| Movie junkies and cinephiles who have been eagerly awaiting the second annual Calgary International Film Festival will be excited to hear that festival passes go on sale on August 15 for this year’s event, which takes place from September 25 to 30. A definite improvement over last year’s single ticket admissions, the passes will allow access to all regular festival screenings, and the advantage of fewer lineups.
Festival director David Marrelli says that pass holders will receive priority access 10 to 15 minutes before screenings begin.
"If you’re running from film to film, you’re avoiding lineups for the most part," he says.
The passes come in two varieties, Platinum ($95) and Gold ($55), although the main difference between them lies in which parties they allow access to. The Platinum Pass opens doors to both the opening and closing night parties, while Gold pass holders will receive a 50 per cent discount on the admission price for closing night.
Although the festival has yet to finalize its schedule of films, it will be introducing a series of midnight movies this year for cult film fans, and is also considering a retrospective of the films of renowned Italian director Ermanno Olmi, with titles culled from an exhibition currently touring North America. These films will add an interesting element to the other series devoted to Canadian film works, American independent cinema, contemporary world cinema, documentaries and shorts. In total, more than 50 feature films will be shown this year.
Furthermore, the festival has recently been bolstered by a new partnership with AGF Funds, a company that also sponsors film festivals in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. In addition to sponsoring the festival for $140,000 over the next three years ($40,000 this year, and $50,000 in each of the two following years), AGF is also sponsoring a new People’s Choice Award for the festival.
Of course, anytime a presenting sponsor is introduced to a not-for-profit arts festival, it’s reasonable to ask whether programming is being compromised. Marrelli says he isn’t worried.
"I think when you’re initially approached on that, that’s a concern that appears, but given AGF’s role in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, it becomes apparent that they’re seasoned film festival sponsors. They’re really enthused about being involved in film, and being involved in Calgary, which they see as being important for their business as they just opened an office here in December 2000." |
