Ottawa Film Fest Shapes Up As Blockbuster

Monday, July 12^th, 2010

Still image from Spoon an “endearingly awkward” love story that will premier at OIFF, produced by Karim Ayari and directed by Ayari and Amanda Asselin.

It’s been a crazy, whirlwind year for Nina Bains—almost like something out of a movie, which is appropriate because as executive director of the fledgling Ottawa International Film Festival (OIFF) it looks like she’s got a blockbuster on her hands.

After a few years at the helm of the highly success local-only boxcART film compeition, Bains took the next step and opened things up with OIFF.

“It’s all happened so quickly and naturally,” exclaimed Bains. “It’s been nothing short
of a whirlwind through candyland!”

“In last ten months we have gathered local artists, musicians and photographers together to create a unique annual event that will become part of Ottawa’s already vibrant cultural landscape,” Bains continued.” We have already had enormous interest expressed by individuals who have offered to volunteer and help make this a reality.”

Slated for four days at three venues in late August, OIFF will include feature films from Canada, the UK, Spain, Swedend, India, and Columbia, as well as a spotlight on short films from Ottawa and a local music video challenge.

Noting how Ottawa seemed to lack “a niche for independent sub-culture films from rising directors, producers, and actors,” the proactive Bains envisioned “one event that will collect these talented people at the same place in the same time.”

While initial response has been stellar, Bains sees it as just the beginning.

“We are so impressed by the excellent selection of shorts films and feature films that we have received from filmmakers and I feel very confident in saying that these films are just the tip of the talent iceburg!”

The festival will include Canadian films from Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Edmonton. A selection of original Canadian short films will premiered at OIFF, along with several entries from Canada’s Top Ten Short Films of 2009 from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

“For the first time Ottawa is part of the Canadian film circuit that TIFF has in place,”said Bains. “I can’t even wrap my head around that! Simply blows me away.”

While Bains says that sponsorship has been a challenge in the early days of OIFF, she is buoyed by a groundswell of encouragement from the cultural community here and elsewhere.

“We are contstantly getting emails of support or one-liners on Facebook and Twitter
from viewers and filmmakers. People are very excited and want to get involved. There is a forward momentum moving at mach 10, so much so that our staff of 13 is very busy trying to manage it all.”

The four-day OIFF currently looks like this:

August 19^th: Festival kick off party at Foundation bar

August 20^th: Music Video Challenge Screenings at Lieutenant’s Pump

August 21^st: Canadian films, with a spotlight on short films from Ottawa — Mayfair Theatre

August 22^nd: Features and short films from Canada, the UK, Spain, Sweden, India and Colombia — Mayfair Theatre

For more information: http://www.oiff.ca

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