Editor's Notes
The view from here
Sparks Network to shop Battle of the Blades globally
BuzzTaxi's factual entertainment and docs drive sales
Orbita Max and Explora Films to distribute 'Arabia' internationally
Windfall Films adds to its development team
Compact Media Group renews pact with All3Media International's for secondary rights rep
ITV Studios NY signs deal with Joseph Livecchi
Screen Australia's Indigenous Department head leaves
Screen Australia revises documentary programs
September Films returns to the 'Exterminators' for A&E
Outright sells U.S. 'Who Do You Think You Are' to eight territories
OWN adds to its executive team
Passing up cable TV to watch online
Documentary maker analyses ethics in edit suite
Actor and 'Two Coreys' star Corey Haim dies
Mayor of Taiji, Japan protests 'The Cove' Oscar win
Oscar nod doesn't guarantee increased audiences for docs
Huffington Post talks Oscar docs
Founder of Babelgum and Fastweb arrested
BBC to make major cuts: report
Wildlife filmmaker Chris Palmer says to look, but not touch after SeaWorld deathThe view from here
Random musings on the non-fiction biz
Our take on current and past film and TV projects
Industry experts offer their take
| by: | Oct 25, 2001 |
On the Canadian film fest circuit, The Vancouver International Film Festival (September 27 to October 12) is the next stop after the Toronto International Film Festival, this year taking place just 12 days later. But other than sharing Canadian postal codes and starting in September, these two festivals have little in common. TIFF takes on Toronto with the force of a hurricane, while VIFF -overseen by festival director Alan Franey and his team - has an atmosphere as subdued as a west coast rain shower. And, VIFF is no place to watch movie stars parading across red carpets; it is simply a place to watch movies - many movies, in fact.
This year, over 30 documentaries screened in Vancouver - a substantial number for a primarily fiction festival. But, non-fiction did not always feature so prominently at the 20-year-old event. Franey explains:" It took some evolution of the audience to reach a stage where we could start programming more [docs] - let alone set aside a non-fiction series for them... We forced the issue about ten years ago when it became apparent to us that the best work we were seeing was non-fiction." He adds, "At that point we realized there's no point in being afraid of this, [so] let's build an audience for it."
This year's award recipients reflect the festival's success in attracting top docs. The Air Canada People's Choice Award for Most Popular Film went to Promises directed by B.Z. Goldberg, Justine Shapiro and Carlos Bolado. Another doc - Obaachan's Garden, directed by Vancouver's Linda Ohama - took the Federal Express Award for Most Popular Canadian Film.
Also drawing a great deal of interest were several films that explored the realities of life in the Middle East. The documentary jury, which consisted of Diane Weyermann from the Sundance Institute, doc-maker Nettie Wild (A Place Called Chiapas) and film critic Gerald Peary, selected Jung (War): In the Land of the Mujaheddin for the National Film Board of Canada Award for Best Documentary Feature, noting, "... [it is ]a film of courageous and uncompromising filmmaking. It exposes the complexities and brutality of life within Afghanistan, a country torn by decades of war. We have also chosen this film for its extraordinary cinematic language achieved under the most difficult of conditions."
Now in its second year, The Factual Entertainment Forum: The Real Deal brings stakeholders in the reality TV/factual entertainment industry together for a day and half of inspiration, discussion about the current state of reality/factual TV and where it’s going, and of course, networking.
Register today for the Factual Entertainment Forum for only US$450* (includes admission to conference and the Factual Entertainment Awards presentation).
Register online or by calling Joel Pinto at 1-416-408-2300 ext. 650.
Early Bird offer expires on Friday, March 26, 2010.
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