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Around the Circle This Week: February 22, 2019

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This except article was posted original on Lake Superior Magazine on by and rereposted with permission.

Source: https://www.lakesuperior.com/blogs/superior-notes/around-the-circle-this-week-february-22-2019/

An Amazing Survivor: This week at the Shadows of the Mind Film Festival in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a Thunder Bay filmmaker will speak about her latest film, “Angelique’s Isle,” released last fall. The film is based on the amazing true story of Angelique Mott, who with her husband, Charles, was stranded over the winter in 1845-6 when a copper miner, who promised to pick them up, never came. The island today is called Mott Island, part of the Isle Royale National Park. Faced with starvation, the couple struggled and Charles became increasingly unhinged. He even attempted an attack on Angelique, but later came to his senses. Charles died, but Angelique, an Anishinaabe woman, survived thanks to incredible perseverance and skills learned during her upbringing. Writer/director Michelle Derosier, who also is Anishinaabe, describes the plot online as a harrowing tale of survival in which “Angelique is ultimately forced to face her inner demons and beliefs as the unbelievably beautiful, yet treacherous wilderness threatens to claim her.” Starring in the film, shot around Thunder Bay, are Julia Jones as Angelique, Aden Young as Charles and Tantoo Cardinal as Angelique’s grandmother. Michelle, a member of the Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation, will be at the 2:30 p.m. March 2nd showing of the film at the festival and will answer audience questions. Mikel B. Classen does a detailed retelling of the Mott story online, including quotes by Angelique after her rescue.

Another Local Cinematic Achievement: Also for its 20th anniversary year, the nine-day Shadows of the Mind Film Festival will kick off tomorrow with a Toronto International Film Festival selection, “Giant Little Ones” by director/writer Keith Behrman. In the coming-of-age story, teenager Franky Winter (Josh Wiggins) faces turmoil and a break with his lifelong best friend, Ballas Kohl (Darren Mann), after an incident at a party. Kyle MacLachlan and Maria Bello play Franky’s divorced parents. The movie was filmed in and around Sault Ste. Marie. Saturday launches with 6 p.m. gala, followed by the 7 p.m. showing of the film and 9 p.m. after party. The film was also nominated for People’s Choice Award and voted among the Toronto festival’s top 10 Canadian Features.

Photo & graphic credits: Angelique’s Isle; Giant Little Ones

Two films with strong Sault connections set to screen this weekend

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This article was posted original on SooToday on by SooToday Staff. reposted with permission.

Source: https://www.sootoday.com/local-entertainment/two-films-with-strong-sault-connections-set-to-screen-this-weekend-852638

Laurie Holden is pictured in this 'Pyewacket' video still

The 19th annual Shadows of the Mind Film Festival wraps up this weekend with a number of highly anticipated screenings, including two with Sault connections.

In 2016, local zombie fans were all abuzz as news spread that actress Laurie Holden – AKA Andrea Harrison from The Walking Dead – was in town for a film shoot. That film, Pyewacket, is set to screen at 9:45 p.m. Saturday night at the Grand Theatre. Billed as a a psychological horror, Pyewacket premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to great reviews and is director Adam MacDonald’s second feature-length film.

 

“…one of Pyewacket’s triumphs is the way it keeps its horrors grounded in reality, and its character in the forefront, proving you can be both smart and pretty scary; a good lesson for the genre.” – Chris Knight, National Post

The 2018 drama Prodigals is scheduled for a showing on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Grand Theatre, and was co-written by former Saultite Sean Minogue. The film is set in Sault Ste. Marie.

Prodigals synopsis: Wesley, a law school flame out, returns to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie for the first time since leaving five years earlier, at the request of his childhood friend Nina whose younger brother is on trial for murder. Having come back under the guise that he’s become a big city lawyer, Wesley falls deeper and deeper into the trial without making it known that he isn’t the beacon of success that everyone thinks he is.

Other films showing this weekend during this year’s Shadows of the Mind Film Festival include Meditation Park, Lady Bird, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, and Lucky.

‘No longer the Sault’s best kept secret’

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This article was posted original on SooToday on Marchby Darren Taylor reposted with permission.

Source: https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/no-longer-the-saults-best-kept-secret-552456

Movie lovers have enjoyed the 2017 Shadows of the Mind Film Festival. Photo supplied, Shadows of the Mind Film Festival.

The Sault’s Shadows of the Mind Film Festival is enjoying what one of its organizers calls “a banner year.”

“This year we’ve had a really positive response from the community, we’re no longer the Sault’s best kept secret,” Shadows co-director and programmer Bill MacPherson told SooToday Saturday.

“We average about 3,000 people coming through the doors every year, we’ve passed that and we’re doing really well this year.”

“We’ve had four sellouts, three ‘almost sell outs’, really well attended, with a real rounding of both public and corporate sponsorships.”

This year’s festival, the 18th annual, began Feb. 27 and goes to Mar. 5.

Shadows consists of an annual series of chosen films that look at life through the lens of mental health.

The festival has grown over the years as awareness about mental health issues has grown.

 

“We look to reduce the stigma of mental health issues and addictions, and we look at social issues like homelessness as well,” MacPherson said.

