Sunshine Coast-based director Dianne Whelan has won the $25,000 (US) Audience Award to help complete her film, 500 Days in the Wild: Hiking the Great Trail, at the Doclands Documentary Film Festival in California. “[Mine was] the only Canadian film pitch in the finals. I am still in production, [on the] final 1000 miles to the end in Victoria. This funding goes towards post-production,” Whelan told Coast Reporter.
She began her odyssey five years ago in Newfoundland to create “a feature documentary about an artist’s journey to look for lost wisdom on the world’s longest trail. A story that calls us back to a place of reverence for the earth.” The Great Trail is a 27,000-km hiking and biking route that passes through every province and territory in Canada. You can learn more about Whelan’s project and see some of the great footage she’s captured so far at www.500daysinthewild.com.
Cinema al fresco
No surprise that both drive-in movies this weekend at Hackett Park in Sechelt have been sold out, with just 50 cars allowed to watch E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial on Friday, Aug. 28 and another 50 for Jaws on Saturday the 29th. But it’s one ticket per car. Maybe chat up a ticketed friend who’s in your safety or family bubble for a favour.
Rockfish Fest
We’re in the final few days of Gibson Public Market’s 2nd Annual Rockfish Festival. Check out the impressive collection of plywood rockfish forms painted by the community members and donated to help raise funds for the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre. They’re worth a close look even if you don’t hope to take one home. The silent auction closes at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Live weekend music
Roberts Creek’s own Hoolicans whoop it up with some roots, rock and reggae at the outdoor stage at Roberts Creek Legion on Friday, Aug. 28 between 4 and 8 p.m. Limited seating. Reserve at rclegionevents.com. $20. In the same time-slot at the Legion on Saturday, Aug. 29, it’s The Daggers (“Surf Punk Rock ’n’ Roll Refugees”) and the West Coast hard core of Modern Terror.
Toss a toonie their way as Bellows and Strings – Anna Lumiere on accordion and son Noah Ord on fiddle – do a little busking outside Basted Baker on Cowrie Street in Sechelt on Saturday, Aug. 29 between 2 and 4 p.m. Paper money also accepted.
Another afternoon of free music is on tap from 1 to 4 p.m. at Slow Sundays at the Roberts Creek gazebo, with Out of the Bluegrass, followed by Charlotte Wrinch. Wrapping it up is The Moss Trio with Graham Ord, sax, flute, percussion; Anna Lumiere, keyboard; and Aristazabal Hawkes on bass. Pandemic protocols will be in place and modest cash donations are appreciated.
The Peter Van Trio is on the deck at the Pender Harbour Golf Club restaurant from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30. $5
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