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#edmonton international film festival
yegarts · 2 years
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“I Am YEG Arts” Series: Vincent Brulotte
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Photo by Jay Procktor Photography.
Ask someone where their favourite place in the world is, and you’ll likely wait a minute while they narrow it down. Ask Vincent Brulotte, and he’ll instantly reply, “The movie theatre!” In 2020, that favourite place also became Brulotte’s part-time office when he joined the team at the Edmonton International Film Festival. Today, he’s the festival’s artistic director, dedicating much of his year to finding new and exciting voices in filmmaking. Never been to the festival? Consider Brulotte your guide. He’s got tips to get you knowing, going, and on-with-the-showing! Get your popcorn ready. This week’s “I Am YEG Arts” story belongs to Vincent Brulotte.
Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and why you’ve made it your home.
I moved here at a very young age and have spent over 20 years calling Edmonton my home. Growing up on the west end of Edmonton, and then living in Oliver for the past decade, I’ve been lucky enough to explore and experience many facets of life in this great city: our arts community, our river valley, West Edmonton Mall… Edmonton is spoiled for activity and excitement, especially during our unimaginably long summer days, and that vibrance is what has kept me here.
Tell us a little about your role with the Edmonton International Film Festival and what makes it special to you and the city.
Since joining EIFF in 2020, I’ve been lucky enough to be named Artistic Director of our 2022 Festival. Helping to lead on programming, festival planning, and community engagement has aided in connecting me with so many parts of our city—there are so many groups and communities that reside here, more than you’d ever guess! EIFF is not only our opportunity to highlight local and international cinema, it’s our opportunity to build new relationships within our arts community and outside of it, too. There are few things that make us feel closer to each other than enjoying a film together, and it’s that sense of community building that makes EIFF so special.
What is it that you love about programming?
There’s a lot to love! It’s an opportunity to keep up with independent and global cinema, to understand perspectives from all around the globe, and to see the stories of thousands of individuals—each with their own point of view and experience in life. There’s a certain thrill in screening a film, adoring it, and then wanting to share it with your friends and family. How often do you text a friend telling them they *have* to watch the same TV show you are? Imagine that thrill, but amplified to getting the opportunity to share it with hundreds of strangers and eagerly anticipating their reactions. Every year our team gets so giddy when we imagine our audience enjoying a film we’ve programmed; it’s truly all about bringing Edmontonians something unique, or compelling, or even controversial.
Growing up, what was the first film you watched that made you want to be part of telling stories?
Raiders of the Lost Ark! It was the kickoff to a three-Saturday family event in which we watched all three of the Indiana Jones films, and I can still feel my grandmother’s hands over my eyes as
they open the Ark of the Covenant, shielding me from revolting sights of faces melting and heads exploding. Our family movie nights were always special, but it was after those weekends that I became furiously obsessed taking to our family computer and doing hours of research about upcoming films, classic films, and awards-circuit films—I had to know it all. I doubt my reaction would’ve been as strong if not for knowing that movie nights meant time spent together as a family, sharing emotions as the film in front of us so expertly manipulated them. I still look forward to sharing films with my family. It’s something that always brings us closer or teaches us something new about one another.
What does community mean to you, and where do you find it?
Community is so special to me. Some could say it’s people linked by a common goal or interests, but I find community within many different parts of our lives. Community means sharing, whether it’s sharing resources, or experiences, or even emotions—I sometimes forget how connected I am to the people around me, even strangers. Community is everywhere, whether you’re waiting in line at a bus stop or part of an audience at an event like Folk Fest, we’re all sharing something, and it doesn’t always have to be interactive or social to feel connected.
How do you stay creatively sharp?
Nothing beats reading—essays, journalism, and anything non-fiction tends to stimulate me most; there’s so much to learn about the world around us, and creativity can spark so strongly when we pull from reality. Keeping up with classic and contemporary cinema is a must for me. I learn something from almost every film I watch, and I try to carry that knowledge with me as I move through my career and life. Most of all, journaling helps keep my writing sharp(ish) and reminds me of how much I’ve both changed and remained the same.
Who’s someone inspiring you right now?
Climate activists are easily the most inspiring people in the world to me right now. Our future is in such dire straits, and securing a sustainable society for future generations is one of my highest priorities and biggest fears. Anyone who is pushing to create green jobs or to eliminate fossil fuel production is doing some of the most thankless work, especially in this region. I hope that our politicians—on all sides—make the commitments necessary to keep us from irreparably damaging our environment, no matter how difficult they seem. I encourage anyone and everyone to put pressure on their local governments and representatives, no matter where they’re from, and put an end to the selfish consumption that’s led us to this point.
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BALIKBAYAN red carpet with Vincent Brulotte, Kerrie & Jon Jon Rivera (Director). Photo supplied.
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s festival (Sept. 22–Oct. 1)?
