Day One for Cinefest International Film Festival now in the books
It's 'lights, camera, action' once again in Sudbury as the Cinefest International Film Festival kicked off on Saturday with it's opening night gala.
Sponsored by CTV, the film "All My Puny Sorrows" made it's Cinefest debut after premiering earlier this month at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film centres around the relationship involving two sisters who leave the Mennonite community after tragedy strikes their family. Shot and produced in North Bay, it's a homecoming of sorts for the film's creative team.
It's director, writer and producer, Toronto-based Michael McGowan was in town for the show.
"It's nice," he said. "This is the sixth time I've been up here for the film festival. It's the only film festival in the world that I can say has shown everyone of my films. Tammy and the whole crew are great and such supporters of my work."
McGowan added it was nice to be back in Sudbury considering the film was shot just down the highway.
"The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund makes it really attractive to shoot up here and I shot up here about 8 or 10 years ago and the quality of the crews, the infrastructure, everything about it, it's amazing how much it's grown and improved in that amount of time," he said.
It's a sentiment echoed by another one of the film's producers, Tyler Levine.
Levine says the crews in Northern Ontario are second to none.
"Minister Vic Fedeli was a big supporter of the project and it seemed every time someone had an issue that could have snowballed, somebody locally rolled up their sleeves but specifically with 'All My Puny Sorrows,' we were one of the first films to shoot at the beginning of the pandemic and at that time there were almost no cases in Northern Ontario so the fact that everything was handled so well in Northern Ontario in regards to the pandemic was one of the reasons why we brought the film here," he explained.
The film is an adaptation of the beloved Miriam Toews' novel.
They're hoping film-goers will leave having enjoyed the story telling and relationship between the two actresses.
"I think it's a transformative film where you'll both laugh and cry," said McGowan. "That's the response we're finding with audiences, they're taken on this emotional journey that's not intense but really takes them to an emotional place."
It's just one of the many films that Cinefest managing director Patrick O'Hearn is excited about over the coming days.
O'Hearn tells CTV News, his team has been busy trying to build on last year's pandemic event and working towards bettering an experience both for in-person and digital viewers.
"You know we looked at last year's event and obviously we had to reshape the way we do things and this year we took that model and expanded on it significantly so we have more films in theatre, we have more films online and you know it's been a great year of planning," he said.
"I think the team has worked really hard to scour the world for some great Canadian and international films and we're excited, you know we're ready to go and we can't wait to see audience reactions."
O'Hearn says the goal is to show maybe those who haven't been here before that there is a world class event in Sudbury that offers a chance to experience a lot when it comes to the global film output.
"When we look at recovery down the road, we're going to have a lot of that clientele base that we've built over the last while and we're going to be able to expand on tourism opportunities as well, so we're looking ahead," he said.
Cinefest runs with daily programming in-person and online until September 26, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.