Festival 2016 Impressions by Isabel McDonald

Isabel McDonald (centre) with “Painted Land” director, Phyllis Ellis (2nd from right) and friends.

Continuing our series of guest articles, here is how the festival looked to film fan, Isabel McDonald.

The Little Festival That Grew

WOW! This is the little festival that grew!  From a one day starter festival, the Oakville Film Festival has become an entertaining full weekend,  keeping me busy with an incredible line-up of films. It was a jam-packed 3 days and I found the films illuminating, emotional  and stimulating. Kudos to the team.  It was great to have a a broad range of films. The Gala was an incredible noir, “Manhattan Nocturne”, with my favourite actor, Adrien Brody, which left me on the edge of my seat to the end. Any questions I had about the film were answered completely by the director, Brian DeCubellis who conducted an incredible Q & A.

I then got to watch the Australian family film “Oddball”, which left me in love with dogs and penguins.  To my surprise, I also got to hold beautiful puppies before the screening! An added bonus.

And “Angry Indian Goddesses”, an incredible film about female love and friendship in India.

The beautiful Canadian documentary, “Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven” was truly a visual delight and the Q & A with the filmmakers and cast was one of the best I have ever participated in. The Oakville Museum also did an expose on the Group of Seven and their work in the Oakville area which was informative.

And finally, “The Sabbatical”, a Canadian film about the trials of becoming middle-aged with the feeling that you have not reached any of your goals.  Having gone through this time of my life,  I can certainly relate to this film.

I will definitely be back next year and will again purchase a VIP package, as it was definitely worth it. Looking forward to it!

By Isabel McDonald, film fan