If you’re looking for variety, the Yorkton Film Festival is the place to be. We have stories of stunning photography, heroism, satire and much more. Come to the Gallagher Centre May 22 and 23 and see what we have to offer.
Visiting Day – Friday, May 22 at 2:30
This film takes us into Folsom Prison on visiting day, into a world where the inmate finds dignity and self-change through poetry and music. This is a story of hope and optimism for the prisoner and society as a whole.
Nayan and the Evil Eye – Saturday, May 23 at 2:35
This film is a fascinating story of a young boy named Nayan who finds a mysterious glass eye and discovers that it holds some dangerous power. The script, reminiscent of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, is a fitting narration for the foreboding atmosphere of the film.
Flankers – Saturday, May 23 at 4:10
At some of our festivals, a theme seems to appear and reappear in our film entries. Last year it was the coyote. This year it is the much loved province of Newfoundland. I’ve already mentioned 54 Hours and Puffin Patrol, both set on The Rock. This film is a dramatic account of feuding Newfoundland fishermen who set aside their conflicts when an emergency arises.
Life on Juniper – Saturday, May 23 at 3:10
We know about the difficulties people face as they age. We know about the difficulties families face as the elderly lose their independence. Strangely enough, this film takes a poignant look at the issue through the character of an alien from outer space.
Home Cooked Music – Saturday, May 23 at 10:10
This is a playful, folksy look at Lorne Collie, an eccentric inventor who has transformed lawn rakes, stop signs, and bent pitchforks into fully playable banjos, fiddles and violins. He tells us he’s having more fun than he’s had in a long time and feeling more than alive. So will viewers of this engaging film.
Kiri’s Piano – Saturday, May 23 at 3:50
We’ve studied the history of Japanese relocation and internment during the Second World War but as much as a text book reveals the facts, it cannot portray the feelings of the people who live the events. Kiri’s Piano tells of a family torn apart and of a woman whose music allows her to retain her dignity and personal freedom through these times of suffering and injustice.
Sahar – Friday, May 22 at 9:45
Sahar is a carefree and rebellious daughter of a traditional family. This film shows the resulting tension and the consequences of cultures at odds with each other.
A Boy Named Moses – Friday, May 22 at 2:35
This film shows the power of investigative journalism. It begins in a chaotic orphanage in Liberia where, one day in 2006, a couple arrives from Canada to adopt a boy named Moses. Within months, the couple decides the boy is too troublesome and so they put him up for adoption – on the internet! They quickly find a willing taker in Texas - and soon Moses is on his way south to begin a new life with a complete stranger.
Secret War – Friday, May 22 at 10:10
I like film that shows optimism in the face of trouble. That’s what Secret War does. It shows the emotional journey of two military personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, veterans who find their way through equine therapy.
Some Lots – Friday, May 22 at 1:00
“An historic tour of a few of downtown Winnipeg’s many surface parking lots” – that is the synopsis we received from the filmmaker. The description, however, misses the obvious – the humour in the film. If the festival were to give an award for satire, this entry would be the clear winner. Come and see a history tour that is so much more.
The Match – Friday, May 22 at 1:30
The Match follows two performers in a struggling independent wrestling promotion, the Prairie Wrestling Alliance. It explores the impact that their vocation has on their personal lives and the psychology behind why audiences are drawn to this pseudo-blood sport.
