Forest City Film Festival: A little TIFF, a Hollywood legend and a music party

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It will begin with a music video party and end with a celebration of a London-raised Hollywood legend.

The Forest City Film Festival on Thursday unveiled its 2024 lineup and over nine days in October organizers promise a diverse showcase of movies and events with a local focus married to a global vision.

“This is our coming-of-age year,” said executive director Dorothy Downs. “We’re very excited about this year. We work to put together a festival London can be proud of.”

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The Festival kicks off Oct. 19 with a music video party. Over the following nine days, it will screen more than 90 films, most of which have ties to Southwestern Ontario. But it will also showcase top films from festivals around the world including 10 that were screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

It will feature industry workshops for filmmakers, a community day of movies that this year honours South Asian film, an Indigenous program, the growing youth film festival and experimental films.

But the highlight will likely be the Lifetime Achievement Award on the final weekend, which will honour Hollywood veteran and London native Victor Garber. The festivities will include screening three of his films, including the historic box-office hit Titanic, throwing a party in his honour and a Sunday brunch with him as the guest.

“We have a ton of talent and we’re celebrating it,” Downs said.

The festival this year had more submissions from Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto, tapping into homegrown talent that has moved away but became aware their work can be showcased here, she added.

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ndebono@postmedia.com

2024 FOREST CITY FILM FESTIVAL

When: Oct. 19 to Oct 27

Where: Wolf Performance Hall, Imagine Cinemas and Museum London

Website: fcff.ca

THE KICKOFF

Oct. 19 with a music video party at Wolf Performance Hall, in collaboration with the London Music Office. The evening will feature screenings, live performances by Emanuel, Bella Rose and Charlie Weber, and an after-party. Canadian hip-hop icon Shad will announce the music video category winner, who will also receive an exchange opportunity with Hanover, Germany.

FCFF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

It will be presented to 75-year-old Victor Garber, who attended Ryerson elementary and Central secondary school as a boy in London before embarking on a sterling Hollywood career. He will participate in screenings and Q&A sessions for some of his more famous movies (Legally Blonde on  Oct. 25, Titanic, Oct. 26 and Godspell on Oct.  27). A red-carpet cocktail reception will take place Oct. 26 and a brunch on the final day of the Festival hosted by Michael Rubinoff, producer of the musical Come From Away.

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BEST OF THE WORLD FESTS

It will feature 20 films from major international film festivals, 10 of which were screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Screenings include the winner of the Cannes Grand Prix and an entry for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.

MOVIE HIGHLIGHTS

• The first film of the festival will be Adrianne and the Castle, a documentary about love and overcoming loss by acclaimed filmmaker Shannon Walsh.
• Fortescue, a world premiere, showcases the talents of Goderich actor Kelsey Falconer along with Cambridge cinematographer Eric Rowe.
• All The Lost Ones: Stratford native MacKenzie Donaldson (daughter of actors Sheila McCarthy and Peter Donaldson) makes her feature film directorial debut.
• A Thousand Cuts: All of it was filmed in London at Woodholme Manor.
• Deep Dives: A program featuring two films: Atrocity, about homelessness in London, by Nigel Stuckey, and Dark Highway, about human trafficking along the Highway 401 corridor.

FCFF’S INDIGENOUS PROGRAM

Curated by Judith Kanatahawi Schuyler, the program will feature several films offering insight into Indigenous stories and cultures.

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 FCFF SOUTH ASIAN FILM DAY

On Oct 23, with a diverse lineup of movies showcasing South Asian cinema. The day will also include a showcase of food and music from the region.

THE ONTARIO SCREEN CREATORS CONFERENCE (OSCC)

Running from October 24-26, will provide 30 sessions, six  networking events, and two pitch opportunities. This conference aims to foster professional development and networking for both established filmmakers and emerging creators.  The Project Pitch contest will award $62,000 to the best feature film project ready for production in London and $13,500 for the best Short Film. Pitches will be presented live on October 24 and 26, with judging by nationally renowned industry professionals. 

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