DOXA, a documentary film society that presents independent and innovative documentaries, is heading out of its usual Vancouver base for the first everDOXA Festival on the Sunshine Coast, Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt.
The outreach film festival is offered thanks to funding support from the BC Arts Council and a lot of involvement from local community sponsors.
"Each screening is sponsored by a different community group," said organizer Kris Anderson of the 14 films that strive to balance themes of interest to many age groups.
There is a big youth presence at this selection, particularly in the opening night's slam poetry film Louder Than a Bomb, in which 600 teenagers prepare for the world's largest poetry competition. (Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m.) It is co-presented by the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts that has purchased tickets and is making them available to young people interested in the spoken word.
Also screening will be Highway Gospel (Saturday, Oct. 1, 8:30 p.m.), an all-Canadian celebration of the outlaw sport of long boarding, featuring Pender Harbour's legendary Attack of Danger Bay and local challenger Scott "Scoot" Smith.
The festival screens films of interest to all age groups.
Paradise, a Swedish film, describes the lives of Hans and Kerstin, who have been married 65 years (Saturday, Oct. 1, 4:30 p.m.). It will be presented by the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre. Small Wonders, a portrait of mom and pop shops in the age of big box competition, is co-presented by the Sechelt Downtown Business Association.
If a Trees Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and asks the question: how far should one go in defence of the environment? (Saturday, Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m.)
The Gibsons Green Team is the community partner for a special presentation of the National Parks Project 45-minute film (Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.).
In honour of Parks Canada's centennial, this celebration of natural beauty spans the country, from Nahanni National Park in NWT to Gwaii Haanas off B.C.'s coast.
In each park, one film-maker and three musicians set out to capture the unique beauty of a region. After the film, musician Veda Hille will give a live performance on piano and tenor guitar. She sings about the natural world, the trickiness of love, the constant threat of tragedy, and anything else that amazes her.
One of the highlights of the festival will be Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits, a film about drugs, prohibition and harm reduction (Saturday, Oct. 1, 2 p.m.). Join Vancouver Coastal Health Community and Family Health for a stimulating discussion after this ground breaking and challenging film.
Monday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. is a special day open to the public, with a focus on students and teachers. Anderson has been working with School District No. 46 and the Sunshine Coast Teachers' Association to get the word out about Youth, Culture, Action! three short films about young people using language, art and culture to take their lives in a positive direction.
One of the films is a four-minute doc entitled Sháshishálem Class by Coast residents Manuela Salinas and Malcolm Paul. The two were part of DOXA's Connexions Youth program in Vancouver and made the short film to explore their own language. The day is co-presented by the Sechelt Nation.
The full program and schedule are on-line at www.doxafestival.ca. Tickets are at Coast Princess Books, Gibsons, MELOmania, Roberts Creek, Sechelt Visitor Centre and Bluewaters Books, Madeira Park. Tickets are $9 (regular), $5 (18 years and under) or festival passes available on-line only at $50.