I’m most looking forward to this being our first festival at full capacity again! We encourage everyone to take all the precautions they deem necessary, as this pandemic isn’t quite over, but we’re so looking forward to packed houses and roaring crowds as we show them some of the most entertaining and thought-provoking films of the year. Our audience is what keeps us alive, and I can’t overstate how much we think of you as we plan each year’s festival. We hope you’ll enjoy all of our programming and can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
What can someone attending EIFF for the first time expect from the experience? Any tips for being a great film-fester?
Being a great film-fester is easier than you think! It starts with looking through our Program Guide available on our website. Our schedule-at-a-glance is a stylish and convenient way to plan your days—print it out and highlight everything you want to see; it’ll help you visualize your time commitment. You don’t need me to tell you to turn your cell phone off and to keep chatter to a minimum, but just in case… do those two things, please! It not only makes the experience better for you, it makes it better for everyone around you.
If you love a film, make sure you vote in our Audience Choice Awards! So many winners have expressed their immense gratitude for our audience, and it’s such a good way to show a filmmaker how much their story meant to you. Finally, bring a friend! Movies are always better together, and think of how cool you’ll seem when the film you took your friend to wins Best Picture next year. It’s like sharing that win!
Describe your perfect day in Edmonton. How do you spend it?
A perfect day in Edmonton is always a Thursday, everything is open without being too busy. It starts with a cold-brew coffee from my fridge and a Beb’s Bagel from my freezer, because my perfect day involves not spending too much money on breakfast. A walk through Oliver and the River Valley, ending at Walterdale Hill by 11 a.m. would have to be next, followed by reading on the Hill into the afternoon. The perfect day would have to continue at Landmark Cinemas 9 City Centre, catching a 2 p.m. matinee and enjoying a late lunch of popcorn and soda. I’d continue onward for a happy hour at Redstar. We’ve got tons of amazing local restaurants in downtown Edmonton, but my perfect day has to include a dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory—it’s all included! Finally, if it’s Thursday, there’s usually a killer drag show at Evolution Wonderlounge. Pop in there with some friends, cheer on some amazing local drag performers, and before you know it it’s midnight! Feel free to use this as a blueprint for your own perfect day; I don’t hold any intellectual property rights to it.
Click here to learn more about Vincent Brulotte, the Edmonton International Film Festival (Sept. 22–Oct. 1), and this year’s exciting lineup.
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Opening night of "Portraits from a Fire". Photo supplied.
About Vincent Brulotte
Vincent Brulotte is an avid film-lover who joined the Edmonton International Film Festival team as Artistic Director in 2020. His passion is programming, but his talents are endless, and he’s beyond excited to bring fresh ideas to enhance the festival experience for audiences and filmmakers. Interested in finding new and exciting voices in filmmaking, he’s driven by stories both international and local, with a strong interest in voices from the LGBTQ+ community and from BIPOC filmmakers. Most of all, he simply loves movies and believes a good story comes from anywhere and everywhere. Ask him, “What’s your favourite place in the entire world?” and he’ll answer without skipping a beat… “Sitting inside a movie theatre.”
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At only 12, Percy Hynes White carved his name on Canadian acting by winning an award for Best Male Acting at the Atlantic Film Festival and Rising Star Award at Edmonton International Film Festival in 2014, for his leading role in the movie Cast No Shadow (2014). Watch his acceptance speech at AIFF!
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heartlandians · 2 years
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Leduc-raised director set to premiere short film at Edmonton International Film Festival
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Real life son and father Shea Johnston (left) and Shaun Johnston (right) star in Matt Prazak's 'Theft,' set to premiere at the Edmonton International Film Festival Sept. 26. (Supplied)
Seeing his short film on the big screen has been a long time coming for Leduc-raised director Matt Prazak.
After filming in July 2021, Theft will finally find audiences when it debuts at the Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) Sept. 26.
The film stars Shaun Johnston of Heartland fame and his real-life son Shea, and follows a man in his sixties living with Alzheimer’s and his struggle to decipher the world around him. It has recently been nominated for four Rosie’s at the upcoming Alberta Media Production Industries Association Awards, including Best Male Performance and Best Scripted Production Under 30 Minutes.
“I personally love to tell these small, intense stories but still trying to capture it as big as possible. I tell everyone I’m always chasing the big little moment,” Prazak said.
Prazak grew up in Leduc alongside his three siblings and decided to pursue film after enrolling in the media studies and the film & television broadcast program at Leduc Composite High School. From there Prazak made his way to the film and video production program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary — where he has resided ever since.
“I remember going to Leduc Cinemas often as a kid and just being enamoured by what I was watching,” Prazak said. ”Leduc has always been in my heart. I feel like so many of my projects are influenced by my time [there].”
Prazak has specialized in drama, where he finds he can achieve a lot with a little and pull the best performances he can from the character-driven roles. His main director influences include Richard Linklater and Sarah Polley.
