What do biker gangs, female conservationist warriors, and drag queens have in common? They’re among the cast of characters featured in the 2024 New West Film Fest.
Now in its 14th year, the three-day international independent film festival returns to the New West Landmark Cinema from Friday, Oct. 25 to Sunday Oct. 27.
Cathy Sostad, who is the 2024 New West Film Fest programmer, said this year’s event provides attendees with an opportunity to see new and diverse stories from around the world and right here at home.
“A big part of New West Film Fest is engaging the audience with filmmaker Q&As after the screening,” she said. “This year, we have amazing short films, narrative and documentary features packed into three days. In addition, we have two special screenings with panels of special guests.”
Recognizing that these are challenging times, Sostad said organizers have worked hard to keep ticket prices affordable, while supporting and celebrating the film artists.
“There really is something for everyone; screenings with diverse short films, a true crime documentary about biker gangs, an Iranian feature with a beloved veteran film actor, 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and perspectives, thrilling horror, comedy, female conservationist warriors, and drag queens,” she said.
This year’s festival features 10 screenings of 41 films over three days.
“The stories, both real and imagined, have a universal truth of making connections and discovering inner strength we didn't know we have, including vulnerability, what we truly value about ourselves and one another,” Sostad said. “New and unexpected friendships, reunification of family, newfound independence, facing fear and embracing laughter. A universal longing to be connected through understanding, laughter, strength, love, art and even horror, through real and imagined stories.”
This festival is presented by the volunteer-run New West Film Society. The City of New Westminster and Arts New West sponsor the festival.
“This really is your festival. The first New West Film Fest was created by a group of New Westminster environmental activists, who wanted to show documentary films about environmental issues to initiate community discussion and connection,” said Sostad, who is the New West Film Society board president. “Now the 14th annual film festival has grown to be an international film festival that still shows films about climate action, but also local and international films with drama, comedy, horror and romance – sometimes all in one film!”
The New West Film Fest is on FilmFreeway, which accepts film submissions from May 1 to Aug. 1. Volunteer screeners helped Sostad narrow select this year’s offerings – out of more than 100 films submitted for consideration at the festival.
Sostad said this year’s lineup includes 41 international and local independent films, many local to B.C., the Lower Mainland, and New Westminster, as well as films from across Canada, the USA, Luxembourg, Iran, Türkiye, France, and Belgium.
No wonder Google celebrates popcorn, the 2024 New West Film Fest is coming October 25 to 27! The program is available at https://t.co/16InVyUhCF, and tickets are available on Eventbrite!https://t.co/oV9UKNFSmEhttps://t.co/YepUbgkfA4 pic.twitter.com/tckDhxumHP
— New West Film Society (@NewWestFilmSo) September 26, 2024
Here’s a look at some of this year’s offerings at the New West Film Fest:
Friday, Oct. 25:
The opening night event features a selection of nine short films from Iran, Turkiye, Canada and New Westminster. It is taking place at 7 p.m.
“I don't know that we've had a screening of shorts to open the festival before; we have certainly always championed local films and filmmakers,” said Sostad. “Opening night includes four local shorts, including a local camping trip with parallel stories of love, an animated documentary about an Iranian disability and feminist heroine, an honest and personal portrait of local Indigenous youth navigating growing up, and a documentary about a New Westminster art installation project. Our local stories are full of universal truths.”
Saturday, Oct. 26:
This jam-packed day of films begins at 1 p.m. with a screening of documentary shorts (including Thunderbird & Killer Whale, about Stz'uminus master carver John Marston, and Elephant Warriors, about female conservation rangers in Kenya). Screenings of more short films will take place at 3 and 5 p.m.
At 7 p.m., Seven Citrus Aurantium takes to the big screen. This feature film from Iran stars veteran actor Ali Nasirian.
At 9 p.m., there will be a screening of Short Takes on Twists & Turns, which organizers say includes “seven short films of thrills, chills, and even laughs, ranging from the surprise aftermath of a crash, a Blair Witch Project riff, a party during a zombie outbreak, an Iranian theatre production of Macbeth with real toil and trouble, and a seriously sinister vineyard.”
Sunday, Oct. 27
Day 3 begins a 1 p.m. screening of the documentary, Hyphen.
“Filmmaker Gabriela Warrior Renaud travels across Canada, having poignant conversations about race, culture, and identity, with people who, like the filmmaker, live at the intersections of several identities,” said a notice from the New West Film Fest. “This screening will be followed with a panel discussion with local artists/activists Kevin Takahide Lee, Cecilly Day, and Stacey Ferguson, and filmmaker Gabriela Warrior Renaud.”
The Program – billed as “a must for true crime followers” – is a feature documentary. It hits the screen at 3 p.m.
“It explores the history of biker gangs in Canada, focusing on B.C., featuring interviews with local journalists, law enforcement, and former gang members,” said the notice.
At 5:30 p.m., Beyond the Sea, a featurette from Belgium, will be shown.
“Lady Casca, a drag queen in her 60s, is about to go on stage at her cabaret for the last time ...,” said the notice. “This beautiful celebration of drag will be followed by a chat with pop singer, podcaster and drag agent Peter Breeze and drag performer Shanda Leer.”
Look At Me, based on Nova Scotia writer/director Taylor Olson's one-person play, is next up at the festival. It will be screened at 7:30 p.m.
“A writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Olson's film explores an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of an eating disorder relapse,” said the notice. “A strikingly honest portrait, this film is making the festival 'rounds.”
Tickets to screenings are $10 (including a $2 festival membership), or you can buy a festival pass for $60. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
This year, New West Film Fest has partnered with New Westminster’s New Media Gallery, which is offering film workshops with filmmaker Louise Lathey. Participants in the workshops will receive a free ticket to a festival screening.
