Local Focus 3 Announces Line-Up

Local Focus is returning for its third annual year from March 18th to 21st, and regional filmmakers are well represented with several shorts in a wide range of genres. “In this festival we continue celebrating the excellence aiming to highlight the work of local film-makers and provide opportunity for the public to meet local film-makers, cast and crews,” said a press release from the festival’s organizer, the Multicultural Cinema Club.

Local Focus will once again offer films in the feature, short, documentary and animation categories, as well as screening a Youth Directors program to highlight filmmakers 18 years of age and under. Additionally, the MCC is integrating a 24 hour film competition into the festival where teams will have 24 hours to make a film over the March 13th to 14th weekend, the weekend before the festival.

Several local luminaries will be called upon to judge all the films in the festival. Philippa Gates (English & Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University), Steve Parr (Coordinator, Broadcast Journalism Conestoga College), John Tutt, (Founder/owner/manager Princess Cinemas, Waterloo), Michael Greaves (Founder/owner Generation X Video in Waterloo), David Finlay (Equine Guelph, University of Guelph), and Mick Grogan (Filmmaker), will sit on the jury to choose the winners across Local Focus’ five categories. People’s Choice awards will also be given out for each category. Winners will be announced at the Festival’s closing gala on Sunday night.

For more information please check out the Multicultural Cinema Club’s website, call 519-743-1151 ext 146 or e-mail: film-making@theworkingcentre.org. Below is the full Festival schedule.

Thursday March 18th

6 pm Gala at Kitchener City Hall

The festival kicks off with a celebration, music and entertainment, announcing the Waterloo Region Film Society by Joseph Chen, there will be some brief speeches of introduction and the distribution of artists fees. Clips from each movie will be playing on big screen. Everybody is welcomed.

7:30 pm Screening at Kitchener City Hall

Kissed By Lightning (2009) , director: Shelley Niro, 1:25 hrs

Friday March 19th

7 pm Screening at Kitchener City Hall

Agent Lee Jackson (2010): Director: Connor Barnett, 3 min
The Boobytrap(2009): Directors: Elizabeth Dent & Mary Lalonde, 11:30 min
Mind’s Eye(2009): Director: Thomas M. Gofton, 12 min
War Machine(2009): Director: Craig Hennessey, 9:40 min
Que Sara (2009): Directors: Jonathon Lucas, Tallen Kay, Fiona Chan, Adien Huisman, 7 min (World Premiere)
Her(2009): Director: Angus Mclellan, 4:55 min
Cast Lead (2009): Director: Taghreed Saadeh, 33 min (World Premiere)
Along the Grand River (2010): director: Dragan Doric, 26 min (World Premiere)

Saturday March 20th

2 pm Screening at Kitchener City Hall

All movies created by “24 Hour Film Challenge” teams

7 pm Screening at Kitchener City Hall

The Promise (2009): Director: Alex Szatmary, 1 min
Shattered (2009): Director: Alex Szatmary, 4 min
Not A Friendship (2009): Director: Uzma Khan, 7:41 min (World Premiere)
Shades of Grey (2010): Director: Nick Montgomery, 7:54 min
On The Way (2009): Directors: Scoot Meaows, Emily Buck, 16:03 min (World Premiere)
The Interview (2009): Director: Dave McLeod, 6 Min
My Trip with The Traveling Guru (2010): Director: Marjonneke Grech, 23 min
Dear John (2010): Director: Mark Lammert, 33 min

Sunday March 21st

2 pm Screening at Kitchener City Hall

Rangers (2009): Directors: Justin Lenssen, 1:20 min
Be Free (2009): Directors: Sara Johns & Carissa Schency, 2:40 min (World Premiere)
Humanoid (2009): Director: Torin Langen, 13:36 min (World Premiere)
Nameless (2008): Director: Greg Kavacs, 20 min
Wide Asleep (2009): Director: Joel Di Giacomo, 7:41 min
Vengeance (2009): Director: James C. Golden, 7 Min (World Premiere)
Before it is Too Late ( 2009): Director: Andrew Matheson, 4 min
Addictions (2009): Director: Jessica Paynter, 6:38 min (Canadian Premiere)
Going to the Moon (2009): Producers: Isabel Cisterna & Azam Fouk Aladeh, 47 min (Canadian Premiere)

7 pm Wrap-up celebration: at the Walper Hotel Ball Room (2nd floor)

There will be refreshments, music and cash bar, clips of all movies will be playing. At this event we will announce the winners of the Jury Award and People’s Choice Award in each category, winners in 24 hour film challenge, there will be distribution of trophies certificates and cash money awards. Everybody is welcome.