Alongside the release of the film, Prazak is working with Anything for Alzheimer’s to fundraise and raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.
“I always felt like this had to be a two-for-one scenario where I wanted to make the short film but I also wanted to do a fundraiser and try to achieve something bigger [to] combine art with activism,” Prazak said.
Last month Prazak won season 15 of CBC’s Short Film Face Off for his film Landline, earning him $30,000 towards his next production — a feature film that he plans to announce soon.
“It’s pivotal to me to tell stories in Alberta and have even the smallest impact on the independent scene here,” Prazak said. “I’d like to make stuff that can be shown to wider audiences in Leduc and then hopefully peak a few younger kids interests and show them that this is something that’s possible.”
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menarddg · 2 years
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ZAFAR | Short Film from Aqsa Altaf on Vimeo.
A Pakistani immigrant juggles demanding ride share customers while talking on the phone to his mother in Pakistan.
“Zafar” is this week's Staff Pick Premiere. Our new interactive player enables viewers to watch the film, play with Director's Commentary, and read a Q&A with directors Aqsa Altaf and John X. Carey. To return to the main menu, click "Menu" in the upper left hand corner of the screen at any time.
A film by Aqsa Altaf & John X. Carey Produced by Amina Nada, Aqsa Altaf & John X. Carey Executive Produced by Jeff Taylor Starring Ismail Bashey Cinematography by Guido Raimondo Edited by Aqsa Altaf & John X. Carey Sound Design by Zak DeVreis
A Hope St Company and Muddy Water film
Official Selection - Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2022 - Seattle International Film Festival 2022 - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2022 - 36th Edmonton International Film Festival 2022 - HollyShorts International Film Festival 2022
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randomrichards · 11 months
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CANUCK FANTASIA: INTRODUCTION TO NORMAN MCLAREN REVIEWS
“If there’s a technical thing invented a person with an artist nature is likely to take that thing and use it.”
-          Norman McLaren[1]
For over 45 years, Norman McLaren and his collaborators has created new ways to animate films for the National Film Board, resulting in a series of visually intriguing experimental animated shorts. He’s used optical printers to multiply a single dancer. He’s drawn on 16mm celluloid. He even created sounds by sketching on the optical soundtrack strip. His experimentations have earned him international acclaim and earned him multiple awards including 10 Canadian Film Awards and a Palme D’or. He even won an Academy Award for his iconic short Neighbours. There was even an app dedicated to him where the user can create their own animated shorts.
A year ago, I used that app to create a 1 minute short film to be screened at Edmonton’s Gotta Minute Film Festival. This gave me the first-hand experience of the long, strenuous work required just to create one minute of stop motion animation. I have more appreciation for the meticulous diligence and extraordinary patience required to be an animator.
Being a Canadian, I recall one of my teachers playing a McLaren short or two during class. But I wasn’t aware of McLaren until I saw a documentary short about him screened at a theatre while I was in college. It intrigued me to see him paint images on a tiny film or create sounds on a celluloid. But it was the McLaren app that inspired me to want to watch and review all of his films from his student films to his final short. And so begins this project.
Once upon a time, I did a similar project focusing on Jacques Tati’s movies. Thanks to the Criterion Collection’s box set, I not only learned how Tati grew as a filmmaker, but I grew to appreciate his subversive film structure, his satirical take on urbanization and creative dry humour.[i] I wanted to try this again with another filmmaker, but it’s a long term commitment that requires research and lots of note taking. Plus, I want to have access to all the filmmaker’s work including the short films so I can examine how they grew as an artist. But the need for a job caused this to fall by the wayside. It took the Gotta Minute Film Festival and learning how to write film critiques that I finally decided to try another project and I’ve chosen to start small with an iconic creator of animated shorts.
To make it more interesting, I will create another short film using the McLaren app while I’m writing these reviews. I already have an idea for a short film and am excited to pull it off. Sure, it will be a long and tedious journey, but I believe it will be well worth it.
And so begins my Norman McLaren project.
[1] A National Film Board of Canada production in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Channel Four Television. (1990). Creative process: Norman McLaren. Ottawa?
 [i] On top of that, I also enjoyed how the dubbed versions add to the satire by only having the materialistic characters speak English while Mr. Hulot (Tati) still spoke French.
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vm4vm0 · 2 years
Video
vimeo
ZAFAR | Short Film from Aqsa Altaf on Vimeo.
A Pakistani immigrant juggles demanding ride share customers while talking on the phone to his mother in Pakistan.
“Zafar” is this week's Staff Pick Premiere. Our new interactive player enables viewers to watch the film, play with Director's Commentary, and read a Q&A with directors Aqsa Altaf and John X. Carey. To return to the main menu, click "Menu" in the upper left hand corner of the screen at any time.
