Regent Park Film Festival set to debut at the area s new arts and cultural centre

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1 Home Lifestyle A&E People & Community Money & Careers Fashion Beauty Opinion Search the site... Home» Community, Lifestyle Regent Park Film Festival set to debut at the area s new arts and cultural centre 30 September 2011 No Comments 0 By Felicia Cartey All dressed up and nowhere to go might not be such a bad thing for locals during the Regent Park Film Festival. This year marks the ninth fest, and the last time it will be held outside of the neighbourhood. The annual event, which screens films from the community, nationally and abroad, is set to move into the Regent Park Arts and Cultural Centre. Slated to open in early 2012, a number of arts organizations will share the space and its amenities as part of the greater redevelopment project. The new centre will include a theatre, allowing local filmmakers and attendees to feel right at home during screenings. 1/6

2 We want the residents to come out and to feel that this is their festival, their showcase to themselves, the community, and the Greater Toronto Area, explains the festival s interim executive director, Richard Fung. I want it to be well known in the community and have people bring their friends and families out to see their films. We want kind of a community barbecue feel and, at the same time, a glamour night to make everyone in the community feel that buzz. Keeping things close to home is just the sort of grassroots approach that Fung claims has given the festival a five-star rating with critics. Year-round community screenings at neighbourhood schools and an emphasis on local filmmakers has allowed the lens of the fest to remain focused on issues relevant to Regent Park residents. However, the festival also brings in young artists from abroad to create panels that allow all youth to discuss similarities or differences in their life experiences and in their creative work. We received films from Kenya and even from the Middle East, Fung says. It s interesting to see a package from Egypt at the office. It s like, Wow, we re actually reaching around the world, which is great. Closer to home, Fung looks to create common ground across the GTA through continued requests for screenings all over the city, which he hopes can one day curb turf wars. I m all about finding common ground with somebody, and film is common ground for all these communities. This year, the festival saw more than 200 film submissions in a range of languages, including French, Hindi, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Tamil. In line with the festival s accessibility mandate, each film has English subtitles. Also due to that mandate, the entire festival, which takes place from Nov. 2 to 5 at various locations in Toronto, is free. Those living in Regent Park, take heed: if you want to get out to the festival, this is your last year. From now on, you ll be staying at home. Blog this! Digg this post Buzz it up Share on Linkedin Share via MySpace Share with Stumblers Print for later Tell a friend 6 0 Like 2/6

3 Related Articles: Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre thrives 42 per cent of Canadians are semi-illiterate Education brought Ainsworth Morgan back to Regent Park At home with Hazel and Ainsworth Morgan The Collective of Black Artists extends its reach (No Ratings Yet) Leave your response! Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS. Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website (optional) Submit Comment Your Your name 3/6

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