Fifth Multicultural Film Festival Report and Results

The Multicultural Cinema Club is happy to publish the results of this event which took place at Kitchener City Hall from Oct 15 to Oct 19, 2008.

Our sincere thanks to all the supporters who helped make this happen: Heather Majaury, Christine Hauck, Christine Levebvre, Hope Engle, Philip Bast, Trudy Beaulne, Kieran Bonner, and Andrew Kohl, who introduced the films to the audience and conducted the discussions after each screening.

Our thanks to the Aboriginal Services at U of W who sponsored the drum ceremony and Kathy Absolon who did the native prayers on opening night; to Kayli Kinnear, Paul Nijjar, Jo Ann Verley and others who welcomed people to the screenings; and to the Women of Many Nations singers who made the closing night so enjoyable.

The event was organized by MCC's Azam Fouk Aladeh and Margaret O'Shea Bonner. NFB of Canada provided movies and posters; Kinosmith provided additional movies and posters; CKWR Radio provided us with 36 advertising slots; CTV also advertised the event; the City of Kitchener provided funding and also gave us permission to screen the movies in the Council Chambers; Waterloo Regional Arts Council provided the projector and support in advertising; and the Social Planning Council also helped with advertising and with conducting discussions.

The following is a breakdown of attendance at the festival:

• Total number of people who attended the event: 231
• Number of people who attended daily: 46
• Average number of people who stayed for discussion: 23
• Average time of discussion: 40 Min
• Number of movies screened: 16

We were pleased to screen this variety of films that reflected the rich yet troubled history of our aboriginal people, and the challenge they face in contemporary society and with the discussions they generated.

The films were:
Shorts: Life Givers: Honouring Our Elders and Children, O Mother, Where Art Thou?, The Power of a Horse, His Guidance (Okiskinotahewewin), Hooked Up NDNs Online, Two Spirited, Walking Alone (Censored), Apples & Indians, My Indian Name, Nganawendaanan Nde'ing (I Keep Them in My Heart), Patrick Ross, ati-wîcahsin (It's Getting Easier) Documentaries: Club Native, Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance Features: Atanarjuat the Fast Runner, Tkaronto

The next film festival in March 2008 will be Local Focus 2, our annual film festival showcasing the work of film makers in the Region of Waterloo. All our events are free and open to the public.

Azam Fouk Aladeh

Margaret O'Shea Bonner

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