A film by Aqsa Altaf & John X. Carey Produced by Amina Nada, Aqsa Altaf & John X. Carey Executive Produced by Jeff Taylor Starring Ismail Bashey Cinematography by Guido Raimondo Edited by Aqsa Altaf & John X. Carey Sound Design by Zak DeVreis
A Hope St Company and Muddy Water film
Official Selection - Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2022 - Seattle International Film Festival 2022 - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2022 - 36th Edmonton International Film Festival 2022 - HollyShorts International Film Festival 2022
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can she come to the Edmonton International Film Festival LMAO
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laresearchette · 4 years
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Friday, October 09, 2020 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)
WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: GHOSTWRITER (Apple +) THE RIGHT STUFF (Disney +)
WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT PBS KIDS TALK ABOUT: RACE AND RACISM (PBS Feed) BETRAYED BY MY HUSBAND  (TBD - Lifetime Canada) THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW (TBD - BBC Canada) RAVEN'S HOME (TBD - Disney Channel Canada) TO LIVE OR DIE ON EVEREST (TBD - Discovery Canada) LOVE AFTER LOCKUP (TBD) NEW TO AMAZON PRIME/CRAVE/NETFLIX CANADA/CBC GEM:
AMAZON PRIME CAROLINA MARIN (Season 1) CHASING THE CROWN: DREAMERS TO STREAMERS SONS OF THE SOLI: JAIPUR PINK PANTHERS (Season 1) SUBETE A MI MOTO (Season 1) CBC GEM CLARA DETECTORISTS (Season 1) THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW (Season 1 - 3, Season 10!!!) INFLUENCE R.L. STINE’S THE HAUNTING HOUR (Season 2) CRAVE TV THE BREAKFAST CLUB THE CALL OF THE WILD EXTRA ORDINARY FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS GEORDIE SHORE (Seasons 1-5) GET HIM TO THE GREEK GODS OF THE GAME (Season 1) MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION MARTIN MORNING (Season 1) SIXTEEN CANDLES TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS TYLER PERRYS’ DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS TYLER PERRY’S GOOD DEEDS   TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S TOUGH LOVE TYLER PERRY’S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?
NETFLIX CANADA THE 40 YEAR OLD VERSION DEAF U FAST & FURIOUS SPY RACERS: RIO (Season 2) GINNY WEDS SUNNY THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR SUPER MONSTERS: DIA DE LOS MONSTERS
FRENCH OPEN TENNIS: (TSN3/TSN5) 5:00am: Women’s Doubles Semifinals (TSN3/TSN5) 9:00am: Men’s Semifinals (TSN3) 7:30pm: Primetime
NHL HOCKEY (SN) 11:30pm: Signing Season
MLB BASEBALL (SN1) 2:00pm: Atlanta vs. Marlins - Game 4 (SN) 3:30pm: Astros vs. A’s - Game 5 (SN) 7:00pm: Yankees vs. Rays - Game 5 (SN1) 9:00pm: Dodgers vs. Padres - Game 4
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Super Channel Fuse)
2:00pm: Featured shorts include: "A Date With Mr. Mappleton," "The Moon's Not That Great," "Lost Kings," "Too Late" and "I Can Change."
7:00pm: Featured shorts include: "A New Leash On Life," "One Last Last Heist," "All-In Madonna," "A Sketchy Truth," "Hypernova," "Not Your Average Bear" and "The Bear & The Beekeeper."
THEY WHO SURROUND US 8:30pm:  After a Ukrainian farmer loses his wife in a tragic accident, guilt and grief send him into an emotional spiral where mysterious and inexplicable events force him to relive traumatic incidents from his childhood.
CABARETE 10:00pm: Somalia, a teenage kitesurfer, convinces his idol to train him for an upcoming tournament in Cabarete; once in Cabarete, Somalia must choose between a life of pleasure and pursuing his dreams; inspired by true events.
marketplace (CBC) 8:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Tracking Amazon Returns: Here's Where They Really Go: Products bought from Amazon are then returned with tracking devices hidden inside in an investigation of the true cost of easy and free online returns; posing as buyers in the lucrative liquidation marketplace to bid on a truckload of products.
NATURE OF LOVE (City) 8:00pm: City girl Katie, who is supposed write a magazine feature on a glamping resort, faces her fears by trying the camp's activities with a rugged outdoorsman and nature guide.
LET'S BRUNCH (CTV Life) 8:00pm:  Vanessa creates a brunch menu inspired by the Middle East.
SHIPWRECK SECRETS (Cottage Life) 8:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE):  The disappearance of the SS Cotopaxi helped launch the legend of the Bermuda Triangle; today, a team of experts follow fresh leads with cutting-edge tech to investigate if a mysterious wreck off the coast of Florida is indeed the long-lost ship.
