It’s the 15th Annual Fall Film Series on Wednesday, Sept. 24, so organizers are kicking things off with a gala celebration of cinema that night at Cottonwood 4 Cinemas.
The film series from the Toronto International Film Festival Circuit is presented twice a year by Chilliwack Community Arts Council, with interesting TIFF films chosen by a small local committee.
“It is just amazing to think how quickly the time has gone by,” said Edna Covey, who has been involved with film selection for the festival since the first year, 1999.
The idea behind the TIFF film circuit was to engage in cultural outreach, by helping to bring global cinematic excellence to communities across Canada.
“We are so appreciative of the people in Chilliwack who have supported us all along. Some will even show up at the theatre without looking first at the schedule to see what’s playing,” she said.
They generally pick about nine film titles from the TIFF catalogue and then they end up with six to screen when the festival rolls around.
“We rarely get to see the films in advance. We just choose what we think the audience is going to like,” she said.
Sometimes the more controversial themes or films with blue language have rankled some attendees in the past, but there are always more who make a point of telling them how much the festival is appreciated.
“We mostly try to find movies that wouldn’t normally be possible to see in Chilliwack,” said Covey.
The first film in this festival is Grand Seduction on Sept. 24, starring Taylor Kitsch, Brendan Gleeson and Gordon Pinsent. It’s the English version of a popular Q uebec film from 2003, directed by Don McKellar.
“I’m looking forward to this one,” Covey said.
They showed the French version at a previous festival. The humorous storyline follows the antics of a Newfoundland townspeople, trying desperately to attract a physician to take up residence in their once-thriving fishing community.
The last film on Oct. 29, Boyhood, a coming of age film, has received rave reviews by most critics, and has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“It may not be everyone’s movie, but I’m looking forward to that one as well. It was made over a period of 12 years, which is interesting that the filmmakers would take that time.”
The film is both a nostalgic foray into the recent past and an ode to childhood and parenting.
The gala celebration will be a licensed affair for an extra $5 on top of the $6 film ticket, so patrons can sip on a glass of wine before the show, as well as light snacks and some gift draws.
They will be showing off the movie posters they’ve saved over the years.
“There will be a little display.”
A season’s pass is $30, sold at The Arts Room and at the door.All four Cottonwood theatres will be screening Grand Seduction.
Fall Film Fest ‘Opening Night Gala’ Sept. 24, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. licensed, snacks, live music. Film fest tickets are now on sale and will be $6 each, with screenings at 7 p.m. The 2014 Chilliwack International Fall Film Festival at Chilliwack Cottonwood 4 Cinemas on Luckakuck Way: Sept. 24 - Grand Seduction (Canada), Oct. 1- Railway Man (Australia/U.K.), Oct. 8 - Magic in the Moonlight (U.S.) , Oct. 15 - Land Ho! (Iceland/U.S.) Oct. 23 - Calvary (Ireland/U.K.), and Oct. 29 - Boyhood (U.S.).
Sept. 24 - The Grand Seduction
Oct. 1 - The Railway Man
Oct. 8 - Magic in the Moonlight
Oct. 15 - Land Ho!
Oct. 22 - Calvary
Oct. 29 - Boyhood