VIC INDEPENDENT ANNOUNCES 2005 LINEUP!

The Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival has announced it’s largest lineup to date for its 10-day celebration of film, February 4 – 13, 2005.

"We're bringing the world to Victoria and at the same time showcasing Canadian and homegrown work” said Festival Director Kathy Kay. “The Vic Independent has become a strong, dynamic and multifaceted festival that Victorians are finding irresistible.”

With the Festival’s strong focus on Canadian films, the Gala Screening this year is
Quebec filmmaker Simon Sauve’s feature Jimmywork, a documentary about Jimmy Weber, a gambler, drinker and hopeless schemer pretending to be a big time American producer.

Director Larry Weinstein’s Beethoven’s Hair will have it’s world premiere in Victoria. The film follows the unlikely journey of a lock of hair cut from Beethoven’s corpse and unravels the mystery of his tortured life and death.

Irish director Danny Boyle’s new film Millions is a coup for the Victoria Festival. Once again Danny Boyle reinvents the cinematic experience with a heartwarming story of two little boys, faith, miracles... and lots of money.

The Festival’s tribute guest this year is animation icon, Bill Plympton whose award-winning and hilarious style is know the world over. His new feature Hair High will be screened as well as a program wholly comprised of some of his well–known and censored shorts.

American Jonathan Nossiter’s Mondovino, is an epic exploration into the modern world of wine that was presented in competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Nossiter has an unusual dual career that includes award-winning credentials as a filmmaker--his second feature, SUNDAY, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance--and sommelier, consultant, and wine writer.

Homegrown features include Lies Like Truth by first time helmer Michael Bateman and Falang: Behind Bangkok’s Smile by Victoria’s Jordan Clark.

Chinese director Liu Hao’s drama Two Great Sheep is a warm, neo-realist and subtly political look at social life in rural China. The producer LOLA will be attending from Bejing.

The Festival is also excited to be screening Gabriela Schonbach and Jill Sharpe’s Weird Sex and Snowshoes, based on Katherine Monk’s book of the same name. This fast-paced and funnydocumentary showcases more than 70 Canadian films and interviews 21 of the most prominent Canadian directors and is a must-see for any cinephile.

The Film Forum events will once again include master classes, workshops and panels covering a wide range of topics for the beginner or the seasoned filmmaker. This year the Festival is also launching it’s inaugural co-production conference, Trigger Points Pacific, an industry initiative hosted by Pat Ferns (Banff Film & Television Festival) and Sheena Macdonald (Rhombus Media). The conference which runs parallel to the festival will bring together top industry players with western Canadian producers to pitch their work and discuss co-production opportunities.

The Vic Independent showcases the best of independent cinema from around the world and from across Canada over 10 days in 5 venues. It also includes an extensive shorts program, CineKids, an art exhibition devoted to short film and the return of Interactive Futures with guest Char Davies, founder of SoftImage, and much more!

Film tickets and passes to all events are on sale at two box office locations: Bolen Books in Hillside Mall and the Festival Box Office at 808 View Street. Or call 250.216.4647 to charge by phone. Visit www.vifvf.com for festival details, schedules and event listing.

Give Hollywood a miss!

The 11th annual Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival will be held February 4 - 13, 2005.