YOU CAN'T ASK THAT (CBC) 8:30pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Growing Up with a Disability
AMPLIFY (APTN) 8:30pm: Oji-Cree songwriter Nick Sherman sets out to write a song about the challenges of living in a town with a reputation steeped in anti-Indigenous racism and corruption; mixing performance art and politics, Thunder Bay is seen as never before.
COOK LIKE A CHEF (CTV Life) 8:30pm: Working with beef tenderloin.
NBA BASKETBALL (TSN/TSN4/TSN5) 9:00pm: Heat vs. Lakers - Game 5
LANDSCAPE ARTIST OF THE YEAR CANADA (CBC) 9:00pm (SEASON 1 PREMIERE): Six of the country's top artists travel to Somerled Farm to create their own rendition of this quintessential Canadian view; contestants are given fours hours to create a landscape masterpiece. ENGINEERING CATASTROPHES (Cottage Life) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE):  A New York City skyscraper that could topple at any moment; a city street that suddenly collapses; a modern-day crisis at Pisa's Leaning Tower; experts use cutting-edge technology to reveal if they can be fixed.
CHARM CITY KINGS (Crave) 9:00pm:  A young boy joins a dirt bike gang in Baltimore. EXTRA ORDINARY (Crave) 11:05pm:  A woman who has supernatural abilities must save a possessed girl.
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animated short film starring jeremy renner (and many more) back home again premieres at the edmonton international film festival on october 2nd and 3rd  
catch it THIS WEEKEND at the metro or landmark cinemas
the film supports canadian mental health charities and features an original song from jeremy
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heyhaughtstuff · 7 years
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MELANIE SCROFANO IS COMING TO EDMONTON EXPO FUCK ME THE FUCK UP GUYS
IMMA SEE HER TWICE IN A MONTH
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songsfordustmites · 2 years
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steve burns at the edmonton international film festival in 2007 for the film netherbeast incorporated
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yegarts · 1 year
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Edmonton Arts Council celebrates the achievements of 20 local professional artists
The Edmonton Arts Council, City of Edmonton, and Edmonton Community Foundation are pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund awards.
Twenty (20) artists have been awarded a 2022 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund award. Each award is $15,000, for a total of $300,000. 
"We are so pleased to support and celebrate these 20 inspiring artists,” said Sanjay Shahani, Executive Director of the Edmonton Arts Council. “Our diverse arts community is one of the forces that brings our city together and makes the Edmonton region a vibrant and exciting place to live. The 2022 recipients demonstrate commitment and excellence in their respective disciplines, helping to foster an exciting ecology of creation and expression in Edmonton." 
“Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the EATF,” said Tina Thomas, CEO of Edmonton Community Foundation. “We are thankful for the creative contributions this cohort of recipients have made to our city, and we look forward to the new works that they will produce with support from this important initiative."
The Edmonton Artists' Trust Fund (EATF) recognizes an artist’s work and contribution to the community. The $15,000 awards provide financial stability for artists to renew, develop, create or experiment. These awards are supported by the proceeds from the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund, held by the Edmonton Community Foundation.
Recipients of the 2022 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund:
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Clockwise from top left: AJA Louden, photo by Leah Louden; Ann Vriend, photo by Johwanna Alleyne; Connor Yuzwenko-Martin, photo by Alexa Hickox; Dylan Toymaker, photo supplied by the artist.
Adrian (AJA) Louden (he/him) is a Jamaican-Canadian artist committed to challenging the negative perceptions of street-based art and making art accessible and relatable. His Aerosol Academy series uses the lens of graffiti and street art to get youth excited about art making and art history, and he is an active mentor working to remove barriers and support emerging artists.     
Ann Vriend (she/her) is a two-time Maple Blues Award songwriting recipient, a Maple Blues Keyboardist of the Year nominee, an Edmonton Music Award and Alberta Centennial Award recipient, and has sold nearly 30,000 albums off-the-stage in her under-the-radar yet critically acclaimed international career. She is a passionate advocate for empowerment and respect for the members of her inner-city neighborhood of McCauley, Edmonton.     
Connor Yuzwenko-Martin (he/him) is a Deaf creator, public relations specialist, actor, producer, and playwright. He is currently writing and producing his first original script, After Faust, in partnership with RISER Edmonton. He is also launching The Invisible Practice, a hybrid Deaf arts collective and public relations agency.  
Dylan Toymaker (he/him) is a light design and installation artist. His focus is on creative placemaking through the sculpture of light and shadow. As a designer, creator and curator, his practice involves environmental and architectural public art events. Dylan has created and curated art for the Flying Canoe Volant festival and many other Alberta festivals.
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Clockwise from top left: Gail Sidonie Šobat, photo by Geoff McMaster; Katrina Beatty, photo by Ian Jackson; Kevin Cardinal, photo provided by the artist; Lianna Makuch, photo by LV Imagery.
