s rewarding to know that people in other parts of the county gain a new positive perspective on Meaford and Meaford Hall as a result of MIFF as well.”
The Meaford International Film Festival runs from Thursday September 3rd to Sunday September 6th. The features include Selma, Red Army, A Brilliant Young Mind, and a very special preview of the documentary Speed Sisters. You can get information about times, tickets parties, prizes and the very popular MIFF meals by going to the website meafordfilmffest.ca or calling the box-office at 1-877-538-0463
