The Indian: Where are your roots?

I got the information on this festival and I thought I could share it with you as it looks really cool and I will be talking to the director of the opening film The Indian. The film talks about a Peruvian boy living in the Netherlands who goes to find his Inca roots.

By the way don´t miss the next show on March 16 because Bradley is going to be presenting his new CD and we will have the entire town of Curdillero in Asturias listening. Tuesday at 11:30 AM PT on www.citr.ca or 101.9 FM
If you like metal check out March 9th podcast as it features a heavy metal show with Magnus Rising as guests. In other quick news Waltz Darling is confirmed to play at the Railway on April 7th for a Van Music party, they will be at The Morning After Show on April 6th. Stay tune for more special guests and I will leave you with more info on this festival geared toward the youth. It is very important to have well educated kids to replace the clowns upstairs.

Vancouver actors and filmmakers are in the spotlight at the 11th Annual Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth, on April 9 – 16, 2010. Local actors Gabrielle Rose (Mothers and Daughters; Excited), and Alexia Fast (Helen, Past Tense) star in the Saskatchewan made feature Hungry Hills, which premiered at TIFF.  The drama is produced and written by Vancouver’s Gary Fisher, directed by Rob King, and based on the book by George Ryga (The Ecstasy of Rita Joe).

“Despite the recent arts cutbacks, we have elevated Reel 2 Real’s program to include films that are thought-provoking in their subjects, themes and formats,” said Venay Felton, Executive Director. “We want to spread the notion that a children’s film festival can engage and inspire film fans of all ages.”

The Opening Night film is The Indian (Netherlands), about a boy adopted from Peru, searching for his identity.  Director Ineke Houtman will participate in a Q&A after the film screening live from Amsterdam, via Skype. The festival’s top award for $500, the Edith Lando Peace Prize, will also be announced for “the film that best utilizes the power of cinema to further the goal of social justice and peace on earth”.

Sharing the stage with local films are the international features: Secret of Kells (France/UK/Belgium), nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature; School Days with a Pig, Japan’s “Charlotte’s Web“, based on a true story that became a subject of national controversy; in Crocodiles (Germany), a boy wants to join the coolest gang in the neighbourhood; a girl longs for her home in France after relocating to Morocco in Française (France); Diaries (Italy) portrays three different characters who are brought together by chance

One of the most popular programmes, the Young Filmmakers Showcase will be selected from online submissions to the website, www.r2rfestival.org, and the deadline for the submissions is March 19, 2010. More local shorts include: Bollywood Beckons, directed by Sophie Ann Rooney and written by Agam Darshi; Button Blanket, by Zoe Hopkins; Tara Mahony’s Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope), a documentary about Phil Fontaine meeting the Pope; Peggy Baker Four Phrases, directed by Howie Shia; and Home is Where the Food Is, directed by Jody Kramer.

Films in competition will be eligible for 8 awards at the Award Celebration on April 11 by two Youth Juries and an adult jury of film industry professionals.  These awards are part of Reel 2 Real’s continued commitment to the belief that critical assessment of films for young audiences should be made by youth themselves.

More information: (604) 224-6162, or www.r2rfestival.org

Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth is grateful for the support of: Telefilm Canada, British Columbia Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, City of Vancouver, Department of Canadian Heritage, The Edith Lando Charitable Foundation, Italian Cultural Institute, Consulate General of France, The Georgia Straight, and Global TV.

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Media Contact:  Helen Yagi (604) 736-5517, or hyagi@shaw.ca