Gail Sidonie Šobat (she/her) is an author, creator-director of YouthWrite®, SpokenWord Youth/Adult Choirs, and is an instructor in MacEwan’s Communications program. Her work has won a number of awards, is published in academic and literary journals, anthologies, broadcast on radio, and performed on stage.     
Katrina Beatty (she/her) is a filmmaker whose work includes short and feature films, web series, music videos and multi-media projections. She was awarded “Outstanding Music Video” at FAVA Fest in 2018 for her concept and direction of Juno Award winning band Whitehorse’s video “Pink Kimono”. More recently, Katrina produced the Telefilm funded feature film Before I Change My Mind, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in August 2022.   
Kevin Cardinal (he/him) is a Cree acrylic painter/muralist who uses art to represent teachings, principles, knowledge, and understandings gained from attending ceremonies throughout the years. Kevin’s work reflects his search for inner peace, healing, and balance. His painting style is inspired by the bold black lines, and vibrant colors of the woodland style of art. 
Lianna Makuch (she/her) is a Ukrainian Canadian playwright, performer, director, and co-Artistic Producer of Pyretic Productions. Her work has garnered awards and recognition nationally and in Ukraine, including the Shevchenko Foundation’s 2020 REACH Award. By exploring themes connected to her Ukrainian identity, she endeavours to create empathetic performance experiences with universal impact.   
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Clockwise from top left: Lindsey Walker, photo by Briane Jang; Louise Casemore, photo by Jody Christopherson; Madeline LeBlanc, photo provided by the artist; Mat Cardinal, photo provided by the artist.
Lindsey Walker (she/her) is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and theatre performer. Lindsey wrote the score and lyrics for ren & the wake, an original semi-immersive musical created with Catch the Keys Productions. She also composed the score for the podcast “Natural Life” and composed the sound design for the theatre productions Re:Construct (Donkey Dog Theatre) and Shock Me Electra (Theatre Network Young Company).    
Louise Casemore (she/her) is an advocate, performer, and two-time Sterling Award winning playwright. Original works include OCD, GEMINI, and Undressed, which recently premiered with Alberta Theatre Projects. She remains active in the national community by way of dramaturgy, research, and as an Artist Consultant focused on HR mechanisms for arts organizations.   
Madeline LeBlanc (she/her) is a visual artist who strives to create inclusive spaces for audience participation, highlighting issues of accessibility in the industry. Her artwork may appear lighthearted and fun, but beneath the surface lies important commentary on the dynamics of classism in the art world and the pressure put on artists and markets by art collectors.   
Mat Cardinal (he/him) is from Wabasca, Alberta and a proud member of the Bigstone Cree Nation. Mat is the lead singer of The Prairie States, a nine-time Country Music Alberta Award recipient and nominee for Songwriters of the Year 2022 at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Mat takes his role as a mentor for Indigenous youth seriously as his hard work/passion for performing/songwriting make waves in the music industry.  
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Clockwise from top left: Michelle Campos Castillo, photo by Fern Facette; Mouraine, photo provided by the artist; Nauzanin Knight, photo by Motif Photography; Reckie Lloyd, photo provided by the artist.
Michelle Campos Castillo (she/her) is a graphic designer and artist born in El Salvador. She has received several public art commissions from the City of Edmonton, including Platanos at the Belvedere Transit Centre, and is finalizing artwork for the Valley Line West LRT. She is currently working on a graphic memoir titled Colonia, based on her life in El Salvador during the country’s civil war.   
Mouraine (he/him), who immigrated from Sudan at an early age, makes soulful hip-hop with a reverence for place and community, and a strong political sensibility. His debut EP Bigger Dreams was released in 2021. 
Nauzanin Knight (she/her) is the CEO/Director of 1844 Studios. She got her start as a published writer, going on to write, direct and produce numerous films. Nauzanin is an alumnus of Women in the Director’s Chair, Sundance Collab (2020), BANFF Spark (2020) and ReelWorld (2021). An ardent contributor to her community, Nauzanin has led projects including, “Building Inclusive Networks in the Film & Television Industry” (Telefilm, CMF, 2021).   
Reckie Lloyd (he/him) is a visual artist and the founder of Sangea Academy, a West African drumming and dance entity that shares the power of percussion with Canadians. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, Reckie found himself rediscovering his love for fine arts, refining his painting techniques and creating from a mature perspective.
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Clockwise from top left: Robbie Townsend, photo provided by the artist; Tai Amy Grauman, photo by Emilie Igiotti; Vikki Wiercinski, photo by Cooper O'Hara; Tia Ashley Kushniruk, photo by Kendra Epik.
Robbie Townsend (AKA Father Bobby) (he/him) is a Juno nominated music producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has built a reputation as an artist-focused producer, placing value on the song above all else, with the goal to create a specific colour palette for each project he takes on, helping artists discover, shape and redefine their sounds.  
