NIFF 2015 Press Report

Niagara Integrated Film Festival 2015 GAT PR Press Summary

Interviews Completed

Thursday, May14

The Sounds STC Kate Yorga The Sounds STC Alessandra Piccione (The Colossal Failure of Modern Relationship)

Monday, May18

SunMedia Niagara Kate Yorga

Tuesday, May19

The Sounds STC Sari Ruda

, May20

CKBT Kate Yorga SunMedia Niagara Bill Marshall

Thursday, May21

Monday, May25

The Wine Ladies Radio Alessandra Piccione (The Colossal Failure of Modern Relationship) The Wine Ladies Radio Dino Fazio The Wine Radio Jackson Triggs

Wednesday, May27

The Sounds STC Darren Portelli (The Cocksure Lads)

Thursday, May28

The Wine Ladies Radio Paul Pender (Redstone Winery)

Wednesday, June3

L'Express Andrea Conte (Henny's Opus in B Minor) L'Expres Sandrine Bourcier(winemaker Henry of Pelham) ArtVoice (Buffalo) - COVER STORY Bill Marshall

Friday, June5

The Wine Ladies Radio Patrick Darte (Lord Mayor NOTL) Good Food Revolution Bill Marshall

Newstalk 1010 –The Eleventh Hour Sergio Navarretta (The Colossal Failure of Modern Relationship)/Bill Marshall Sunday, June7

Jazz FM Sergio Navarretta (The Colossal Failure of Modern Relationship)

Sun Media Niagara Jason Lupish (Stranger) Monday, June8

SunMedia Niagara Sergio Navarreta(The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship) Sirius XM – What She Said Ann Sperling (Winemaker Southbrook Vineyards)

Wednesday, June10

CHCH TV - Morning Live!

Shawn Murphy (Winemaker Southbrook Vineyards)

Thursday, June11

BNN Bill Marshall

Friday, June12

She Does The City Ann Sperling (Southbrook Vineyards) CKTB Andrea Conte (Henny’s Opus in B Minor)

Wedbesday, June17

CBC Radio-Canada Andrea Conte (Henny's Opus in B Minor) CKTB Curtis Duffy/Kevin Pang (For Grace) CKTB Bel Powley (The Diary of a Teenage Girl)

Thursday, June18

Ulkar Alakbarova James Kent (Testament of Youth) The Joe Show Cam Hynes Don Carmody Tony Watts James Kent (Testament of Youth)

Friday, June19

The MindReels Kevin Pang (For Grace)

Metro News Lulu Wang (Posthumous) Metro News Kevin Pang (For Grace) Saturday, June20

Linda Matarasso Bill Marshall/Sari Ruda Curtis Duffy/ Kevin Pang (For Grace) Movies Move Me Curtis Duffy/ Kevin Pang (For Grace) Movies Move Me James Kent (Testament of Youth) 21 Questions Don Carmody Cam Hynes James Kent (Testament of Youth) Tony Watts

Kevin Pang (For Grace) Sunday, June21

Chino Kino Lulu Wang (Posthumous) SunMedia Niagara Bill Marshall TV Cogeco Bill Marshall,/Sari Ruda/Dino Fazio

Tuesday, March17

NewsTalk 610 CKTB Dino Fazio

Thursday, July2

TV Cogeco Dino Fazio Today Magazine Kate Yorga Niagara Life Magazine COVER STORY Bill Marshall, Sari Ruda, Kate Yorga, Dino Fazio, Mann(Lost Penny) City Life Magazine Bill Marshall

Niagara Film Festival 2015 Press Breaks

January, 2015－Niagara Film Fest getting ready for Year 2 http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/01/16/niagara-film-fest-getting-ready-for-year-2

By John Law People arrive for the first screening at the Niagara Intergrated Film Festival at Hillebrand on Thursday, June 19, 2014. Julie Jocsak/ St. Catharines Standard/ QMI Agency The second Niagara Integrated Film Festival is still five months away, but the ball starts rolling Saturday in St. Davids.

