The Oakville Festivals of Film & Art (OFFA), Oakville’s first and only independent film and arts festival, is proud to announce the lineup for its second annual film festival, June 26-28, in Oakville, Ontario.
A select lineup of Canadian and international films, documentaries and shorts will be showcased at this year’s event, hosted by the veteran critic and columnist, Rob Salem.
A full film list is attached, but these are the major highlights:
OFFA is proud to announce the GALA EASTERN CANADIAN PREMIERE of the BBC’s much-acclaimed WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY (Friday, 26 June at 8 pm at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts). Billy Connolly (Quartet, Brave), Oscar nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Jack Reacher) and David Tennant (Broadchurch, Doctor Who) star in this heartwarming and hilarious tale of a fractious family gathering in the scenic Highlands of Scotland, and what happens when three precocious children decide to take matters into their own hands. An AFTER PARTY will follow the screening.
The festival continues into the weekend of the 27th and 28th June, at the OFFA premiere venue, film.ca theatres in Oakville, with the WORLD FESTIVAL PREMIERE of the compelling social-issues documentary, A WOMAN’S STORY. Shot on location in Canada, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Poland, the film looks at genocide, survival and physical and cultural continuity through the eyes of three women who have experienced three different genocides of the 20th century. A Woman’s Story puts women at the front and centre of the narrative, transcending their victimization by highlighting their resilience and survival. (The documentary was created by director Azra Rashid’s company, Les Productions Point de Vue Inc, and was funded by a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.) Rashid will be present to introduce the film and do a Q&A after, to be followed by a panel discussion with women featured in the documentary.
Other featured documentaries include INDIA’S DAUGHTER, the story of the gang rape and murder of a young woman that shocked the world and sparked riots and protests all over India, and the award-winning Canadian doc, LISTEN TO ME, which deals with expressive arts healing for survivors of child sexual abuse or family violence.
In keeping with themes related to women’s issues, OFFA is also proud to screen Albert Shin’s award-winning film IN HER PLACE, as well as the Israeli feature GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM, which won Best Picture award from the Israeli Film Academy, and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes.
The festival features a stellar line-up of Canadian films, including the EASTERN CANADIAN PREMIERE of MOUNTAIN MEN, a comedy/drama about two estranged brothers and their efforts to evict a squatter from their remote family cabin. Filmmaker Jason James will be in attendance to introduce the film. Producer Cameron Labine will conduct a Q&A following the screening.
Image Nation Films’ humorous WHEN THE OCEAN MET THE SKY follows three 20-something brothers on a wilderness adventure, as required by the last will and testament of their late and eccentric parents. Co-writer and star Spencer Foley will be on hand for a Q&A following the film. Director and writer Valerie Buhagiar (plus unconfirmed cast) will also attend the screening of her comedy/drama, THE ANNIVERSARY, which tells the story of a wife preparing to celebrate her 20th anniversary without her husband, who disappeared the morning of the party. The film was named Best Comedic Film at Cinequest.
Mississauga director and Sheridan College alumnus Richie Mehta’s latest film, SIDDARTH, will also be showcased at the festival, with the director in attendance for a Q&A. Shot in India, this exceptional film shows the consequences that a family must face after sending their 12-year-old child to work in a factory in India.
First-time director and award-winning actor Shaun Benson’s BARN WEDDING will get a regional premiere at OFFA, with international award-winning screenwriter Kelly McCormack and co-producer and star Emily Coutts also in attendance for a Q&A. And the critically-acclaimed, unconventional romance by writer/director Matt Sadowski, LET’S PRETEND WE'RE KISSING, also makes its OFFA debut.
The Canadian line-up also includes a Brit-poppy, mirthfully musical audience favourite, the Toronto-shot THE COCKSURE LADS, to screen complete with a solo performance by writer/director Murray Foster, and a Q&A following the screening with filmmakers and cast.
Our selection of exceptional international films include French director Jann Demange’s critically acclaimed ’71, the story of a British soldier accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast in 1971.
Preceding the film will be the REGIONAL PREMIERE of the acclaimed Canadian short, WHITE LOCK, with director Mark Datuin (Resilience Films) and cast in attendance to introduce the film, an award-winner at festivals around the world. The film is about six individuals tormented by personal tragedy and the irrational decisions that bind them to their fate.
The surprising and uniquely provocative French feature, THE NEW GIRLFRIEND, will also screen at this year’s festival, as will the comedic love story, LOVE, ROSIE, a German/UK coproduction which was filmed primarily in Toronto.
Other documentary screenings include HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD, the historically fascinating story of Greenpeace, with Canadian Producer John Murray in attendance for a Q&A. Also screening is Sheridan college professor, director, and Oakville resident Vladimir Kabelik’s documentary, STAY! AUBREY, the story of music prodigy and legendary Canadian jazz drummer Aubrey Dayle’s battle with a killer disease.
Tickets Available Now!
Visit www.offa.ca to buy tickets, or email us at [email protected], or call us at 647-557-2210. Adult Single tickets are $16, Student tickets are $12, and Gala Premiere tickets are available for $25, as well as themed ticket packages including a Survival, Women’s, Romance, and Rogues and Heroes package.
