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WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER P057020CN 11/05 There are good reasons to FOLLOW THE CROWD Les Bell Ins Agcy Inc Les Bell, Agent 46 Ann St. Bracebridge, ON P1L 2C1 Bus: 705-646-9995 Toll Free: 877-877-3929 Huntsville hosts inaugural Film North festival By Karen Wehrstein Moviegoers at Film North, Huntsville’s first international film festival, gave organizer Lucy Wing a standing ovation and demanded an encore in the form of an annual event. “Our presence in Huntsville and the undertaking of bringing an international film festival to Muskoka was so wellreceived that it really bolstered us to continue with the huge amount of organizing that went into bringing so many players into this wonderful town,” says Wing. “I was very impressed with how the industry took us under their wing, talking it up and going out of their way to come and attend.” The festival had a very intimate feel, with film buffs in the audience easily hobnobbing with the industry creators. About 15 producers, directors and actors were in attendance to answer questions about their work from the audience. One of those directors was Kris Booth, whose feature At Home by Myself… With You, in which a reclusive woman’s life is changed by a new, outgoing neighbour, was voted by the audience the winner of the Golden Antler Award for Viewers’ Choice. Though the romantic comedy was named one of the top 10 Canadian films at the Vancouver Film Festival, and selected to play next May at the Marche du Film at Cannes, it hadn’t previously won an individual award. “What an award is is a very quick way of telling people you do good things,” says Booth. “It opens doors. The award will definitely open conversations and ease the transition to the next level or the next project. It’s very valuable to an independent filmmaker to get as much recognition as possible.” Film North supporters and sponsors flocked to have their photograph taken in front of the official festival background during the opening night reception at the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville. Lead actor and director Ryan Ward won Best Feature for his romantic drama Son of the Sunshine, in which a young man with Tourette’s Syndrome is cured through surgery, but also loses his gift of healing. Ward, a Winnipeg native with numerous film and stage acting credits under his belt, is just starting out as a director. Son of the Sunshine has won awards at other festivals, but Ward is still delighted. “It is always nice to win Best Feature at an inaugural festival, since it means you will be remembered as being there forever,” he says. “We were their first Best Feature! It was a great screening at Film North, with a lot of great response and interesting conversations post screening.” Any award is a vote of confidence in a movie, he says. “It makes people want to watch it. You can put it on your DVD box.” The Bullseye Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Graeme Ferguson, one of the inventors of Imax, a paradigm-change in the silver-screen world. He and two partners, who started out as high school friends, made two films for Expo ‘67 in Montreal in 1967. “As a result of the success of expanding cinema screens there, we decided to invent a new kind of movie theatre,” he says. The number of partners was expanded to five, and four of them – Ferguson, Robert Kerr, William Shaw and Bill Breukelman – ended up owning cottages on Lake of Bays. “Most Canadians have an attachment to the north and we tend to gravitate north when we can,” says Ferguson, whose first Imax film was North of Superior. “So the award for Film North seemed appropriate.” What about future plans for the festival? One priority is upgrading the projection system. Saturday night’s feature, Photograph: Kelly Holinshead Don Tapscott and Lucy Wing present Graeme Ferguson (centre) with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in developing the IMAX. Photograph: Don McCormick Wayne Thompson, Kathryn Griffiths and Lucy Wing accept the award for Best Feature on behalf of Ryan Ward for his film, Son of the Sunshine. Photograph: Don McCormick 26 October 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Photograph: Don McCormick Lucy Wing presents producer Renzo Zanelli and actress Annika Beaulieu with the RBC Environmental Award for their film, El Perro Del Hortelano. Photograph: Don McCormick Dustin Cohen (far left) and Lucy Wing (far right) present producers Andrea McCullough and Chris Booth with the Viewers’ Choice Award. Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould, had to be called off a few minutes into the screening after the disc was damaged by overheated equipment. But Wing says she has already talked to experts on how to improve the system, and the Huntsville audience will likely have an opportunity to view the film through the Reel Alternatives film club. The date for Film North 2011 is not yet set but Wing hopes to lock in the third weekend in September again. “We’re going to put our thinking caps on and continue to create and offer a program that has its finger on the pulse of what the audience is looking for,” she says. One idea she has is to do all local films on the Thursday of the event, offer showings in retirement homes and contact all educational institutions that have film-making students to get them out. “One thing that resounded is that truly, the starving artist syndrome does exist,” Wing says. “They’re brilliant and they’re waiting tables, when they’ve got talent as brilliant as Clint Eastwood when he acted. Some of them struggled to get up here; they didn’t have money to buy bus tickets. We’re going to work on approaching sponsors for financial contributions towards the awards.” Wing’s ultimate dream is a permanent home for the festival, possibly even a film theatre complex. “Other towns have them,” she says. “We’re going to work on that next year, for sure.” Opening new doors for Habitat for Humanity Awards emcee Tina Fontana and festival founder Lucy Wing present producer Mike Humble with the award for Best Short for his film, The Lake. Photograph: Don McCormick By Karen Wehrstein Muskoka artists are transforming cupboard doors into unique masterpieces for Opening New Doors, a fundraising event in support of Habitat for Humanity Muskoka. The 25 plain cupboard and vanity doors will have been transformed into one-of-a-kind pieces of art by local artists, a few celebrities with ties to Muskoka and two young people who will benefit from Habitat’s good work. They will be auctioned off on Oct. 21 at Six Degrees Muskoka in Bracebridge. “We’re thrilled to have some wellknown local artists participating,” says Habitat executive director Ellen Frood. She notes that artists in many media, including metal workers, were specifically invited, and there are no rules and no limits on how the doors can be transformed into art. A call for artists was put out in early September, and the doors were gone by the end of the month. Former NHL player Chris King, who was born in Bracebridge, will try his hand at cupboard door art, as will Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller and possibly another surprise local celebrity. “Two of our partner families are going to be contributing doors as well,” says Frood, noting that the families will be living in Bala once Habitat finishes building their homes.” All financial proceeds will go towards future builds by Habitat, which has already helped eight families in Muskoka achieve home ownership. The Bala project will raise that total to 10 homes. Habitat for Humanity Muskoka also saves material from landfill through its ReStore in Bracebridge and recycling efforts. “In a little over four years, we have diverted 2,356,000 pounds of product from landfill. In three years we’ve recycled 250,000 pounds of aluminum cans – that’s 840,000 cans – to raise $13,000.” The auction and reception will start at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. Bala Cranberry Festival October 15, 16, 17, 2010 26th Annual Featuring – OPP Golden Helmets 1 pm – Saturday, October 16 In Town and Daily shuttle buses from Gravenhurst Wharf and Port Carling Township offices Friday & Saturday 9 – 5pm, Sunday 9 – 4pm For complete list of events visit balacranberryfestival.on.ca www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2010 27
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UP October 2010 MUSKOKA’
Page 3 and 4: Discounts Available on 3 or more Al
Page 5 and 6: Taking a new look at an old system
Page 7 and 8: Muskoka paramedics, joined onstage
Page 9 and 10: South Muskoka has $5 million wish l
Page 11 and 12: Gravenhurst officially opens new to
Page 13 and 14: Art exhibit brings history to life
Page 15 and 16: Foundation honours stewards of natu
Page 17 and 18: ADVERTISING FEATURE Ryan Miller, #1
Page 19 and 20: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SPORTS YOU’VE
Page 21 and 22: Be thankful for the precious things
Page 23 and 24: WINTER CAR CARE Tire care is crucia
Page 25: Aiming high to help children By Car
Page 29 and 30: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SOCIAL SCENE 1
Page 31 and 32: Superior Insulation. Superior Perfo

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