Vancouver, B.C. – The VIFF 25th Annual Film & TV Forum kicks off with an expanded issue of the successful creative documentary pitch forum, Storyville Vancouver and follows up with thematic streamlined programming on DOC Day, FILM Day, TV Day and New Filmmakers’ Day. The five days of seminars, workshops, master classes and networking opportunities are scheduled for presentation at the Vancouver International Film Centre from September 28 – October 1, plus New Filmmakers’ Day, October 2. From the creators of groundbreaking dramatic and reality-based series, and from Oscar-winning editors to international buyers and commissioning editors, the Forum hosts the very best of filmmakers from around the world

This whole policy of no cameras at gigs is done. Obviously many places state no professional cameras, or no cameras with interchangeable lenses, but what does that even matter any more. With Canon, Panasonic, and Nikon all selling products that you can slip in your pocket capable of shooting photos that one could make billboard ads with being allowed into the shows, often by people not knowing what they are really doing, so where does that really leave this policy? I could understand if they didn’t want people to make money off the photos, okay, but how can you stop the people with the pocket cams from making money, where is the difference. Chances are those people are going to take the photos and post them in a public forum, say facebook or myspace, and often without context.

From the 5 Burroughs of New York in the mid-seventies to across the entire planet today, Hip Hop continues to be a culture immersed in the struggle for a better world. If Peace is the message, then Hip Hop is the voice…

On September 24th to 26th the Greater Vancouver area will host for the 6th consecutive year the Annual Vancouver International Hip Hop Festival – HIP HOP FOR PEACE! The Festival will be three days of performances by local and international talent including MC’s, Breakdancers, DJ’s and Graffiti artists.

New Venue for the New Forms Festival which celebrates its 10 year anniversary. A milestone for this electronic, preformance, artistis, digital and avant gard festival. All events at W2/Storyeum – 151 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC. The Festival and Exhibition Opens on Sept 10th, featuring over 15 art installations and performances by a number of Vancouver’s emerging electronic artists. Sept 11th focuses on the next level of dub infused music with SLUGABED, BLUE DAISY, ILLUM SPHERE, and NASTY NASTY. Sept 12th showcases BEAT NATION, a collective of Indigenous artists working in traditional and new media environments. Sept 17th, New Forms serves up a new experience on the dance floor with SCOTT W, JASON LEV and OMAR-S, one of the most influential dj/producers in House and Techno today.

The Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres (PAARC) is pleased to present Swarm: A festival of artist-run culture, that will span September 9 and 10 and offer a wide and compelling array of contemporary art exhibitions and projects.

Mahler, Rachmaninov and Wagner meet The Magnetic Fields, the history of gospel and the world’s greatest undiscovered jazz at this year’s VIFF. Here are just a few of the offerings on view.

“I hate nature!”, a common phrase uttered by today’s teenagers that raises the question: are we capable of evolving as a species fast enough to save this planet? The aim of our annual environmental series is to bust through preconceptions of ruin and passivity and to share with audiences some of the most scintillating and galvanizing art being made these days.

With the more than 10000 people, the 6 unique and wonderful stages, the costumed characters, the funky psychedelic art, the lights, the lasers, the beautiful Salmo River Ranch, the many smiling faces, the five minute best friends, the long term connections and reminders of eternal truths, Shambhala is an amazing experience.

We were wet, we danced and jumped, we explored, we climbed a mountain and crossed a river, we traveled on shrooms with Mary Jane, we camped and made new friends and met old ones. Oh yeah, there was music too…

Sounds of Old Strathcona Fest, Edmonton, Part 4
Sunday the last day of the festival.  The streets on Whyte avenue were shut down, and two large stages were set up two blocks apart.  Vendors dotted the street selling books, and beaded things, the standard festival fare, but they were certainly not the main event, and it captured a solid all ages party atmosphere, with kids and parents dancing along side Edmonton’s hip Youth.  I was only able to catch two bands on this closing day of the festival.  The first not …

Sounds of Old Strathcona Fest, Edmonton, Part 3
Saturday morning I awoke to thunder.  Not again I thought to myself.  I left Vancouver expecting to come to Edmonton, and have two weeks without fucking rain.  I guess it’s just too much to ask for.  I was a little apprehensive about leaving the house, I know I had shows to see, and photos to take, I just didn’t want to deal with another torrential downpour like the day previous, but the clouds burned off and there was a return of those blue …

Sounds of Old Strathcona Fest, Edmonton, Part 2
The first day of festival came with a darkening of the skies.  I was just arriving to the ave. when the winds began to pick up, and people on the street were running for shelter.  Not one to be left out, I ducked into the first restaurant I saw, just in time to escape the torrents of rain the clouds decided to let loose on the unsuspecting masses that had gathered below.  In seconds the streets looked more like rivers, the storm drains …

A music festival showcasing mainly Alberta Talent

Taking command of the stage at Dundas Square on Friday July 30th, was local and international reggae star Humble. It’s not all the time you hear a remake of John Lennon’s Imagine played to a nice reggae rhythm and of course there were even a few familiar Bob Marley songs just to bring in some more positive vibes. Saturday July 31st, had no shortage of entertainment; Dundas Square and Nathan Phillip Square both having activities all day as part of TD Irie Fest.

Sunday, August 8, 2010 – 30 + artists on 4 stages, rain or shine, in Cates Park, North Vancouver; Whey-Ah-Wichen, Tsleil-Waututh- Nation; Festival of Art & Social Change that includes music, art, speakers & workshops;

The milestone of this festival has been reached. 20 years of activism and a parade of artists and counter culture spoke persons have converge here through all these years. This one, though might be the last one.