The
Windsor International Film Festival is staging – literally – for the first time a reunion between Newfoundland families and Americans who they hosted on 9/11. It’s a nod to and celebration of the famed musical production
Come From Away. The Gander families in the film are being flown in “and they will reunite on stage for the first time at WIFF,” fest director
Vincent Georgie says. “That will be the night of nights.” The event, and literally countless others – highly innovative and some for the first time – symbolizes the groundbreaking role WIFF continues to play as a film festival, punching well above its weight for a Canadian midsize or almost any city. Other new events this year will see films from all Canadian provinces and territories in the
Canada Coast to Coast category. This continues WIFF’s commitment to championing Canadian film and there will be 10 on tap including Windsor native Matt Gallagher’s
Shame about Jason Nassr, the local man behind the video vigilante channel Creeper Hunter TV, which will “create a lot of discussion.” A $25,000 cash prize will be awarded for the best and a new trophy, fabricated by the same company that made the statues for the Emmys and Grammys, will be given. As Georgie said at a news conference today, “do it right!” WIFF also continues to show the largest number of francophone films – more than 60 this year. There will be a spotlight on architecture with four films. There will be book-inspired films, music films, LBGTQ+ films, sports – “so different flavours for all sorts of different folks.” Opening night will show
Mile End Kicks from Montreal and closing night will have the new Julia Roberts picture
After the Hunt which will “stir the pot,” Georgie predicts. Midway will see controversial Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s
Turandot. Other highlights include
Sentimental Value “a sensation at Cannes”,
A Private Life starring Jodie Foster performing entirely in French and who is ”incredible,” Kristin Scott Thomas’s autobiographical
My Mother’s Wedding starring Scarlett Johansson and
The History of Sound with Paul Mescal. Also look for acclaimed
Christy starring Sydney Sweeney,
Rental Family with Brendan Fraser and
Ballad of a Small Player with Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton. A rare Iraqi film,
The President’s Cake, will be featured this year. There will be nods to the anniversaries of classic films like
Home Alone, The Shining, Jaws and
The Apartment. Other film festivals may leave the kids out but not WIFF, which is presenting family programming with
Paw Patrol and
The Little Mermaid including character appearances.
- Other familiar categories returning include Women of WIFF showcasing female filmmakers, and the Mark Boscariol 48-Hour FlickFest where local filmmakers create a film in, well, 48 hours, one of the most popular attractions. There will be another section of WIFF local of films vying for a new $3000 prize.
- For the first time the festival will go stateside with free screenings in downtown Detroit of two Canadian films – Oscar winning The Barbarian Invasions and a musical film Play It Loud, How Toronto Got Soul.
- Keeping on the building Canadian filmmaking theme there will be an industry conference October 24 and 25 “to develop our industry" and “build networks, build connections,” Georgie said.
- Globe and Mail critic Barry Hertz will talk about his new “tell all” book on the Fast and Furious franchise.
- Meanwhile to boost downtown there will be new nighttime lights and a public “soundtrack” playing on the sidewalks around the venues.
- And screening continue to increase "to top ourselves,” Georgie says, year after year with 231 movies on tap with 300 screenings – 141 shown at other festivals – and 111 films will be premiered or haven’t been released previously. Fifty countries will be represented, making it a true international event.
- The 11-day event runs Oct 23 - Nov 2.
