Step into the life of a 鈥�90s grunge rocker, a drug addict on Vancouver鈥檚 Downtown Eastside, a French chef, and a young boy with disabilities, when the 91原创 International Film Festival returns next week.
The third annual event, benefiting the 91原创 School District Foundation, features six films at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort 91原创 Feb. 16 to 18.
The event kicks off Friday night with a screening of documentary at 7 p.m.
Described as 鈥渉ard hitting and uncomfortably raw,鈥� the film follows the career of 1990s grunge band Cadillac Tramp, and all of the drugs, alcohol and infighting that led to their demise.
The film鈥檚 producer/director, Jamie Coakley, and her husband, Brian 鈥� who is also one of the band members 鈥� will be in attendance. They will take part in a Q&A following the film, and are also the special guests at LIFF鈥檚 Opening Night Gala, happening at Lelem Arts & Cultural Cafe at 9 p.m.
The festival continues Saturday morning at 11 a.m. with a student montage of short videos from young filmmakers at Brookswood Secondary School, 91原创 Fine Arts School, R. E. Mountain Secondary School, 91原创 Secondary School and Walnut Grove Secondary School.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three, with adjudication by Jamie Coakley, Martini Studios owner Gemma Martini and filmmaker Adrian West.
鈥淭he film teachers choose the best shorts, each film is about three to five minutes,鈥� said Susan Cairns, executive director of the 91原创 School District Foundation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really big deal for the students because they get to show their film at a legitimate international film festival.鈥�
There will be a short reception with the students before the next film begins.
At 3 p.m. the award winning will screen. This film was created by Brookswood Secondary grad Wayne Wapeemukwa, and won awards at both the Toronto and Vancouver International Film Festivals. It explores the hidden side of Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics 鈥� the Downtown Eastside.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very powerful, it鈥檚 got a huge impact, and the actors in it are real people from the Downtown Eastside,鈥� Cairns said.
Afterwards, Wapeemukwa, who now lives in London, England, will do a Skype interview with his former high school video teacher, Carl Hofbauer.
At 7:30 p.m., Golden Globe and Oscar nominee Get Out will be shown. This thriller takes audiences for a disturbing ride when character Rose brings her boyfriend, Chris, for a weekend away with her parents.
鈥淲e chose that because, first of all, it鈥檚 an Oscar nominee, and we wanted to have some really well recognized movies and ones that people might not have seen before the Academy Awards,鈥� Cairns said.
鈥淎nd this one is a little bit out there. It鈥檚 not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood film, let鈥檚 put it that way.鈥�
The final day of the festival begins at 1 p.m. with C鈥檈st La Vie!, a French film about an upscale chef who is hired to cater a dysfunction wedding. This film is in French with English subtitles.
Wrapping up LIFF at 3:30 p.m. is Wonder, with 91原创鈥檚 own Jacob Tremblay. The young actor co-stars with Julia Roberts in this film that explores the life of a fifth grade student with facial deformities.
For the second time in LIFF鈥檚 history, Tremblay will be in attendance. Audience members can catch up with the star during a Q&A with former CBC radio host Mark Forsythe.
And as always, all money raised from the weekend will go towards supporting film studies at 91原创 high schools. The last two years raised $15,000 each.
鈥淚t鈥檚 made a big difference,鈥� Cairns said of the donations.
鈥淭he equipment is getting better and better, and the films that the students are making are amazing. It started off with iMovie type productions. They are very professional now. The sound, special effects, different techniques of making a film 鈥� just in the last two years 鈥� has gone up probably 300 per cent.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe what they鈥檙e doing these days. It鈥檚 exciting, it鈥檚 fascinating, and if we can help in any way, we really want to do that.鈥�
Individual tickets are $10 for each film, or $50 for all six. The Opening Night Gala is $25.
Tickets can be purchased online at .
鈻� FEB. 16 鈥� 7 P.M.
Cadillac Tramps: Life on the Edge
鈻� FEB. 16 鈥� 9 P.M.
LIFF Opening Night Gala
鈻� FEB. 17 鈥� 11 A.M.
Student Montage
鈻� FEB. 17 鈥� 3:30 P.M.
Luk Luk鈥檒
鈻� FEB. 17 鈥� 7:30 P.M.
Get Out
鈻� FEB. 18 鈥� 1 P.M.
C鈥檈st La Vie!
鈻� FEB. 18 鈥� 3 P.M.
Wonder