Sponsors, organizers and volunteers will start laying the groundwork for this year's event, which co-founder Bill Marshall says will be a bigger affair than last year. The 'Night of Appreciation' will be at the Woodbourne Inn, 214 Four Mile Creek Rd., starting at 7 p.m.

"Some of our team still haven't met each other," he says. "All the sponsors are back, and they're all happy."

Taking place in assorted vineyards, restaurants and theatres last June, the inaugural film festival attracted about 10,000 people. Marshall, one of the founders of the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says it will be a three-year plan to make Niagara one of the top film festivals in the country.

For Year 2, he has brought aboard a new manager – former Winter Festival of Lights general manager Dino Fazio – and a game plan to get bigger crowds.

"We got a lot of media exposure (last year)," he says, "but we didn't get word of mouth out. The people who were there liked it, but there just weren't enough mouths spreading the word. That's what we've got to change this year."

The first festival saw the Canadian premiere of a lost 1911 Mary Pickford movie, the North American premiere of three Peter Sellers short films, and a line-up of Canadian and documentary movies. After meeting with several major studios in New York, Marshall is confident they will see the benefit of premiering movies in June.

Once the festival books premieres, the directors and stars will follow, he says.

"I said, I know what you do in September – you can go to New York or Toronto or Venice with Telluride. But June is when you put (out) summer releases, and you've got no really good place to go. This would solve it for you.

"You know, they've all got summer movies, but to send them out to some place that puts them in a church basement…"

The fact they even listened told Marshall he was on the right track.

"If they don't believe you they just aren't interested."

The budget for last year's festival was about $1 million. Founding sponsors included White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa, RBC and AGF. This year's event takes place June 18 to 21.

January22, 2015－NIFF prepares for another year http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5271434-niff-prepares-for-another-ye ar/

By Melinda Cheevers NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE — Film lovers, producers and actors will once again descend on Niagara come June.

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival is set to return for four days where it will showcase more than 70 films at venues across the region. Heading into its second year, the organizers behind the festival held an event on Saturday in Niagara-on-the-Lake to thank key sponsors for last year’s event and build some buzz about the upcoming festival set for June 18-21.

Bill Marshall, NIFF’s artistic director, told the gathered audience that the team behind NIFF have been visiting with directors and producers in Toronto and California, spreading the word about the festival. The response has been great.

“I think you’ll see a hell of a lot of summer movies at the festival,” he said, adding once they hear about the venues — which includes vineyards, wineries, and resorts in addition to cinemas — they’re sold. “They say ‘sign us up’ so I think that’s a good sign.”

While not many details were released on Saturday, this year’s programming will continue many of the popular aspects from the inaugural event including Filmalicious screenings featuring dinner and a movie hosted at vineyards, the NIFF-initiated World’s Smallest Film Festival showcasing one to three minute films created on mobile devices, the daytime program Film Feast held at wineries featuring tours and wine tastings paired with snacks and short films, and tributes to homegrown

talent in the Canada’s Rising Stars and Niagara Rises series.

New to the festival this year is the Family Fun Fare featuring indoor and outdoor entertainment for the whole family with tickets sold on a per-picnic blanket basis to encourage group viewings.

Also new to the festival this year is Dino Fazio, the former executive director of the Winter Festival of Lights was introduced on Saturday night as NIFF’s festival manager.

Last year’s inaugural festival featured the world premiere of Restrung by Niagara filmmaker Mike Enns, Chuck Powers’ animated comedy Ribbit featuring the voices of Sean Astin and Russell Peters and the premiere of Dave Green’s sci-fi thriller Earth to Echo.

At Saturday’s event, Marshall — who not only founded NIFF but was the founder in the Toronto International Film Festival — said the festival is not just about bringing great films to Niagara, it’s about bringing the film industry here as well to help develop and showcase the talent that already exists.

Talent like Jason Lupish of Open Concept Films.

“He’s a genius at what he does,” said Marshall. “There are so many people here who want to do their work in their own hometown and not leave it. I think that’s great.”

