NSCAD Film Festival showcases alumni

It was the need to show a love and appreciation for the alumni from the school that started the NSCAD University Film Festival

CITYnews halifax \ Jordan Parker

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It was the need to show a love and appreciation for the alumni from the school that started the NSCAD University Film Festival.

Professor Sam Fisher says Sunil Sarwai, president of the NSCAD Alumni Association, came to him with the hope to show the public the best grads had to offer.

“We just wanted to reach out to the community post-pandemic and get back to face-to-face events. The film program started in 2002, and it’s been 20 years of producing filmmakers,” said Fisher.

“We realized students have been busier than we noticed. They’ve been out making films, and doing well on the festival and awards circuits. We want to celebrate them.”

Fisher says over the course of the two-day festival, there will be flicks that have garnered 35 different awards, including the lauded Murmur, Cast No Shadow, and a number of fantastic shorts.

“All these filmmakers have done so well, and to see our alumni being recognized nationally and internationally is amazing,” he said. “These few nights will celebrate both Canadian film and NSCAD alumni.”

The festival will be hybrid, and is supported by TD Insurance, Cineplex Park Lane, and FIN will help with the online portion.

“People still want to come out, but some may not be ready to crowd the theatre. We are happy to be able to give people options to get out and options to stay home and take it home,” he said.

“We also have alumni spread across the country, and all of them, their families and friends, and more may want to partake. This is a way to make that happen.”

A graduate of 2020, Devon Pennick-Reilly will see her film Surface Tension on the big screen on April 5.

“I’m just excited and pretty honoured to be a part of this. It’s a wonderful celebration of students and I’m excited to see other past films too,” she said.

“I shy away from watching my work and pick apart things I could have changed. My short films are time capsules, and it’ll be fun to be reminded of experiences with my classmates.”

The film – a look at a middle-aged woman overcoming the challenge of learning to swim later in life – is one she is very proud of.

“I’m so excited to attend, see my professors, and talk to others involved in the festival. Going to NSCAD was an amazing experience and I’d always recommend it.”

Filmmaker Heather Young – whose film Murmur premiered at FIN at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium – has both her short Dog Girl and the former in the festival.

“I have such fond memories of my times at NSCAD, and I got a lot out of it. It’s nice to be recognized, and I’m a grad still working in the industry. I’m so happy I’ve stuck with it,” she said.

“These are people and professors I have a relationship with. Sam Fisher is a friend, and NSCAD has always been so supportive of me.”

Young commented on how difficult it was to be without movie theatres during the pandemic, and how excited she is for in-person screenings for the festival.

“There’s no comparison between the theatre and home. I’m kind of addicted to the theatre, and seeing them close was hard,” she said. “It’s so nice to have the option between theatre screenings and home for this. I haven’t been able to screen Murmur in a theatre for two years, so this is a great chance.”

The NSCAD University Film Festival takes place April 4 and 5, 2002, at both Cineplex Park Lane and online through FIN Stream. Visit nscad.ca/film-festival for more information.