Thousand Islands Film Festival 2020
Brockville is very lucky to have an active film loving community in the city. On top of having the blockbusters playing at the Cineplex, and the Webster Film Series at the Brockville Arts Centre, we also have Film Brockville, which bring in films that are featured at the Toronto International Film Festival throughout the year. On top of their regular schedule of movies playing at the Brockville Arts Centre, Film Brockville also host the Thousand Islands Film Festival, which brings eight hot films on one cold weekend!
The Thousand Islands Film Festival runs from Friday, February to Sunday March 1st, 2020 this year. There are some great films in the lineup, so this is a series you definitely don’t want to miss!
Friday, February 28th, 2020
2pm – Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind (91 minutes)
This documentary explores the career, music, and influence of the legendary Canadian musical icon, Gordon Lightfoot. It gives access to the artist never before seen, taking the audience from his humble roots performing in hight school auditoriums throughout the 50’s all the way to the artist he is today. Featuring interviews from many voices from the music industry in Canada, you’ll hear stories as the documentary goes from his Christian choirboy beginning to the beloved Canadian icon he is today.
7pm – The Song of Names (113 minutes)
Martin Simmonds, played by Tim Roth, has been haunted throughout his life by the mysterious disappearance of his “brother” and best friend. Dovidl Rapaport, played by Clive Owen, was a Polish Jewish virtuoso violinist. Before his 1951 London debut concert that would have launched his career, Dovidl vanishes. Thirty-five years later, Martin learns that Dovidl might still be alive, and begins to obsessively search to find him and learn why he left.
Saturday, February 29th, 2020
11am – Cannes Lions – International Festival of Creativity (110 minutes)
Did you know that there is an international film festival all about commercials? The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in advertising, creative communications and related fields. Some and see some of the best commercials globally. They’re so good, you’ll forget they’re marketing!
2pm – The Secret Marathon (77 minutes)
Running is simple. You put on your shoes and just… go. Right?
Not everyone is so lucky though. “The Secret Marathon” follows the journey of a group of young women in Afghanistan desperate to run despite the societal barriers put up against them. Training with them is a legendary marathon mentor and a a filmmaker, and together, they take part in the second Marathon of Afghanistan.
5pm – Reception and Dinner on Stage
Join Film Brockville for dinner on the Brockville Arts Centre stage. After dinner, take part in a conversation with Tom McSorley, CBC film critic and executive director of the Canadian Film Institute.
8pm – Parasite (132 Minutes)
Oscars. Golden Globes. Screen Actors Guild Awards. The Palme d’Or.
The list goes on and on. In short – Parasite is a movie you need to see.
Meet the Park’s, the picture of wealth. Then meet the Kim’s, unemployed but street smart. Through some chance of fate, these houses are brought together and the Kim’s sense a golden opportunity. The Kim’s work their way into the Park’s home, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two families. This relationship is fragile though, and when a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comforts, things go chaotic.
Sunday, March 1st, 2020
11am – Oscar Nominated “Live Action Shorts” (105 minutes)
Not all movies need to be hours long. Sometimes, a story can be told in a matter of minutes and still be as moving and thought provoking. In fact, the brief nature of a live action short film can leave the viewer in thought for ages, due to the way the storytellers pick and choose what information to reveal. Five of these short films will be shown at the Thousand Islands Film Festival.
- Brotherhood
- Nefta Football Club
- The Neighbors’ Window
- Saria
- A Sister
2pm – Dark Waters (126 minutes)
Dark Waters tells the shocking and heroic story of an attorney, played by Mark Ruffalo, who risks his career and family to uncover a dark secret hidden by one of the world’s largest corporations. Exposing a lengthy history of pollution, he brings justice to a community dangerously exposed for decades to deadly chemicals.
7pm – Uncut Gems (135 minutes)
A charismatic jeweller, played by Adam Sandler, makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. In a precarious high-wire act, he must balance business, family and adversaries on all sides in pursuit of the ultimate win.
If you’re interested in participating in the Thousand Islands Film Festival, tickets can be bought at the Brockville Arts Centre. Prices are as follows:
$90 VIP Pass – Access to all movies, dinner on stage, two raffle tickets to 2 Film Brockville movies.
$60 All Access – Access to all eight movies.
$30 Dinner Pass – Enjoy dinner on the Brockville Arts Centre stage. Movie tickets are separate.
$10 Individual Pass – Access to one movie screening.