NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE FILM FESTIVAL
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On Oct. 14, 2022, the Barrie Film Festival will open its 25th festival with a full return to in-person screenings and events! The festival runs from Oct. 14 to 23 and will be held at multiple venues, with Opening Night events happening at the Georgian Theatre and The Last Class Bar & Grill at the Georgian College campus.
For 25 years, the Barrie Film Festival has been honoured to recognize and support incredible Indigenous filmmakers, artists and members of the film, television and music industry from across Canada and internationally.
The Barrie Film Festival is thrilled to be opening the 25th Anniversary Festival with Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On, a feature documentary about the legendary icon Buffy Sainte-Marie. Innovator, musician, songwriter, performer, activist, philanthropist, and educator. Buffy’s career spans over 60 years and includes countless milestones: she became famous by writing the anti-war anthem Universal Soldier; made one of the first electronic albums in 1969; was the first Indigenous person to win an Academy Award (in 1983 for Up Where We Belong); made the first album over the internet in 1991; and became the oldest person ever to win the Polaris Music Prize in 2015.
The life, music, and activism of legendary Indigenous singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie are explored in this documentary, which is as captivating as its subject, who smashed through barriers to become an inspiration to fans and fellow musicians alike. Directed by Madison Thomas, the documentary features Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joni Mitchell, Robbie Robertson, John Kay, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Sonia Manzano, George Stroumboulopoulos, Jeremy Dutcher, and Logan Staats.
Following the film screening in Georgian Theatre, we continue the opening night events with a party in The Last Class Bar & Grill, featuring a live performance of music and stories from multi-nominated and award-winning artist Logan Staats. From a young age, Staats’ haunting and distinct voice has won him multiple opportunities to share the stage with acts like Buffy Sainte-Marie, Keith Secola, and Mumford and Sons, to name a few. A product of passion, compulsion, and tireless musical commitment – Staats’ songs are his own. Armed with his guitar and harmonica, he has transitioned from running the weekend bar circuit to playing sold-out venues across Canada, including his favourite venue, The Sanderson Centre, in his hometown, Brantford, Ontario.
This party is not to be missed, in addition to live music, DJ Casey George will also be performing, with food from Georgian College Event Services. Party is $25 (includes HST and service fees); the film is $14.50 for adults and $12.50 for seniors/students (HST included).
Opening Night film and party tickets are available on the Barrie Film Festival website.
About Barrie Film Festival
The Barrie Film Festival screens and operates on the traditional land of the Anishnaabeg people. The Anishnaabeg include the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. We are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture and are committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and respect with all First Nation, Métis and Inuit people.
The Barrie Film Festival is a not-for-profit organization that provides film fans with unique experiences through year-round programming. The annual festival began in 1997 and, over the years, has grown to a multifaceted ten-day event. The line-up is a showcase of award-winning independent feature films from all over the globe with a significant emphasis on Canadian content, as well as the screening of short films and a short film competition.
The Barrie Film Festival is funded by: the City of Barrie, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Telefilm Canada.
BFF25 Sponsors:
Directors’ brunch/lead sponsor: National Bank Financial and National Bank
Director level: Baldwin Consulting; Barriston Law, Busch Systems; Carroll Heyd Chown LLP; Element 6 Inc.; Robert and Joan Gilroy; Netgain; Renovations by Rodgers; Rod Burns - TD Wealth, The Kempenfelt Asset Management Group; THETA TTS; Kirkwood Properties
Actor level: The Hearing Clinic; Plumbtech Plumbing Inc.; Simcoe Audio Video; Sigma Engagement Systems
Film level: Beachcomber Hottubs; Sheila and Jim Delaney; Express Radiant; HGR Graham Partners LLP; Jennifer Squires, Your Home Girl; Image Dental Laboratory; Krista Alkerton, Royal Le Page; Lawler Team, Royal LePage First Contact Realty; Lehman & Associates; George and Janet Lougheed; OSSTF District 17; Pearson Engineering Ltd.; Strachan/Moore SOLUTIONS ink; Lisa & Brian Tamblyn; The Other Half Consultants Inc.; Voldi's Time Centre; Wall-Armstrong & Green; Zuzu - Tracey Baker
25th Annual Barrie Film Festival: Oct. 14-19 at Georgian Theatre; Oct. 20-23 at Galaxy Cinemas Barrie (south end); Oct. 16 Directors’ Brunch at Liberty North.
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