The festival includes not only the films themselves but also panel discussions centred around a variety of mental health and social issues.

Panelists have included psychiatrists, social workers and police officers.

“We’ve been around for 18 years because we’re relevant and people want to see good cinema,” MacPherson said.

Shadows films come from various countries and have been shown at Galaxy Cinemas and The Grand Theatre.

This year, a gala screening was held at The Machine Shop, attracting 200 people.

This year’s festival includes 26 films, from North America and around the world.  

Three films were locally produced; Mean Dreams, Lost & Found and Heroes of a Different Kind: Rise of the Dark Panther.

“What we want most is people to talk about the films,” MacPherson said.

MacPherson estimated the cost of organizing this year’s festival to be between $20,000 and $25,000.

“If we break even we’re happy.  We’re a non-profit, charitable organization and we use some of our proceeds for our summer series at Bellevue Park.” 

“It’s worth it.  We’re all volunteers, and it’s powered by good will and people who love film.”

“People hear about us and then they become involved with us, a lot of it is spread by word of mouth.”

MacPherson said it is no small task for organizers to get hold of the films and organize a film festival when so many watch movies at home, either through cable or Netflix or other sources.

“(But) I think people still want to get together and watch films on the big screen, and talk about the films.”

Shadows of the Mind Film Fest to screen flick shot in the Sault

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This article was posted original on SooToday on by SooToday Staff. reposted with permission.

Source: https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/shadows-of-the-mind-film-fest-to-screen-flick-shot-in-the-sault-172052

Tickets went on sale yesterday for the 15th annual Shadows of the Mind Film Festival, which will host films from around the world in Sault Ste. Marie from February 26 through March 2, 2014.

The festival kicks off with a pre-Shadows screening of the documentary The Crash Reel at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25 in the Sault College Media Centre.

Admission to this film is by donation to the Rainbow Camp for LGBTQ and Allied Youth.

The Shadows of the Mind anniversary gala takes place on Wednesday, February 26 in The Gallery at Sault College starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the gala are $30 and includes food, refreshments, live entertainment, and a screening of Cas & Dylan at 8 p.m.

Partially filmed in Sudbury, Ontario and directed by Jason Priestley, Cas & Dylan is a comedy/drama starting Richard Dreyfuss.

Other films scheduled to screen during the festival include The Broken Circle Breakdown, Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska, Empire of Dirt, Good Vibrations, and Inequality For All.

The Canadian documentary 3rd World Canada will show at the Grand Theatre at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 27.

Director Andrée Cazabon will be present to introduce the film and discuss her experiences making the documentary.

Foxfire, based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang, was filmed in Sault Ste. Marie by director Laurent Cantet who won the 2008 Palme D’or.

Foxfire will screen on Sunday, March 2 at 9 a.m. at Galaxy Cinemas in the Station Mall.

This event includes special guest appearances by stars of the film, Katie Coseni (Maddy) and Madeleine Bisson (Rita).

Both Of Two Minds and What About Bob, which show at the Grand Theatre on February 26, are free to attend.

Attendance to the 1:30 p.m. screening of Hepatitis C: The Silent Epidemic on February 28 at the Grand Theatre is by donation of non-perishable food items to benefit the Soup Kitchen Community Centre.

The Shadows of the Mind Film Festival Box Office, located at the Dennis Street entrance of the Station Mall, will remain open until February 25.

Box Office hours:

Monday to Friday – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday – noon to 5 p.m.

After February 25, tickets may be purchased during festival hours at the Grand Theatre, 641 Queen Street East.


Story of Luke director to attend Shadows of the Mind

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This article was posted original on SooToday on by Donna Hopper. reposted with permission.

Source: https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/story-of-luke-director-to-attend-shadows-of-the-mind-164817

Shadows of the Mind Film Festival has just released the first preliminary schedule of its 2013 films and events.

Festival organizers anticipate that tickets will be available starting Thursday, February 14 at the Community Box Office in the Station Mall.

Festival highlights thus far include the opening night gala at The Gallery in Sault College on February 27 featuring a screening of the film Robot and Frank at 8 p.m., and a screening of The Story of Luke on March 3 at 9:45 a.m. at Galaxy Cinemas in the Station Mall.

Starring Cary Elwes, Seth Green and Lou Taylor Pucci, writer/ director Alonso Mayo filmed The Story of Luke in Sault Ste. Marie during the summer of 2011 and will be present for a Q and A session following the Shadows screening.

Extremely popular as it made its way through the global film festival circuit, The Story of Luke has won a number of awards, including Best Film, San Diego Film Festival; American Indie Audience Award, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival; Audience Award, Bahamas International Film Festival; Best Film, Best Actor (Lou Taylor Pucci), Best Director and Best Trailer, Irvine International Film Festival; and People’s Choice Award for Best Film, Saint Augustine Film Festival.

In addition to Shadows of the Mind, The Story of Luke is currently schedule to screen at a number of other film festivals in the coming months in San Francisco, Denver, Green Bay, Byron Bay (Australia), San Luis Obispo (California), Omaha (New England), and Phoenix.