22nd annual qiff: Celebrating the power of film at this unique time

STARRING QATHET: Exile, starring Adam Beach, was filmed in qathet in the summer of 2022. Many, many locals appear in the thriller. So do local businesses and landscapes.

BY GARY SHILLING

The film festival and film society both have a new name. What began 22 years ago as the Reel Love Film Festival, is now the qathet international film festival. The Film Society joins the many other cultural and business institutions that support the Tla’amin Nation’s request to remove the name “Powell” from our identity, and to recognize that we serve the entire qathet regional district.

The Historic Patricia Theatre played a role in colonial oppression designed to marginalize and segregate our Indigenous neighbours. Until about 1970, Tla’amin peoples lined up for films separate from the rest of the community, were confined to the balcony, and only admitted after the colonizers were seated.

The film society, as cultural leaders in our community, are compelled to right these wrongs. We look to heal the past, and find a way forward that prioritizes anti-racism, inclusivity and equity.

Opening Night Naming Ceremony

The highlight of the evening of March 3 will be a naming ceremony for the theatre auditorium. As a way of welcoming the Indigenous community back to the theatre, it will be named the qwaqwθəm (qwak thum) auditorium, which translates to “Telling a story.”

The Tla’amin Executive Council offered us this name, for which we are honoured. Film is arguably the best story-telling medium, and the name is appropriate for the space. A Tla’amin elder will open the festival, and the singers and drummers will welcome us with song.

The night begins with a catered party at 6 pm, with a cash bar serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The opening night film is Exile, shot throughout the qathet Regional District, with the support of the city, the district, and the Tla’amin Nation. Many locals involved in the film are expected to be in the audience, and the director, Jason James, will be our special guest. He’ll be available to answer your questions after the film.

See these award winners on the big screen

As of press time, these are the qiff films that have won major awards.

Until Branches Bend: Winner, best BC film at Vancouver International Film Festival.

Klondike: Best feature film at Seattle International Film Festival.

Rosie: A film by Indigenous director Gail Maurice, it was named to TIFF’s annual year end Canada’s Top Ten list for 2022.

Aftersun: #5 on Roger Ebert, # 7 on Rolling Stone’s best list., #17 on Rotten Tomatoes. “[The] movie is also a ticking time bomb — and that when it finally goes off, the effect is seismic.”

Moonage Daydream: Wired’s and NPR’s best list, and won best documentary editing at Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards: “[It] isn’t so much a documentary as it is an immersive musical experience.” ”A film designed for maximal visual and aural disorientation.”

Decision to Leave: #3 on Roger Ebert, # 3 on Rolling Stone’s best list, Wired’s best list, New York Times #8, and NPR. “It’s as much a love story as it a fatalistic neo-noir, however, and one of the single most romantic movies of the year” “a delirious riff on “Vertigo”.

Triangle of Sadness: At Cannes 2022, this film won the Palme d’Or. Dolly De Leon was nominated for a Golden Globe. It also won four European Film Awards, including the Best Film. It was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Critically Acclaimed Cinema

Every year, the programming committee looks for films that engage with issues and ideas that stimulate discussion. This year’s selection of 14 films delivers impactful cinema that continues in our tradition of delivering a cinematic journey to our members. Unlike many other festivals that have a multitude of films to choose from, our curated selection is best viewed in its entirety – and a festival pass is not only the best value, but also ensures the best experience.

An emerging theme in our program is that of resilience. All of us certainly have our own personal knowledge of the challenges that last year has delivered, and our film selection presents stories that centre on this theme – some with humour, horror, and drama.

There are many highlights to the festival, with a number of our films appearing on “The Best of 2022” lists and winning festival awards. In all, the films in our festival have garnered more than 120 international awards!

Special Guests

The Festival Is honoured to have local and regional guests attend. Support from travel and accommodation partners and BC Arts Council helps make it possible. This year’s guest include:

Wednesday, March 8, 1:30 pm: Guest filmmaker Claire Sanford, Director of Violet Gave Willingly (which precedes Rosie), artist Deborah Dumka, featured in the film, and sound designer Sophia Sanford will do a Q&A after the screening, Claire will be joining from Montreal via Zoom. Peg Campbell will lead the Q&A.

Friday, March 10, 7 pm: Local guest filmmaker Jeremy Williams will introduce his short film Hell and Highwater (which precedes Klondike) and discuss the process of the making of the film. An After Film Salon discussion will be held, with Jeremy in attendance.

Saturday, March 11, 1:30 pm: Guest filmmakers Nisha Platzer, director, and Joella Cabalu, producer of Back Home, will be in attendance for Q&A and discussion after Back Home Saturday, March 12, 6 pm Closing Party: Special guest at the closing party, DJ Minerva (Claudia Medina), will help us achieve the necessary delirium to experience Moonage Daydream, the documentary about David Bowie.

Community Gathering

The Historic Patricia Theatre has been a community gathering place since 1928, and the film festival has hosted the best cinema from BC, Canada, and the world since 2001. The purchase of the theatre by the Film Society in 2021 was motivated by a desire to maintain this community gathering place for generations to come.

Although COVID and the proliferation of streaming services have presented challenges to our gathering together as a community, the mission of the Society endures: To cultivate film as a cultural, educational, and economic driver in qathet Regional District, Powell River, and Tla’amin, Klahoose and Shíshálh Nations.

QIFF

When: March 3 to 12

What: The 22nd qathet International Film Festival takes place at the Patricia Theatre. Feature-films and shorts from qathet, Canada and abroad will be screened. Learn more at qiff.ca.

Tickets: Festival Passes $140 Adults $120 Seniors. Individual Tickets $12 Adults $10 Seniors & Youth.