Film festival making its Brandon debut

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This article was published 20/02/2020 (2038 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bethel Christian Assembly will double as a multiplex this upcoming weekend, with the Brandon church showcasing 24 films on three separate screens from Friday to Sunday.

This special event is an extension of the Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival, which has been running in the provincial capital on an annual basis since 2011.

Festival co-ordinator Paul Boge told the Sun that they decided to expand this year after receiving a lot of interest from Westman movie lovers.

“The festival’s taken off here in Winnipeg and a lot of people aren’t able to come to it just because of travel,” Boge said. “So it was just awesome for Mike Gordon and Lianne Macaulay (from Bethel) to be willing to put it on here in Brandon.”

While this sister event in the Wheat City won’t feature the same volume of movies, local pastor Charles Rempel said organizers will still strive to maintain the same Real to Reel spirit by providing families and curious cinephiles with a welcome distraction in the dead of winter.

“It gets cold, especially in February, and in Brandon there isn’t a whole lot to do locally,” Rempel said. “So we want to be able to have a venue where people can come in, get out of the cold, break cabin fever and come see something that will hopefully encourage and inspire them.”

Organizers want to accomplish this feat by presenting a wide variety of movies that should appeal to both kids and adults. These range from high-profile Disney films like the recent live-action remakes of “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” to modestly budgeted faith-based features like “Overcomer” and “I Can Only Imagine.”

Personally, Rempel told the Sun that some his most anticipated showings on the weekend include documentaries like “Human Trafficking: Canada’s Secret Shame” and “Humboldt: The New Season,” since the festival is aiming to promote thought-provoking discussion as well as provide entertainment.

“We have a talk at the end of every film,” Boge said. “And people can ask questions and chat about it and hear what other people have to say, what their thoughts are on the film itself.”

One film that’s sure to generate a lot of interesting conversation is the 2019 drama “Unplanned,” which chronicles the story of anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson during her time working for Planned Parenthood in the southern United States.

The film garnered a lot of controversy when it was released last year, with some pro-choice activists saying that the movie spreads misinformation about the medical procedure and could even provoke violence against healthcare providers.

A Change.org petition to pull “Unplanned” from Cineplex and Landmark Theatres in Canada, including places like Fort McMurray, Alta., managed to garner over 1,300 signatures online.

Even though Rempel isn’t expecting this kind of negative reaction in Brandon, he said that anyone who is opposed to the film’s message is perfectly welcome to come watch it on Saturday night and take part in the post-credit discussion afterwards.

“We obviously realize that it’s a polarized topic,” he said. “However, we want to support the ability for our freedom of belief in Canada and try and do our best to provide a wide range of topics and then let people decide.”

Boge went on to say that he wishes the Brandon organizers good luck on their maiden voyage, since he believes that the Real to Reel Film Festival is a unique event that more Manitoba film fans should experience, regardless of their religious beliefs.

“It gives people a chance to get out, meet new people, experience a film and have an atmosphere that you may not get at other film venues,” he said. “And even if you don’t like to ask questions, it’s fun to hear other people’s comments about the films afterwards.”

To view the full selection of movies that are being shown at the inaugural Brandon Real to Reel Film Festival, as well as showtimes, visit the Bethel Christian Assembly’s official website at www.bethelbrandon.ca.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @KyleDarbyson