Announced is this year’s opening gala film, My Internship in Canada. This political satire features Irdens Exantus as a Haitian intern navigating his way through Canadian politics and sports in his attempt to understand this country. The film stars Patrick Huard as Steve Guibord, an independent Member of Parliament who has the powers in his hands to decide if Canada will go to war with the Middle East. Just which way this film will go will depend on the point of view writer/director Philippe Falardeau is focussing on. When this film has been earmarked by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as one of Canada’s Top 10 Best Canadian Films of 2015, it’s a safe bet this movie is very reverent today because of the issues it touches upon.
In addition to documentaries which provides social insight and enough foodie inspired movies for me to savour (like Sergio Herman: F*cking Perfect and The Sandwich Nazi), the picks of this year’s films playing at the Victoria Film Festival of 2016 range from animated fun, historically significant, musically mysterious to the terrifying!
(麥兜˙我和我媽媽)
Feb 7 * 1:00pm * Odeon 2
Cantonese with English subtitles
Whenever the police encounter a difficult case, they will call on him to help to solve it; The FBI, Scotland Yard, all hire him as a consultant. He is Detective Mak, Bobby Mak, the private detective who is known to be the most famous detective since Sherlock Holmes.
Bobby Mak used to be the kid who is called McDull. McDull is a slow kid, but his mum is shrewd. She transforms a 300-square foot apartment into a 2 bedroom, with dining and living room, sauna, gym and library. From a 100-square feet shop, she manages a real estate agency, tuck shop, plumping service, beauty salon and second hand mobile phone shop, plus a private detective agency. (no joke, private detective!) She can use rice, salted fish, and cabbage to cook Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, French, or even a buffet. She can use a wire hanger to fix the toilet, remote-control toy plane, ceiling lamp and umbrella …. — Twitchfilm.com
FilmCAN
The Amazing Wipala
Feb 8 * 11:00am * The Vic Theatre
Tanna
Feb 9 * 7:15pm * Odeon 1
Does George Shrinks have a Dutch counterpart? Maybe, but most likely not. A little man named Wiplala is found in a cupboard one night and he has magical powers that sends the young Johannes (who discovers him) and his family into a strange adventure. This action-packed live-action tale is sure to entertain viewers of all ages!
This film has been touring ever since its been made in 2014, and as small and unnoticed this story is to North American audiences, this product has found its way to Victoria for a special screening during FilmCAN, an online video competition for young aspiring filmmakers. This movie will be screened with the winner of this contest’s junior category (grade 8 and under) and in the senior category (grade 9-12) is Tanna, an aboriginal tale about two doomed lovers from warring tribes living in a remote village on the Oceanic island of Vanuatu. If this sounds like Romeo & Juliet, then the tale is universal, but this time its set in an exotic, far off land. This movie is worth an investigation!
Trailers:
Al Purdy Was Here
Feb 7 * 9:15pm * Odeon 2
An icon of English Canadian letters, the late Al Purdy was equal parts rock star, raconteur, and rabble rouser — in other words, all poet.
Coming to prominence in the 1960s alongside a crop of other extraordinary talents (including Irving Layton, Leonard Cohen, George Bowering, Alden Nowlan, Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, and Michael Ondaatje), Purdy scorned the tired tales of rural life that had dominated Canadian literature and set out to create a different language, one that came from the contemporary Canadian experience. — TIFF
The Devil’s Horn
Feb 7 * 7:15pm * Odeon 1
The Devil’s Horn, an exciting new film based on Michael Segell’s best-selling book of the same name, will both illuminate and mythologize the 170-year history of the most dangerously seductive (and feared) of all musical instruments—the saxophone.
The film will also insinuate with powerful evidence that those who play the sax will eventually fall prey to the instrument’s longstanding curse and that the saxophone itself has often met near-demise as the victim of persecution and censorship. — Telefilm Canada
Foodies
Feb 14 * 1:00pm * Odeon 2
A documentary on the fine dining subculture of foodies. The interest in haute cuisine has grown exponentially. Now, we enter the world of one of the most influential people on the food scene – the foodie.
A subculture of blogging food critics with a mission to eat at the best restaurants on earth. Through our close study, we get access to the world’s most exclusive restaurants and get to know a group of slightly bizarre but charming food maniacs. — IMDB.com
The Smalls:
Forever is a Long Time
Feb 12 * 6:00pm * The Vic Theatre
Feb 14 * 4:00pm * The Vic Theatre
Now, 13 years after their Goodbye Forever tour, the band is back together one more time and it’s beautiful. Filmmaker Trevor Smith has done an exemplary job of mixing live show footage with intimate storytelling and art in a way that will both intrigue old fans and entice new ones. — VictoriaFilmFestival.com
The Girl in the Photographs
Feb 12 * 8:45pm * The Vic Theatre
Horror-legend Wes Craven may not have sat in the director’s chair for his final film, but as executive producer to Nick Simon’s shot-in- Victoria slasher flick, his legacy is very well served. Spearfish, South Dakota is as unlikely a place as any for hometown serial killers tormenting a young woman with photos of their crimes. Instead of attracting the cops it attracts the attention of a celebrity fashion photographer Peter Hemmings (played deliciously by Kal Penn) who moves back home to exploit the opportunity. Add in Hemmings’ clueless entourage, a budding romantic interest and a “cabin by the lake” and you’ve got all the best ingredients for things to go oh-so bloody wrong. — VictoriaFilmFestival.com
Empire of Corpses
(屍者の帝国)
Feb 13 * 7:00pm * Parkside
Japanese with English Subtitles
The story of Shisha no Teikoku takes place in 19th century Europe, and revolves around John Watson. He is scouted by the government to become a secret agent. However, Watson lives in a world where “Frankensteins,” human corpses that are re-purposed with a false soul in order to use them as laborers, are used to improve industrial development. — Anime News Network