Marshall’s wife, Sari Ruda, who is president of the festival, said on Saturday that they’ve been showing producers and filmmakers studio space in Niagara and discussing how the region is prime area to invest in, highlighting other companies already doing the same like Keyframe Digital and Open Concept Films.

“The talent is here, the people are here and we are happy to be here now too,” said Marshall.

May5, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Fest preparing for launch http://www.610cktb.com/news/2015/05/20/niagara-integrated-film-fest-preparing-for-l aunch The 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is getting ready for next month's festivities.

The festival runs June 18th to the 21st.

Building on its success from last year, officials say this year’s expanded programming ranges from tender coming-of-age stories, light-hearted comedies, and special screenings to gripping dramas and documentaries.

NIFF will showcase 22 narrative and eight documentary features, from countries including: the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Costa Rica, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Hong Kong.

Out of the total lineup, four world and one North American premieres will be screened.

In addition, 20 Canadian premieres are scheduled, including four Ontario films and 12 Niagara Region debuts.

An early kick-start to the festival will be the screening of the DISNEY PIXAR film Inside Out on June 14th.

May19, 2015ďź?Niagara Film Fest gets new Pixar movie early http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/05/19/niagara-film-fest-gets-new-pixar-movie-ea rly

By John Law The Niagara Integrated Film Festival will screen the new Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out the week before it opens in theatres. PHOTO: Pixar The Niagara Integrated Film Festival will be screening a sneak peak of the new Pixar movie five days before it opens in theatres.

The company's latest animated feature, Inside Out, will screen June 14 at 1 p.m. on two screens at Landmark Cinemas in the Pen Centre. It will be an advance screening for the festival's second year, which runs June 18 to 21.

Inside Out, which had its world premiere May 18 at the Cannes Film Festival, has been touted as Pixar's return to form after two sequels (Cars 2, Monsters University) and the disappointing Brave. It follows a small girl and the group of emotions (voiced by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader and others) who guide her from a control centre in her mind. As she adjusts to a stressful move to San Francisco, the gang of emotions struggle to navigate through her new city, home and school.

Early reviews out of Cannes called the film Pixar's "greatest idea" (Variety) and "consistently inventive" (Chicago Tribune). The Hollywood Reporter praised it as one of the most "conceptually trippy" family films ever.

NIFF program manager Kate Yorga says it's a "huge win" for the festival to nab what's expected to be one of the summer's biggest movies.

"Especially for our festival audience," she says. "This will definitely give us a boost considering we're only in our second year. As the festival grows, we'll get that recognition any good festival has."

She credits Tony Watts, NIFF's director of programming, for scoring the Pixar sneak peak.

"He goes to all the festivals - he's in Cannes right now – so he sees the films coming down the pipeline," she says. "He saw that Disney had this incredible new film on their roster for the summer.

Through his contacts he reached out to Disney and made the magic happen."

The festival's opening night gala will include a screening of the World War I coming-of-age story Testament of Youth. The James Kent film stars Alicia Vikander as an Oxford student who abandons her studies to become a war nurse. It will be shown at Peller Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake at 9:30 p.m. The gala includes dinner starting at 7 p.m.

The festival's full line-up and schedule will be announced at a media conference Wednesday at Jackson-Triggs Winery, starting at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the Inside Out advance screening are $12.50 adults, $8 children.

Tickets for all NIFF screenings and events can be purchased at www.niagarafilmfest.com or by phone at 1-800-656-0713.

May 19, 2015 - Niagara Film Fest gets new Pixar movie early http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/05/19/niagara-film-fest-gets-new-pixar-movie -early

By John Law The Niagara Integrated Film Festival will screen the new Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out the week before it opens in theatres. PHOTO: Pixar The Niagara Integrated Film Festival will be screening a sneak peak of the new Pixar movie five days before it opens in theatres.

The company's latest animated feature, Inside Out, will screen June 14 at 1 p.m. on two screens at Landmark Cinemas in the Pen Centre. It will be an advance screening for the festival's second year, which runs June 18 to 21.

