News ... August 2000

QFA Resumes September 13th

by Julie Bowen

Welcome back to another season of alternative films in Belleville! The season begins September 13 with the critically acclaimed Canadian film New Waterford Girl  (AA), directed by Allan Moyle (Pump Up the Volume). Set in the small town of New Waterford, Cape Breton, the film centres around 15-year-old Mooney Pottie, a misfit who dreams of New York City, played "ringlingly true" by exciting newcomer Liane Balaban.

Mooney receives a scholarship to attend an arts school in Manhattan but her parents, in delightful performances by Mary Walsh and Nicholas Campbell, refuse to send her. Mooney is stuck until 16-year-old Lou (Tara Spencer-Nairn) comes to town and shows Mooney a way out.

Insiders tell me the film also has a cameo appearance by Ashley MacIsaac.

Hailed as "funny, wry and winningly simple" by the National Post, New Waterford Girl also received special citations from the Toronto International Film Festival and Sudbury Cinéfest. You definitely don't want to miss this one!

The QFA lineup for the rest of the fall is equally exciting! On Sept. 27 we're featuring East is East (UK, AA) starring Om Puri, known to series regulars from Such a Long Journey and My Son the Fanatic. The film focuses on the cultural and generational conflicts within a large Anglo-Pakistani family and features some great performances.

On Oct. 11 come out to see Human Traffic (AA) also from the UK; on Oct. 25 we're showing The Color of Paradise (F) from Iran, with English subtitles.

For information on subscribing to the film series or becoming a QFA member, call the QFA hotline at 391-4310 or visit our membership page.

New this year, all memberships are due for September renewal. You can renew at the same great rates of $20 for a single membership or $35 for a dual, at the theatre or by mail. This year we are once again offering a season's pass for the great price of $99 which includes your membership, admission to all the movies, all year long, and of course, the end-of-the-year party.

See you at the movies!

QFA Supports Canadian Filmmakers

by Robin Baranyai

Canadian films don't always get a lot of exposure, even in Canada. In fact, only about 3% of Canadian screen time is devoted to Canadian films.

Due to limited release patterns and marketing budgets, audiences in smaller communities traditionally have had limited access to Canadian, foreign and independent films. The Film Circuit (a project of the Toronto International Film Festival) is working with some 50 local film groups like the QFA to bring these movies to our screens. Since 1992, Canadian films have accounted for over 27% of total Circuit attendance.

François Girard's The Red Violin is the Circuit's top-grossing film to date, beating out Elizabeth and Life is Beautiful. In fact, six of the Circuit's top ten box office faves are Canadian, and the QFA has shown them all, including Margaret's Museum, The Hanging Garden and Last Night. Atom Egoyan hits the list twice with The Sweet Hereafter and Felicia's Journey.

Like Egoyan, the works of a few Canadian directors - Don McKellar, Deepa Mehta, Robert Lepage and Bruce Macdonald - have graced our screens time and again. From Canada and India, Fire and Earth scorched our screens. (Too bad they've pulled the plug on Water!) And who could forget Le Confessionnal, Nô, Hard Core Logo or the delightfully cheeky short film Elimination Dance?

Two movies filmed in Toronto explored the fragile connections between events and people: Jeremy Podeswa's The Five Senses and Jerry Ciccoritti's The Life Before This. We've also enjoyed some wonderful Canadian-UK co-productions including Such a Long Journey and Regeneration.

We've even been visited by artists in support of their films. Remember "Kenny and Spenny" of Pitch?

Our year-end parties have featured even more Canadiana ... Perfectly Normal (attended by screenwriter Paul Quarrington), C't'a ton tour, Laura Cadieux, and most recently, a montage of Canadian short films including the Oscar-nominated When the Day Breaks.

New Waterford Girl is the latest jewel to sparkle in a string of Canadian gems presented by the QFA. But take our word, it won't be the last.

WHAT'S PLAYING AROUND TOWN?

Reciprocal arrangements with Cinefest Picton and the Great Napanee Film Society mean that QFA members now enjoy an added perk with their annual memberships. The Picton and Napanee film groups will honour your QFA membership for the members' price at films, and Cinefest and Napanee members are invited to pay the members' price at QFA films.

Cinefest Picton
Cinefest movies are screened at the Regent Theatre on Main Street in Picton every second Monday evening at 8 pm. Coming soon ...
     September 25  Butterfly
     October 9  The Color of Paradise

PAST NEWSLETTERS ON-LINE

April 2000 -- Small is Beautiful
March 2000 -- Film Festival Get-Away: Cinéfest Sudbury Tour
February 2000 -- Cinéfest Bus Trip
January 2000 -- The Malkovich Effect
November 1999 -- Coming to Earth: Director Deepa Mehta Survives an Indian Fire-Storm
September 1999 -- Welcome to our Fifth Season
May 1999 -- It's Your Turn, Laura / C'est à ton tour, Laura Cadieux
March 1999 -- The Cinematic Tourist: Lessons of Foreign Films