Tai Amy Grauman (she/her) is an actor, playwright, director and producer of Métis, Cree and Haudenosaunee heritage. She is currently defending her thesis for her MFA in theatre practice at the U of A with a focus on her artistic research of 'Metis women's love stories' and is adapting 'Romeo and Juliet: A Metis love story' as well as adapting her play 'You used to call me Marie...' into a limited film series.   
Tia Ashley Kushniruk (亚 女弟) (she/her), a queer woman of Chinese-Ukrainian settler heritage, has been affiliated with the Cirque Du Soleil since 2013 and is a frequent collaborator of Jake W. Hastey (Toy Guns Dance Theatre). Tia is the inaugural recipient of the CONFLUENCE Fellowship from Catalyst Theatre and is a current company member of Shay Kuebler/RSA. In addition to theatre and dance, Tia is also an illustrator and animator.  
Vikki Wiercinski (she/her) is an artist, ceramicist and designer focused on weaving together ceramic sculpture and drawing. She also works as the lead organizer of the Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair and creates textile and surface designs for her Mezzaluna Studio project.
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It’s today! [EDIT: UPDATED LIST]
France 18 September 2019
Greece 25 September 2019 (Athens International Film Festival)
Switzerland 27 September 2019 (Zurich Film Festival)
Finland 27 September 2019 (Helsinki International Film Festival)
USA 27 September 2019 (Aspen FilmFest)
Canada 29 September 2019 (Calgary International Film Festival)
USA 29 September 2019 (New York Film Festival)
Switzerland 29 September 2019 (Zurich Film Festival)
USA 1 October 2019 (Atlanta Out On Film Festival)
Belgium 2 October 2019
Germany 3 & 5 October 2019 (Hamburg Film Festival)
Korea 3-12 October 2019 (Busan International Film Festival)
Canada 4 October (Edmonton International Film Festival)
USA 4 October 2019 (Mill Valley Film Festival)
Switzerland 5 October 2019 (Zurich Film Festival)
Australia 5 October (Brisbane International Film Festival)
USA 5-6 October 2019 (Woodstock Film Festival)
Canada 5 October 2019 (Vancouver International Film Festival)
Australia 6 October 2019 (Melbourne Queer Film Festival)
UK 8 October 2019 (London Film Festival)
USA 10 October (Bend Film Festival)
USA 12 October 2019 (Miami Film Festival)
USA 13-14 October 2019 (Hamptons International Film Festival)
Netherlands 17 October 2019        
USA 17 October 2019 (San Diego International Film Festival)
USA 17 October 2019 (Chicago International Film Festival)
USA 18 October 2019 (New Orleans Film Festival)
USA 18 October 2019 (Alexander Valley Film Festival)
Spain 18 October 2019        
Poland 18 October 2019
Mexico 18-27 October (Morelia International Film Festival)
USA 19 October 2019 (The Rochester LGBT Film Festival)
USA 20 October 2019 (Seattle Queer Film Festival)
UK 20 October 2019 (Cambridge Film Festival)        
Russia 24 October 2019
USA 25 October 2019 (Virginia Film Festival)
USA 26 Oct-2 November 2019 (SCAD Savannah Film Festival)
Australia 27 October 2019 (Byron Bay International Film Festival)
Canada 27 October 2019 (Hamilton AGH Film Festival)        
Germany 31 October 2019        
Portugal 31 October 2019 
Canada 7 November 2019 (Cinemania Film Festival)
UK 7 November 2019 (Northampton  Q-Film Weekender)
Korea 7-13 November 2019 (Seoul International Pride Film Festival)
Taiwan 7-24 November 2019 (Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival)
UK 9 November 2019 (London French Film Festival)
Sweden 9 November 2019 (Stockholm International Film Festival)
Australia 12 November 2019 (Adelaide Feast Festival)
USA 6 December 2019
Sweden 13 December 2019      
Italy 19 December 2019
Canada 20 December 2019 (Québec)    
Norway 25 December 2019    
Australia 26 December 2019    
UK 28 February 2020      
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ashishdewantoronto · 4 years
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20 Tourist Destinations in Canada by Ashish Dewan
1. Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is so beautiful that it’s become a hit with filmmakers: so much so that the city has the nickname Hollywood North. Among the most popular attractions here are Stanley Park, Granville Island and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
2. Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is North America’s largest ski resort and was the host mountain resort for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver. Summer activities here include hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and golf.
3. Quebec City, Quebec
Founded in 1608 but first settled in 1535, Quebec City is one of North America’s oldest European settlements. Attractions here include the historic Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Château Frontenac and, in winter, the Ice Hotel.
4. Montreal, Quebec
If you can see only one Canadian city in 2017, Montreal should be at the top of your list. Home to attractions such as the Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Montreal, Canada’s second most populous city celebrates its 375th anniversary this year.