Inside Out, which had its world premiere May 18 at the Cannes Film Festival, has been touted as Pixar's return to form after two sequels (Cars 2, Monsters University) and the disappointing Brave. It follows a small girl and the group of emotions (voiced by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader and others) who guide her from a control centre in her mind. As she adjusts to a stressful move to San Francisco, the gang of emotions struggle to navigate through her new city, home and school.

Early reviews out of Cannes called the film Pixar's "greatest idea" (Variety) and "consistently inventive" (Chicago Tribune). The Hollywood Reporter praised it as one of the most "conceptually trippy" family films ever.

NIFF program manager Kate Yorga says it's a "huge win" for the festival to nab what's expected to be one of the summer's biggest movies.

"Especially for our festival audience," she says. "This will definitely give us a boost considering we're only in our second year.

As the festival grows, we'll get that recognition any good festival has."

She credits Tony Watts, NIFF's director of programming, for scoring the Pixar sneak peak.

"He goes to all the festivals - he's in Cannes right now – so he sees the films coming down the pipeline," she says. "He saw that Disney had this incredible new film on their roster for the summer. Through his contacts he reached out to Disney and made the magic happen."

The festival's opening night gala will include a screening of the World War I coming-of-age story Testament of Youth. The James Kent film stars Alicia Vikander as an Oxford student who abandons her studies to become a war nurse. It will be shown at Peller Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake at 9:30 p.m. The gala includes dinner starting at 7 p.m.

The festival's full line-up and schedule will be announced at a media conference Wednesday at Jackson-Triggs Winery, starting at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the Inside Out advance screening are $12.50 adults, $8 children.

Tickets for all NIFF screenings and events can be purchased at www.niagarafilmfest.com or by phone at 1-800-656-0713.

May 19, 2015 - Niagara Film Fest gets new Pixar movie early http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/05/19/niagara-film-fest-gets-new-pixar-movie-early

By John Law The Niagara Integrated Film Festival will screen the new Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out the week before it opens in theatres. PHOTO: Pixar The Niagara Integrated Film Festival will be screening a sneak peak of the new Pixar movie five days before it opens in theatres.

The company's latest animated feature, Inside Out, will screen June 14 at 1 p.m. on two screens at Landmark Cinemas in the Pen Centre. It will be an advance screening for the festival's second year, which runs June 18 to 21.

Inside Out, which had its world premiere May 18 at the Cannes Film Festival, has been touted as Pixar's return to form after two sequels (Cars 2, Monsters University) and the disappointing Brave. It follows a small girl and the group of emotions (voiced by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader and others) who guide her from a control centre in her mind. As she adjusts to a stressful move to San Francisco, the gang of emotions struggle to navigate through her new city, home and school.

Early reviews out of Cannes called the film Pixar's "greatest idea" (Variety) and "consistently inventive" (Chicago Tribune). The Hollywood Reporter praised it as one of the most "conceptually trippy" family films ever.

NIFF program manager Kate Yorga says it's a "huge win" for the festival to nab what's expected to be one of the summer's biggest movies.

"Especially for our festival audience," she says. "This will definitely give us a boost considering we're only in our second year. As the festival grows, we'll get that recognition any good festival has."

She credits Tony Watts, NIFF's director of programming, for scoring the Pixar sneak peak.

"He goes to all the festivals - he's in Cannes right now – so he sees the films coming down the pipeline," she says. "He saw that Disney had this incredible new film on their roster for the summer.

Through his contacts he reached out to Disney and made the magic happen."

The festival's opening night gala will include a screening of the World War I coming-of-age story Testament of Youth. The James Kent film stars Alicia Vikander as an Oxford student who abandons her studies to become a war nurse. It will be shown at Peller Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake at 9:30 p.m. The gala includes dinner starting at 7 p.m.

The festival's full line-up and schedule will be announced at a media conference Wednesday at Jackson-Triggs Winery, starting at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the Inside Out advance screening are $12.50 adults, $8 children.

