BY JAMES FW THOMPSON
The seventh annual Lumiere Arts Festival is just around the corner, and it’s being kicked off in a big way on Thursday, September 21 with a screening of new films at the Highland Arts Theatre!
The screening will begin with 7 short films by various Canadian directors. The collection of short films takes the viewer on a journey around Canada, through time, and across a wide spectrum of film genres. Showcasing animation, drama, science fiction, documentary and experimental works, this is a collection that scratches the surface of a diverse and complex Canada.
Also included is the feature-length We Have An Anchor, a documentary-based, interdisciplinary project by film-maker Jem Cohen. The film is based on 10 years worth of footage gathered in Cape Breton and mainland Nova Scotia with subjects ranging from poems and folklore to scientific research and local news stories. Truly something for everyone, all wrapped up in a filmed-package!
Cohen has films in the collections of NYC’s Museum of Modern Art and have been broadcast on PBS, Arte, and the Sundance Channel. He has also collaborated with such artists as Fugazi, Patti Smith, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, R.E.M., and The Ex. Jem will be in attendance at the HAT and there will be a Q&A session following the film.
The Lumière Arts Festival worked with local filmmaker and programmer Nelson Macdonald to bring this event to Sydney as part of the annual contemporary arts festival.
“One of the perks of being a filmmaker is you get the chance to travel to film festivals around the world and see the best films of the year.” Macdonald explains. “I’ve been to big events like TIFF, Berlin, and Cannes, as well as smaller festivals in places as diverse as Northern Quebec and Portugal. The short film screening at Lumière is a chance for me to share some of the very best Canadian short works I’ve seen during my time at festivals.”
He adds, “As an extra bonus we get the Atlantic Canadian premiere of celebrated filmmaker Jem Cohen’s feature-length love-letter to Cape Breton, We Have An Anchor. From experience, I can assure you, we are in for a world-class night of cinema on September 21st at the HAT.”
The screening will take place on Thursday, September 21st at 7pm at the Highland Arts Theatre, and is free for the public to attend. More information on the films being screened can be found at lumierecb.com.
For more information about Lumière visit lumierecb.com or check out the Facebook event.
