Make a "Reel" change with upcoming film festival
By Jon Yaneff

The film-up has been announced for Caledon's film festival; Reel Cinema for a Real Cause, which hits big screens at Empire Theatre in Bolton March 20 to 22. It is in support of Family Transition Place's (FTP) violence prevention programs.

The Reel Cinema for a Real Cause is tied in with Monday Night at the Movies, which runs in partnership with the Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group. movies for the Caledon film festival are selected through their film circuit.

"The challenge was going through those films and trying to select something that is very meaningful, but also ties with what we're trying to do at Family Transition Place," said Sue Buckle, marketing, communications and the resource development manager at Family Transition Place.

Family Transition Place, which primarily works to raise awareness and eliminate domestic violence, is embarking on its first film festival.

"This came about through our concern and dedication towards the youth in our community surrounding violence prevention," said FTP Executive Director Norah Kennedy. "Youth capacity to build healthy and non-violent relationships can be influenced by so many different factors, particularly the media and entertainment. What we want through this festival is to be able to celebrate film's power to be a positive and thought-provoking thing, and we also want youth to understand when they make their choices involving the media and entertainment, which is powerful interval in their lives."

The festival starts with the Opening Night Gala at the Royal Ambassador Event Centre in Caledon March 20, then concludes the Empire Theatre for the screening. Tickets are $100 for the evening with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Kennedy said the red carpet will be rolled out and champagne poured during the very classy opening night. The MC for the evening will Jim Connelly, who is a TV personality and a columnist for Caledon Living magazine.

Then, after the wining and dining, entertainment will be provided as three short animated films will be shown at the theatre. The films are Danish Poet, an Oscar winner for Best Short Animation in 2007, as well as two nominees for Best Short Animation in 2008, Madame Tutli Putli and I Met the Walrus.

March 21 will feature the film Persepolis, which was nominated for best animated feature film for 2008's Academy Awards as well as the Jury Prize winner at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. This will be shown at 7 p.m. with tickets at $10.

The final day of the festival will be the busiest, with the morning of March 22 featuring a family film that has yet to be selected. The afternoon will commence with a film buff screening of feature film Breakfast with Scot at 3 p.m., followed by panel discussion that currently includes Michael McGowan, who was the writer, director and producer of 2004 film, St. Ralph, as well as Ken Nakamura, who is the producer, distributor and founder of the Grand River Film Festival and an instructor of the business of film at Wilfred Laurier University.

The festival concludes with feature film Lars and the Real Girl, followed by the Wrap Up Party. The movie features Canadian actor Ryan Gosling, who was a Golden Globe Award nominee for best actor for his performance in the film. There is a Caledon connection in this film, as some scenes are filmed at Alton United Church. This leg of the festival begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20.

Reel Cinema sponsors include rap-up and screening sponsor, Bolton Merchants Association, screening sponsor, Rogers, Gala sponsor, Royal Ambassador Event Centre, directors level sponsors, MBS Steel, National Bank of Canada and Lafarge Construction, performer level sponsors, Silcotech and Orchard International, as well as media sponsors, Jewel 88.5 FM and Caledon Living magazine.

For more information on the Reel Cinema for a Real Cause film festival, with times and ticket information, visit www.familytransitionplace.ca/reelcinema. Tickets can also be purchased at Empire Theatre.

"We are excited to be participating with Family Transition Place because we feel it is such a great cause," said Empire Theatre General Manager Chris Delledonne. "We are also excited to be hosting the festival as we look forward making it an annual event and hopefully it draws a lot of interest over the next few weeks."