Tickets for all NIFF screenings and events can be purchased at www.niagarafilmfest.com or by phone at 1-800-656-0713.

May20, 2015－Summer Movies http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/05202015/summer-movies After a successful launch last year overseen by veterans of the Toronto International Film Festival, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival will be back with four days of movies, food, and wine just a short hop over the Rainbow Bridge. The schedule hasn’t been finalized, but there will be a pre-fest screening of the new Pixar film Inside Out on June 14, and the opening gala will be the World War One coming of age story Testament of Youth, presented by director James Kent. NIFF dates are June 18–21. niagarafilmfest.com

May20, 2015－NIFF reveals full lineup Niagara Integrated Film Festival for second year June 18-21 http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/5635677-niff-reveals-full-lineup/

By Melinda Cheevers NIAGARA — The second act of Niagara’s newest film festival will take place next month and the players have finally been revealed.

Organizers behind the Niagara Integrated Film Festival announced its lineup for the second annual event on Wednesday.

Included in the mix of 22 narrative and eight documentary films are premieres for four international and one North American film.

With entries from around the world, including works from Germany, Costa Rica, Hungary, and Hong Kong, as well as made-in-Niagara entries, filmgoers will truly get a diverse experience at this year’s festival.

“As this festival grows, we are realizing a dream is coming true,” said NIFF founder and CEO Bill Marshall, “Niagara Region offers festivalgoers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience. We have been working hard to deliver a thoughtful program that will entertain, provoke and entice with world-class cinema including some homegrown works from Niagara’s very own film industry.”

Disney-Pixar’s newest film Inside Out will be shown in advance of the festival kick off. The early start to the festival will take place June 14 at Landmark Cinemas, a week before the film hits theatres.

The opening night gala featuring Testament of Youth will take place at Peller Estates winery with UK-based director James Kent in attendance.

Making its Canadian premiere, Diary of a Teenage Girl is set during the San Francisco hippie era and marks the debut of first-time director Marielle Heller. It stars Kristen Wiig, Bel Powley, Christopher Meloni and Alexander Skarsgård. Other Canadian premieres include Match, starring Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard working on a dance dissertation with his student Carla Gugino and James C. Strouse’s rom-com People, Places, Things.

Canadian talent will be on full display with Colbie Smulders acting in Unexpected, Enrico Colantoni in the Niagara-filmed The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship as well as the Canadian debut of a Niagara-made film, The Hotel Dieu, which just picked up one award and three nominations at its International debut at the St. Tropez International Film Festival.

Documentaries include For Grace, directed by Mark Helenowski and Kevin Pang focusing on obsessive Chicago chef, Curtis Duffy, and his quest for Michelin stars; Sergio Herman, F***ing Perfect by director Williemiek Kluifhout; Chuck Norris vs Communism tells the unexpected story of how smuggled Church Norris VHS movies helped Romanians in the 1980s escape their stark communist reality; Best of Enemies focuses on the legendary series of nationally televised debates in 1968 between two great public intellectuals, the liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley Jr.; Station to Station follows a train full of a group of artists and musicians as it travels 4,000 miles across North America while they collaborate on recordings, artworks, films and 10 happenings; and music lovers will also appreciate revisiting Festival Express, a classic music documentary following the Grateful Dead’s Canadian train tour in 1970, fitting considering 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s formation.

This year’s festival once again aims to showcase the region as a premiere destination by highlighting its food and wine offerings through the Filmalicious programming that offers the ultimate dinner and movie experience, and the Film Feast program that combines wine and food pairing tastings with a short film festival experience. Screenings throughout the festival will take place at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines, Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls, White Oaks Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake as well as in vineyards throughout the region.

“We’re thrilled that our founding signature sponsors RBC, and Ralota Technologies are back, as well as our government partners Ontario Tourism, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Niagara Region, and the City of St. Catharines,” said NIFF president co-founder Sari Ruda. “Of course, NIFF would not be the unique, sensational experience it is if not for our wonderful winery and venue partners giving festivalgoers a chance to enjoy some world-class food and wine experiences in gorgeous and relaxed facilities. Their participation is a demonstration of faith in our future and reinforces that the festival is indeed a successful annual event.”

