The popular St. John's Women's International Film
Festival will celebrate its 21st opening night this evening (Tuesday,
October 26) with local filmmaker Barbara Doran's documentary
Still
Rowdy After All These Years
, a portrait of internationally-acclaimed
actor, and provincial icon, Gordon Pinsent. The event begins at 8:00
p.m.
The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, will attend the opening of the festival, which
will feature 74 films from filmmakers representing 11 countries
throughout the globe.
"The Provincial Government is a proud supporter of
this highly-acclaimed festival, which has become a magnet for talented
female filmmakers and film-lovers everywhere," said Minister French. "It
is an excellent opportunity to highlight our filmmaking community, our
capital city, and for festival organizers to host a series of workshops,
watch some terrific films, and generally inspire and learn from each
other in a creative environment."
Budget 2010: The Right Investments —
For Our
Children, And Our Future
has allocated $60,000 in operational
support for the festival through the 2010 Cultural Economic Development
Program (CEDP), and an additional $52,623 through the Department of
Human Resources, Labour and Employment's Job Creation Partnership (JCP)
program.
"Through the JCP program, we are pleased to support
the St. John's Women's International Film Festival and provide five
individuals with an opportunity to learn new skills in an emerging
sector of our economy," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of
Human Resources, Labour and Employment. "This festival is an incredible
example of how individuals partner to deliver a very successful showcase
of local, national and international talent. Support from the Department
of Human Resources, Labour and Employment has provided for the hiring of
an event coordinator, volunteer coordinator, guest-hospitality
coordinator, social media and online marketing coordinator, and an
assistant technical coordinator — all of whom will help ensure this
event is a resounding success once again this year."
"The festival is grateful to the Provincial Government
for its ongoing support, without which we'd be unable to showcase
Newfoundland and Labrador's phenomenally-talented artists and
filmmakers," said Noreen Golfman, Chair of the St. John's International
Women's Film Festival. "The province's cultural plan,
Creative
Newfoundland and Labrador
, well appreciates our contributions to the
community, and we, in turn, enjoy a healthy partnership with them as we
endorse their mission."
For a detailed listing of the festival's scheduled
screenings and events, visit:
www.womensfilmfestival.com.
The 2010 CEDP is providing $1.2 million in operational
and project support to the professional arts sector, and about $1.3
million to the heritage sector, for a total of almost $2.5 million. CEDP
projects are selected based on the strength of the business plans,
vision and potential for development within the sector. For more
information on the CEDP program and application guidelines, visit:
www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/artsculture/cedp/index.html.
Through Job Creation Partnerships, non-profit
community-based organizations and municipal governments partner with the
Provincial Government to address local priority needs. For more
information on the Job Creation Partnership Program, visit:
www.gov.nl.ca/hrle/lmda
.
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