Cinefest runs Sept. 15 -23Festival has become as much a part of Sudbury as the Big Nickel.Film lovers turn off their cell phones and put their schedules on hold for nine days. Many take vacation time to enjoy everything Cinéfest has to offer. People brag about how many movies they’ve seen. Others can’t remember what they saw the day before. Some come just for the gala parties and a chance to meet someone famous.
Since it was established in 1989, the film festival has become part of the Sudbury scene.
The 24th annual festival opens Saturday, Sept. 15 with a world premiere of a Canadian movie that was shot in Sudbury last October. The Riverbank is based on the novel Tracing Iris by Genni Gunn. It is a psychological thriller about a young social anthropologist returning home after her aunt is murdered.
The film is directed by John L’Ecuyer and produced by Paul Stephens. L’Ecuyer has directed numerous television episodes and his credits include De Vinci’s Inquest,The Rez, and Murdoch Mysteries.
The Riverbank was shot over 17 days and 80 percent of the film crew was local.
Cinéfest’s schedule was not finalized when Sudbury Living went to press, but some of the other gala films had been announced.
Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children will be presented Tuesday, Sept. 18. Based on the Salman Rushdie novel, the film is set in India where children born at midnight on Aug. 15, 1947—the moment when India seizes independence from Britain—are said to have special powers and their lives are linked to the fate of India. Mehta has come to Sudbury several times to introduce her films to Cinéfest audiences. Her films include Republic of Love, Water, and Heaven on Earth.
The Wednesday Night Gala (Sept. 19) is A Royal Affair from writer/director Nikolaj Arcel (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). It is the true story of an ordinary man who wins the Danish queen’s heart and starts a revolution.
The Saturday gala film (Sept. 22) is Still, a Canadian movie directed by Michael McGowan (One Week, Score:A Hockey Musical and Saint Ralph). Canadian Geneviève Bujold appears in this story of an aging couple with American actor James Cromwell (Babe, The Queen). It is set in rural New Brunswick, and some of the shooting took place in the North Bay area. The film also features recording artist Hawksley Workman.
All film screenings will take place at SilverCity Sudbury, located at 355 Barry Downe Rd.
The 24th edition of Cinéfest Sudbury runs from Sept. 15 to 23.
Passports which include all films and gala parties are $225. Tickets for galas and general admission films are also available. They should be purchased in advance of the festival to avoid disappointment.
Gala Reception Venues
Opening Night
Laurentian University
Great Hall
935 Ramsey Lake Rd.
Sunday Night
Laking Toyota
695 Th Kingsway
Monday Night
Howard Johnson Hotel
50 Brady St.
Tuesday Night
Quality Inn
390 Elgin St.
Wednesday Night
Sudbury Theatre Centre
170 Shaughnessy St.
Thursday Night
Sudbury Theatre Centre
170 Shaughnessy St.
Friday Night
MacDonald Cartier Secondary School
37 LaSalle Blvd.
Saturday Night
Cambrian College
Students’ Centre
1400 Barry Downe Rd.
Closing gala
Bryston’s on the Park
Copper Cliff
