More Inside the Beltway Coverage of VIFF 2012
VanRamblings feels quite disappointed in ourselves on having focused so much attention in the early VIFF posts on various VIFF ‘glitches’ this year (and let’s face it, in every other year of VIFF’s existence, and to be perfectly honest — in every other Film Festival anywhere on this planet) that has dogged the opening days of Vancouver’s annual exhibition of world cinema.
Still and all, as a journalist, one supposes that it is our duty to report out in order that you have information you can work with. This has been the oddest year for VanRamblings VIFF coverage, though, pretty much bereft of our tried-and-true capsule reviews, focusing instead on the day-to-day machinations on the periphery of VIFF, rather than films? Odd that. Oh well.
Anyway, the above said, here we go again for today …
- Our Children: VanRamblings attended a 1pm, Monday, Vancity screening of Our Children, only to be told minutes before the screening that VIFF had been able only to acquire a degraded, time-coded production screener of the film, rather than the promised DCP ‘print’. The New York Film Festival, whose Fest is running simultaneously with ours, has both a DCP ‘print’, as well as an appearance by the film’s director, Joachim LaFosse. NYFF50 probably has in its possession the only English-subtitled DCP on the continent. New York will screen Our Children this Friday and Saturday evenings. Will VIFF find a way to acquire / have shipped the DCP of Our Children currently residing in the big smoke? And what does the snafu mean for VIFF filmgoers?
On Monday afternoon, VanRamblings spoke with VIFF Print Traffic Co-ordinator Kathy Evans about the matter. We expressed a concern that the screener currently in VIFF’s possession — in addition to degradation of film quality — is also missing 2 minutes of content, involving a crucial scene establishing the lead character’s state of mind and her consequent inexorable decline into tragedy. For VanRamblings, we would have stayed to watch Our Children; even a degraded, time-coded DVD screener — but a screener missing crucial footage?
Here’s what VIFF’s Kathy Evans told us about the matter: the producers of Our Children have let her know that they are anxious to get a DCP version of the film to us in time for next Monday’s and Thursday’s VIFF screenings. The producers have every incentive to do so, given that Our Children is Belgium’s Best Foreign Film Oscar nominee, and any buzz the film could garner at our VIFF Fest would only serve to help the film’s chances to gain entry as one of the five finalists in contention for an Oscar. On a concluding note: Ms. Evans assures VIFF filmgoers that she and her team are “working diligently” to ensure that VIFF acquires a DCP ‘print’ of the film as it is meant to be seen, assuring us as well, that she will keep VanRamblings apprised on any developments in the matter, so that we can keep you informed.
Note should be made that in the 31 years that VanRamblings has attended VIFF, print acquisition problems has, annually, proven a concern, as it does for each and every Film Festival in every jurisdiction across our planet. In VanRamblings’ experience, VIFF administration conducts itself always with diligence, fortitude, integrity, sincerity and strength of purpose in serving the needs of VIFF patrons. If there’s a resolution to the matter involving Our Children to be had, senior VIFF admin, and Ms. Evans and her team, will find the resolution satisfactory to the needs of VIFF patrons.
In other VIFF news of consequence: In conversation Monday morning with VIFF Vancity Theatre Programme Co-ordinator, Tom Charity, he informed us that he’s in discussion with Music Box Films in respect of booking one or more of the four Music Box films screening at VIFF. In fact, Tom has given VanRamblings permission to let you know that he has booked VIFF hit, Ira Sachs’ Keep The Lights On, into the Vancity Theatre post Festival. We told Tom about how ‘over the moon’ we are about Any Day Now, another Music Box film. Tom said he’d heard good word on the film from a friend of his; so that would seem to bode well for the post-Festival return of Any Day Now, and perhaps as well, Sean Baker’s Starlet (which we also liked).
