Ivan Reitman, the Canadian-born director and producer of such cult classics as Ghostbusters, Meatballs and Animal House, is one of the star attractions of the 24th annual Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax. The AFF will celebrate Reitman's career with a retrospective of his films and an on-stage interview with arts journalist Laurie Brown.
"We have more films this year then ever before," boasted executive director Gordon Ash in announcing the lineup. The AFF, the fourth largest film festival in the country, runs from Sept. 17-25. It will screen 223 films, organized around a series of galas, parties and special programs including Spotlight on Gay and Lesbian films, a showcase of East Coast Music and even a golf tournament.
Actors Rebecca Jenkins, Callum Keith Rennie and writer-director Daniel MacIvor will all be flashing their smiles on the red carpet at the opening gala, which doubles as the Atlantic premiere of Wilby Wonderful. The film, which was shot in Nova Scotia, is a bittersweet comedy about the untoward happenings over the course of a single day in the imaginary town of Wilby.
Closing the festival is The Motorcycle Diaries, acclaimed Brazilian director Walter Salles's film adapted from the journals of Ernesto (Che) Guevara and his travelling companion, Dr. Alberto Granado. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo De La Sema, The Motorcycle Diaries recounts the odyssey undertaken by Guevara and his friend Granado in 1952, when Guevara was a 23-year-old student. They embarked on a nine-month adventure through South America, on the back of a Norton 500cc bike, which became a formative influence in transforming Guevera from medical student into revolutionary.
In addition to screenings, the AFF is hosting the CBC Industry Series, a program of panels and master classes on such key elements as business affairs and music composition for film. Building on last year's success, the 7th annual Strategic Partners (SP) conference, Sept. 17-19, will concentrate on co-production/co-venturing opportunities between Canada, the United States, Britain and Ireland, exploring international collaborations and providing up-to-date information on the cinematic marketplace.
For the third time, the PS Atlantic Showcase will bring together the rising stars of East Coast music at the Marquee Club to cap off an evening of PS Atlantic Shorts, featuring Nathan Wiley with In-Flight Safety and Brothers in Stereo. Other East Coast artists appearing on the Tour Tech East Showcase Stage throughout the week include: MIR, DJ Olympics, Damhnait Doyle, The Jimmy Swift Band, Barry Canning and Michelle Doyle.
Sandra Martin