Starting with a film that has a distinct local flavour, the first annual Langley International Film Festival (LIFF) promises to give local film buffs plenty to chew on.
The Langley School District Foundation in partnership with Langley Film Nights Shot in the Dark and the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) presents LIFF the weekend of Feb. 19 to 21.
The festival opens with NUMB, an edgy, provocative film directed by Langley’s Jason Goode.
The film is Goode’s premiere screening and the cast and crew will be in attendance both at the film and during the opening night gala at lelem’ Arts and Culture Café.
All screenings will take place at Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley with proceeds from ticket and concession sales going to support art and film programs in the Langley School District.
The screenings expand on the Langley Film Nights Shot in the Dark, noted LIFF committee member Barb Mykle-Hotzon.
“We rent a theatre at Colossus every other Wednesday night and show films from the Toronto International Film Festival,” Mykle-Hotzon explained. “It fills a need in our community. So many people want to see films that aren’t Hollywood blockbusters, but are independent and/or foreign films that they would otherwise not have access to.”
Aside from LIFF, Shot in the Dark shows TIFF films from January to May, before starting up again in September to the end of November.
Between 120 to 150 people come to screenings.
Now, Langley Film Nights is partnering with the Langley School District Foundation for the first ever film festival.
LIFF features six screenings:
Friday, Feb. 19
– 7 p.m.
NUMB: When a couple in financial distress discovers GPS coordinates that promise to lead to stolen gold, they must partner with a pair of mysterious hitchhikers to enter the remote winter wilderness to recover the coins.
Friday, Feb. 19
– 9 to 10:30 p.m.
Opening Night Gala: Aprés movie featuring wine, hors d’oeuvres and discussions with director, cast and crew from NUMB at lelem’ cafe.
Saturday, Feb. 20
– 2 to 4 p.m.
Sleeping Giant: A study of the emotional extremes of adolescence and their potentially catastrophic effects.
Saturday, Feb. 20 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Carol: A drama starring Cate Blanchett, the film is set in 1952 in New York City, and is the story of a young photographer and her relationship with an older woman going through a difficult divorce.
Saturday, Feb. 20 – 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Student-produced vignettes: Explorations as only teenagers can write, describe and put onto film. Meet the students, and herald in the next generation of Spielbergs.
Sunday, Feb. 21
– 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Trumbo: In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood’s top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.
Sunday, Feb. 21 3 to 5 p.m.
Room: Co-starring nine-year-old Langley actor Jacob Tremblay, this film is about Jack, a little boy and his mother who escape to the outside world after years of confinement.
Jacob will be in attendance and will be available for a question-and-answer period afterwards.
All screenings will be held at Chief Sepass Theatre, 9096 Trattle St.
Tickets are $10 per screening. Gala is $25. Three-day passes including all six screenings is $50.
For tickets, contact Langley School District Foundation executive director Susan Cairns at 604-532-1464 or scairns@sd35.bc.ca.
To purchase tickets online, visit langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com.