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Screen dreams: New film festival coming to Sarnia with strong lineup

Tara Jeffrey Sarnia’s first-ever international film festival is shaping up to be a hot ticket next month -- with an impressive docket of prominent feature films, guest speakers, and even a few interesting local connections.
Ellen Page & Evan Rachel Wood star in INTO THE FOREST
Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood star in “Into the Forest,” which will headline the new South Western International Film Festival coming to Sarnia. Photo courtesy, Elevation Pictures

Tara Jeffrey

Sarnia’s first-ever international film festival is shaping up to be a hot ticket next month -- with an impressive docket of prominent feature films, guest speakers, and even a few interesting local connections.

“It’s extremely ambitious,” organizer Ravi Srinivasan said of the inaugural South Western International Film Festival (SWIFF), running Nov. 5-8 in downtown Sarnia.

The St. Patrick’s High School grad, who works for the Toronto International Film Festival, is launching it with a bang: Into The Forest, a Canadian drama starring Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, and directed by Sarnia native Patricia Rozema.

The film celebrated its world premiere at TIFF last month.

“I just knew I had to get this film to Sarnia,” said Srinivasan, who caught up with Rozema in Toronto and convinced her to not only have the film shown at SWIFF, but also to host a Q&A session following the Imperial Theatre screening on Thursday, Nov. 5.

“She is one of the most well respected filmmakers in the country. To have this as the opening night film, it’s huge,” he said. “It’s definitely the centerpiece of the whole festival.”

Rozema’s debut feature film, 1987’s I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing will be shown in the festival’s Friday afternoon slot.

Meanwhile, the Canadian documentary Hurt -- which received major acclaim at TIFF last month -- will premiere on the Friday night.

The film was produced by Peter Gentile -- the man behind MTV Canada’s Grand Benders, the Lambton County-based reality series.

“It’s the most powerful, most intense, most emotional film -- just a really fascinating Canadian story,” said Srinivasan.

In it, documentary filmmaker Alan Zweig catches up with fallen hero Steve Fonyo, who launched a cross-Canada marathon in the 1980s, raised millions for cancer research and received the Order of Canada, only to have it stripped after his life spiraled out of control with addiction, crime and homelessness.

The film won TIFF’s inaugural Platform Prize for global cinema.

SWIFF features eight films in total, including Taxi, the Iranian feature by one of that country’s most influential filmmakers -- Jafer Panahi -- who also happens to be banned from making movies there.

In Her Place, a chilling drama from Canadian director Albert Shin -- who is also making a special guest appearance following the screening -- will premiere on the Saturday night.

The film, which centers on Korean adoption culture, depicts a wealthy couple seeking to secretly adopt the unborn child of an impoverished and troubled rural teenager.

“Part of our mandate is to bring culturally diverse films to Sarnia -- and this film was perfect,” said Srinivasan. “I think it will really resonate with people.”

Rounding out the festival are: Chevalier (a Greek drama by Athina Rachel Tsangari); James White (an American drama by Josh Mond); 99 Homes (an American thriller by Ramin Bahrani); and a special showing of Steven Speilberg’s E.T.

Weekend passes (eight films, two parties) are available for $45 and filmmaking workshops will run at the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery. More information is available at www.swiff.ca.

SWIFF Schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. - Into The Forest (Q&A with special guest, Patricia Rozema)

Friday, Nov. 6., 1 p.m. - I’ve heard the mermaids singing

Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m. - Hurt

Friday, Nov. 6, 9 p.m. - Taxi

Saturday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m. - E.T.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. - In Her Place (Q&A with special guest Albert Shin)

Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 p.m. - James White

Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. - Chevalier

Sunday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. - 99 Homes


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