THUNDER BAY -- From significant Oscar winners to critically acclaimed films that may have slipped through the popcorn-covered theatre-house cracks, there’s a little something for everyone at this year’s Northwest Film Fest.
Led by Oscar-winning best picture Spotlight, the story of the Boston Globe’s investigation into the Catholic Church covering up sexual abuse by 100s of priests, the lineup is stellar said organizer Marty Mascarin, president of the North of Superior Film Association.
“We also have Son of Saul, which won for best foreign-language film, Amy which won for best documentary and Ex Machina, a sci-fi film which won for best visual effects,” Mascarin said of the Oscar-decorated films being screened at the 23rd annual edition of the festival, scheduled for April 3 and April 10 at SilverCity Cinemas.
Other films of interest include Atom Egoyan’s Remember, the story of a Holocaust survivor (Christopher Plummer), who starts a journey to seek out and kill the former Nazi who killed his family during the Second World War.
Then there’s Carol, the story of two women who start an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York, and Michael Moore’s Where to Invade Next, which highlights the controversial director’s global search for quality-of-life ideas to take back to the United States.
Mascarin said there are always challenges trying to book a festival, but thinks they managed to find an eclectic, yet interesting lineup of films.
“It’s not a matter of picking up the phone and then rhyming off a bunch of titles that you want because the distributors have their own plans,” Mascarin said. “In the wake of the Oscars, depending how well a film does, some will make a return visit to the theatres or go wide if they haven’t done that already.”
An example is Room, a film NOSFA considered for the festival, but instead were shut out when filmmakers decided to bring it back to Thunder Bay for a second run after Brie Larson won the best actress Oscar for her role in the film.
“We don’t automatically get a green light on everything we ask for. So it’s like going back to Plan B and trying to figure out what kind of alternative movies our audiences would be interested in seeing.”
For the first time in the festival’s lengthy history, tickets are being sold online via PayPal at www.nosfa.ca and can be picked up on March 31 and April 7 at the special Thursday night screenings during the festival, as well as April 3 and 10.
“This is just a service to drag us into the 21st century,” said festival co-ordinator Catherine Powell.
Individual tickets, also available at the door for cash only, are $7 for NOSFA members and $10 for non-members. Ticket six-packs, available to members only, are $36.
Powell reminded patrons movie admittance is once again on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thursday, March 31
- Remember 6:30 p.m.
- I’ll See You in My Dreams 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 3
- Les Etre Chers 9:50 a.m.
- Son of Saul 10 a.m.
- Rams 12:10 p.m.
- 45 Years 12:20 p.m.
- Carol 2:20 p.m.
- Al Purdy Was Here 2:40 p.m.
- Born to be Blue 4:45 p.m.
- Mustang 5 p.m.
- Spotlight 7 p.m.
- Youth 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 7
- 99 Homes 6:30 p.m.
- A Royal Night Out 8:45 p.m.
Sunday, April 10
- One Floor Below 10 a.m.
- No Men Beyond This Point 10:15 a.m.
- Ville Marie 12 p.m.
- Theeb 12:05 p.m.
- Ex Machina 2:15 p.m.
- Where to Invade Next 2:20 p.m.
- Tangerine 4:50 p.m.
- Slow West 5 p.m.
- Amy 7 p.m.
-
The End of the Tour 7:15 p.m.