5. Toronto, Ontario
The joke may be that Toronto is New York City run by the Swiss, but the city on the shores of Lake Ontario is a vibrant, multicultural city with fascinating museums, stunning architecture, beaches and a great restaurant scene. The best-known attraction is the CN Tower, which you can now dangle off of.
6. Canmore, Alberta
Canmore is one of the gateways to Banff National Park but is also a destination in its own right. The town in the Canadian Rockies is an outdoor lover’s paradise and also hosts a variety of festivals and the Canmore Highland Games during the year.
7. Kelowna, British Columbia
Located on Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is in the heart of the Okanagan wine country. Outdoor pursuits such as boating, hiking and golf are popular in summer while the nearby ski resorts attract visitors in winter.
8. Niagara Falls, Ontario
A popular honeymoon destination, Niagara Falls is home to attractions such as a butterfly conservatory that is one of the largest in North America. The main attraction though is the set of three waterfalls the city is named after.
9. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Island is home to a unique style of fiddling, a rich Scottish Gaelic heritage and the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. The island is also very scenic, with attractions like the Cabot Trail and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
10. Stratford, Ontario
Like its namesake in England, Stratford is located on the banks of a river named Avon. The city is famous for its Shakespeare festival, its music festivals and for being the hometown of Justin Bieber.
11. Calgary, Alberta
The oil industry has made Calgary a prosperous and multicultural city. However, its location on the edge of the prairies means it’s still cowboy country, and the Calgary Stampede is the city’s most famous – and raucous – event.
12. Ottawa
Canada’s capital is also its most educated city and home to most of the country’s national museums. The main attraction here is Parliament Hill, and in winter, a must-do is to go skating on the Rideau Canal.
13. Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton has a vast park system with hiking and biking trails and is one of the cities where you may be able to spot the Northern Lights on a clear winter’s night. Other attractions include the TELUS World of Science, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and North America’s largest shopping mall.
14. Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg hosts some great festivals during the year and is also a popular destination for sports lovers. The city’s architecture and museums are among its greatest attractions, with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights the ultimate showcase for both these aspects.
15. Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is really a suburb of Toronto, and its long shoreline makes it perfect for waterfront dining and shopping. With plenty of amusement parks and festivals, Mississauga is especially popular for family vacations.
16. Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria’s location on Vancouver Island, its many stunning beaches and its Mediterranean climate make it one of Canada’s best boating destinations. Historic architecture, the Royal BC Museum and Butchart Gardens are some of the city’s other attractions.
17. London, Ontario
London is located on the banks of the Thames River – the one in Ontario. Festivals like the Sunfest world music festival and the London Rib-Fest as well as attractions like Springbank Park and the Fanshawe Pioneer Village draw many visitors in summer.
18. Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton has been used as a filming location for movies as diverse as Hairspray and the Resident Evil franchise. The city’s attractions are diverse too and include Dundurn Castle, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, the Bruce Trail, African Lion Safari and more than 100 waterfalls.
19. Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is located just south of Vancouver, at the mouth of the Fraser River. With more than half of Richmond’s population of Asian descent, this is a fantastic destination for lovers of Asian cuisine. The city is also home to great shopping and the impressive International Buddhist Temple.
20. Halifax, Nova Scotia
As a busy port city, many of Halifax’s attractions are related to the sea. They include North America’s oldest lighthouse as well as the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Citadel Hill with Fort George is one of the city’s most well-known historic sites.
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acehotel · 6 years
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ACE AIR: BRANDON BROWN
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Program: Ace AIR Location: Ace Hotel New York Date of Stay: 11.04.18 Artist: Brandon Brown  
With the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows of his room at Ace Hotel New York, filmmaker Brandon Brown shot a series of digital photos entitled Frames within frames. Brown offers the following reflections on his work that day:
The photos that I shot were inspired by Hôtel Monterey, a silent film directed by Chantal Akerman in 1973. I wanted to experiment with how objects in my room at Ace were framed, and how objects outside of the room (adjacent buildings and the sky) were framed. Overall, I played with the idea that a hotel room is a place within a place (a city) and often away from a place (that you’ve originally come from).
Brandon Brown is originally from Upstate New York. He studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and graduated with a BFA in film. He directs long and short-form films, which have screened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and NorthwestFest (Edmonton). Writer/director Keith Hodder describes Brandon's work as "that of a true cinephile."
This November, our Artists in Residence are curated by Nordic International Film Festival (NIFF). Founded by the Swedish actors and film producers Linnea Larsdotter and Johan Matton, NIFF has quickly grown to become a cultural element in the competitive film festival landscape. NIFF is at the forefront of the battle for an inclusive film market, proudly following the lead of the Nordic countries that top the world’s equality tests. The festival programmers take the Bechdel test and the Vito Russo test into consideration in making the official selection.
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randomrichards · 6 years
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Capernaum
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