- VIFF Pull-Out Guide: To wrap up the matter of concern raised by patrons respecting the fact page numbers for films do not follow film titles in this year’s Festival Pull-Out Guide, in discussion with VIFF Publications Co-ordinator, Jack Vermee, Monday afternoon he indicated he’s aware of the concerns VIFF patrons have expressed, informing us that it is simply not logistically (and possibly financially) feasible for VIFF to correct the Pull-Out Guide and resolve VIFF patron’s concerns this year. The problem will be remedied for the 2013 Vancouver International Film Festival.
In the most salutary news VanRamblings heard on Monday, we were told that Keanu Reeves’ and Christopher Kenneally’s Side by Side: The Science, Art and Impact of Digital Cinema will screen for a final time next Monday, 4 p.m. at the Vancity Theatre. We are thrilled! Jeffrey Wells, our favourite blogger, has been raving about Side by Side for months. And we get to see it here! Thank you, thank you, thank you Frank for pointing out the doc to us, while in line on Monday morning. Paired with Room 237, this coming Sunday will be a film obsessive’s dream double bill. We’ll be there!
- Ran into VIFF Festival Director Alan Franey outside the Granville 7, between the early evening screening of Sandy Gow’s international shorts programme, Teen Tales, and the late night screening of In Another Country. Alan was taking a well-deserved break from the Festival on Monday evening, attending a Beach House concert (along with VanRamblings’ friends J.B. Shayne and Jason Cubitt, and … oh say, another 1500 Beach House fans) at the Commodore Ballroom. Alan addressed the issue of the new VIFF ticketing system (the idea of which VanRamblings likes, by the way) and the decision to take a bit more time to implement a fully functioning ticket system at next year’s Festival. In an earlier posting, VanRamblings had indicated that we hoped VIFF was not pioneering software. Alan assures that VIFF’s new $64,000 ticket purchasing system is well-tested ‘off the shelf’ software, that the Festival needs only to make the necessary modifications to the system to have it fully functioning for 2013. After VanRamblings and our friend Zack Mosley thanked Alan for the work he’s put in over the past year to bring VIFF2012 to transcendent fruition, Alan was off for a night of dream-pop romanticism featuring gentle melody lines and the reverb-soaked vocals of singer/keyboardist Victoria Legrand & her Baltimore-based bandmate/guitarist, Alex Scally.
A few notes from the fine folks in the VIFF Media department (hi ya Ellie and Justin, the interns - hope all is very well, Milena - Helen, Lainé, Andrew, Gloria, and Fionn — hey, Fionn, next time VanRamblings speaks with you on the phone, while on our way to speaking with Ellie, it seems to VanRamblings that we just, well, we just oughta connect with you, and be kind and warm and funny and generous of our spirit … so we’ll do that!
Programme Updates: Click on the preceding link for the full list of the 31st annual Vancouver International Film Festival programme updates.
The VIFF has taken the leap into the 21st Century at our 2012 Festival, and are pleased to offer VIFF Audiences enhanced box office services.
PRINT AT HOME + SMART PHONE TICKET DELIVERY: Advance Tickets can now be purchased up to one hour prior to showtime and conveniently delivered to your e-mail inbox for printing, or to your smart phone mobile device. All that VIFF staff ask is that you present your Print at Home ticket or Smartphone display at entry to the venue, where the barcode will be verified — by the way, we’ve heard that VIFF is jettisoning the barcode reading at venue entrances, a decision taken midday yesterday. VIFF membership must also be presented.
EXPANDED WILL CALL: Advance Ticket purchasers now enjoy the added flexibility of picking up WILL CALL tickets at any Venue Box Office during hours of festival operation.
EXPANDED FESTIVAL BOX OFFICES : During the Festival, advance tickets are available from any box office up until one hour before the showtime. After that, tickets are only available at the door of the venue, subject to availability. Note that even when those tickets are sold out, rush tickets are often available.
MASTERCARD & DEBIT CARD: VIFF now accepts Visa and MasterCard everywhere, and debit cards in person.
