BeatRoute Magazine Alberta print e-edition - November 2016

CALGARY EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL
bringing the best of the other side of the Atlantic for five years by Jonathan Lawrence
Watching a foreign film generally involves a
degree of multitasking that gets even the
best of us. “I have to watch - and read? At
the same time?” you ask incredulously.
The most rewarding experiences often aren’t the
easiest though, and the Calgary European Film Festival
is returning for its fifth year to prove that stories rich in
character, setting, and culture are worth paying attention
to, and worth letting that poor bag of popcorn last
longer than the opening credits.
The Calgary European Film Festival, or CEFF, which
runs from November 7-13 this year, is an opportunity
for Western audiences to see European-made films that
would otherwise likely not see an overseas release. That
said, each production has received at least one international
award or other accolade from such notable
festivals as the Venice International Film Festival and
Cannes. This year’s line-up includes films from Albania,
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary,
Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain,
Switzerland, and Czech Republic – more countries than
ever before.
It is also running for a full week this year, up from a
four-day run in 2015.
Much like the other film festivals in Calgary such as
the Calgary Underground Film Festival and the International
Film Festival, the European Film Festival is seeing
rising attendance rates each year. We caught up with
Beatrix Downton, the board president for the European
Cultural Society of Calgary (organizer of CEFF) and
the representative of the German community for the
festival to discuss it in further detail.
“The image of Calgary as a backwater provincial
town is definitely long gone,” says Downton. “Calgary is
quite cosmopolitan, people are hungry for stories from
other cultures - our movies allow us to travel the world
without shelling out big bucks for airfare.”
Take a globetrot this month at the Globe.
Looking at the line-up of films this year, one can
easily see some recurring themes of complicated relationships,
outcasts in society, and other serious subject
matter. In response, Downton writes: “I love the way
European movies place the human experience at the
centre of the story. There might be less action…than in
many Hollywood productions [but] instead we get to
see stories that feel true to life, relatable to the viewer’s
own experience.”
Despite the dramatic nature of most of the films,
Downton assures that there is still a good dosage of
comedy and levity in the festival’s line-up. “[It’s] a great
way to address serious questions and make them approachable.”
She adds that she is most looking forward
to the quirky Life is a Trumpet from Croatia, and the
Austrian crime movie Life Eternal, which “brings some
unconventional dark humour to the screen.”
Even if you think foreign films aren’t your cup of
tea, Downton believes that if you like independent
cinema, you’ll love European film. The eclectic
culture of Europe embraces everything people love
about independent cinema, where anything and
everything is possible. Because of this, Downton says,
“There is room for many different stories, movies that
are fun, serious, exciting, sad, thought-provoking ...
and always entertaining.”
The opening night on November 7th will kick off
with Sieranevada (Romania, 2016), directed by Cristi
Puiu, who received the ICS Cannes Award for Best
Screenplay.
So this November, do yourself a favour and put
down Netflix for a bit, put on your reading glasses and
go experience some culture. Don’t worry, Luke Cage will
still be there when you get back. Probably.
Watch something from the other side of the world this
November at CEFF Nov. 7-13 at the Globe Cinema.
MARDA LOOP JUSTICE FILM FEST
free festival tackles the issues in an even bigger way by Claire Miglionico
From eating bugs to drones, the fertility industry to political prisoners,
Justice fest runs the gamut of contemporary issues.
The first time I attended the Marda
Loop Film Festival was at Mount Royal
University –then Mount Royal College
– circa. 2007. I had watched a documentary on
domestically abused women wrongly convicted
for the murder of their abusive husbands. I had
never seen a film rooted in social justice in such
a powerful and enraging way.
A decade later, the festival is still running
strong, with a lineup that spans over five days
rather than three, and four locations rather
than two.
“Now we have the John Dutton Theatre at
the Calgary Public Library, EMMEDIA, River
Park Church and the Globe Cinema as venues,”
says Caitlin Logan, the festival’s program chair
over the phone.
The best part? The festival has been free since
day one and aims to continue to be free, thanks
to their many community sponsors.
Logan had been an attendee of the festival
for about five years before she decided to
become a volunteer.
“I’ve always been a huge advocate of becoming
more aware of what’s going on in the
world. I had a friend who was involved in the
festival who introduced me to it. It seemed like
a perfect fit,” she says.
Logan is part of the panel of volunteers who
review the thousands of films that get submitted
to the festival each year. She says they are at
the time of year when filmmakers start submitting
films to the festival. The festival is open to
anyone who wants to submit.
The festival also looks to film festivals in Europe
and renowned festivals like Hot Docs for
inspiration on films that could pique Calgarians’
interests.
This year, already a handful of films are on my
“must-watch” list.
A Syrian Love Story sticks out. It’s a human
rights film that follows Amer and Raghda over
the span of five years as they fight for political
freedom under the tyrannical Assad dictatorship.
Amer and Raghda first meet in a Syrian
prison cell 15 years ago where they fall in love.
Upon their release, they get married and start
a family only to be torn apart again as Raghda
becomes once again a political prisoner.
Future Baby takes a look at the fertility industry
and how it has become the future of human
reproduction. Egg donors, surrogate mothers…
the options are endless for parents out there.
How far are we willing to go and what could be
some of the long-term impacts of using these
modified modes of reproduction?
National Bird is number one on my list and a
favourite of Logan’s. “It takes a look at the other
side of the military drone offences and looks at
the people who have to pilot drones and carry
out these missions using the drone, and the
psychological damage that they suffer while
doing this, “ says Logan.
The Apology tackles the topic of “comfort
women” who were forced into military sexual
slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during
World War II. It follows three, now grandmothers,
former comfort women, seeking
justice from the Japanese government.
Bugs will sure be the talk of the town. Insects
as food has become a hot topic and fits hand
in hand with the UN Sustainable Development
Goal #2 to end hunger, achieve food security,
improve nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture. Follow the filmmakers as they farm,
cook and taste bugs from around the world. If
you’re game, sample bugs for yourself after the
screening courtesy of Entomo Farms.
The Marda Loop Justice Film Festival runs November
15th to 20th and touches upon human
rights, social justice, environment and development
issues. The full schedule is available
at justicefilmfestival.ca.
20 | NOVEMBER 2016 • BEATROUTE FILM