Preview
CALGARY SOCIETY OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS 25th ANNIVERSARY
Cosmic Café
Friday, October 24
Intergalactic Film Circus
Saturday, October 25
Building J2
Currie Barracks
2711 Battleford Avenue S.W.
In 1978, a group of filmmakers came together to form a collective called The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF), a unique group of individuals whose mandate is to encourage the achievement of personal arts-based expression through non-exploitive film production. This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of that vision and to celebrate, they are putting on a festival to showcase the past, present and future of Calgary filmmakers.
"It’s all about access," says CSIF programming director Pete Harris. "(The) CSIF provides equipment and production facilities to (get) people’s ideas and creative vision onscreen."
With over 400 films created by CSIF members in last 25 years, the society has responded to the needs of the Calgary film community. "There have been ebbs and flows with CSIF as it undulates with the industry," says Harris. "(The) Alberta film industry’s heyday was in the ’80s, and in the early ’90s it took a bit of a dive. Now it seems to have picked up again."
The CSIF has been going strong in the last decade, maintaining a membership base in the range of 200 to 250 people. The success of the filmmakers’ society proves that artist-run collectives can carve out a niche in the arts community in Calgary. Harris notes that the CSIF also works closely with EM Media and the Quickdraw Animation Society to support films which makes for a unique collaboration.
As part of the anniversary celebration more than 40 short films from the CSIF’s past 25 years will be showcased at screenings on Friday and Saturday. This collection of will feature some early works by filmmakers such as Gary Burns, Robert Cuffley, Wendy Hill-Tout, Donna Brunsdale, Michelle Wong, John Kerr, Joe Kelly, Peter Stinson and many more. Some of the filmmakers will be in attendance at the screenings to offer audiences a chance to talk about the creative process.
The CSIF will also be running an open house on Saturday afternoon with hands-on demonstrations on filming and editing, where the public can observe a live film shoot. Saturday night is capped with The Intergalactic Film Circus, which features films on two screens and music by The Quiet Revolution.
"The film community is active and happening in this city," says Harris, who is quick to point out that many local filmmakers got their start with the CSIF.
"It’s interesting when tracking down films and guests for this anniversary of how many people are making a living at film or continuing it as a hobby. There was a former member shooting in Southeast Asia and another in Sudan."
CSIF’s 25th Anniversary Celebration kicks off Friday, October 24 and festivities will continue throughout the year with a series of special events including anniversary editions of the $100 Film Festival in March and the Fairy Tales Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in June. Call (403) 205-4747 or check out www.csif.org for more information.
CELEB TOP FIVE
CSIF program director Pete Harris’s favourite CSIF short films
1. Fit by David Christensen
2. Beerland by Gary Burns
3. The Toothmaker by Amalie Atkins
4. Greener Pastures by David Senger
5. My Next Film by James Morrison |
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