To see the full lineup and programming available through this year’s festival, visit www.niagarafilmfest.com.

May20, 2015－NIFF offers up ‘Inside Out’ sneak peek http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/5635417-niff-offers-up-inside-out-sneakpeek/ Festival reveals pre-NIFF screening, opening night gala film

By Melinda Cheevers NIAGARA — The Niagara Integrated Film Festival returns this summer for year two with four days jam-packed full of films, wine, and dining.

However, before the curtain rises on its second year, there will be a special screening of Disney•Pixar’s newest animated feature Inside Out,

on June 14 — a few days before the film festival itself actually kicks off.

Set to officially hit theatres on June 19, Inside Out takes place inside the mind of Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), a young girl whose life is uprooted when her family moves from the Midwest to San Francisco.

Actors like Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling and Phyllis Smith voice her emotions, who are locked in conflict in the control centre of her brain. The animated feature is written and directed by Peter Docter, Academy Award-winning director of Up and Monsters, Inc. The pre-NIFF screening will take place June 14 at 1 p.m. in two theatres at Landmark Cinemas, Pen Centre.

NIFF returns June 18 with its opening night gala taking place at Peller Estates Winery, featuring a screening of Testament of Youth. Directed by James Kent, the film is described as a sweeping coming-of-age story based on the First World War memoir of Vera Brittain. Alicia Vikander takes on the role of Brittain, an independent young woman that abandons her Oxford studies to work as a war nurse after her brother Edward (Taron Egerton), her fiancé Roland Leighton (Kit Harington), and their friends Victor (Colin Morgan) and Geoffrey (Jonathan Bailey), head to the front lines to serve.

Kent, the UK-based director, will be in attendance for the screening, set to take place on June 18.

The opening night gala kicks off at 7 p.m. with a seasonally designed plated dinner paired with wines.

The organizers behind the film festival have been releasing segments of the lineup a little bit at a time, with a number of galas and special screenings yet to be announced.

Returning for a second year is the Niagara Rises program, showcasing the talent bursting from the Niagara region. Fourgrounds Media’s latest offering, The Hotel Dieu, will be featured. The sensitive drama tells the story of a troubled teen coming to terms with blindness following a drunk-driving accident. Another St. Catharines-filmed featured, Lost Penny, will be screened. The whimsical horror story stars Rachael McOwen as a young girl that turns to black magic to find her long-lost father and was filmed primarily at Broadway Lights Dance Studio. The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship showcases Niagara’s wine country in a romantic drama about a weekend getaway with mortifying complications.

Niagara Rises screenings will take place at the Landmark Cinemas in the Pen Centre and Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls.

Tickets for all of the screenings can be purchased by calling 1-800-656-0713 or visiting www.niagarafilmfest.com/tickets.

Toronto is awesome－May21, 2015－Film and Wine Pairings at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.torontoisawesome.com/the-arts/film/film-and-wine-pairings-at-the-niagar a-integrated-film-festival/ The second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is a great way to kick off the summer season in our wine region. From June 18 to 21, film buffs, foodies and wine lovers are invited to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the many wineries involved. Visit award-winning vineyards and toast the amazing film programs set in place. On our radar

again is the special Filmalicious programming where wineries host curated dinners and viewing of one of this year’s world-class cinema offerings.

NIFF will showcase 22 narrative and eight documentary features from countries including USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Costa Rica, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Hong Kong. There are 20 Canadian premieres scheduled including four Ontario films and 12 Niagara region debuts. A few family friendly screenings are offered as well.

Here’s a selection and what’s on our radar…

An early kick-start to the Festival will be the exciting screening of the DISNEY•PIXAR film Inside Out on June 14. Hot off its hugely successful world premiere at Cannes, Inside Out combines the directing skills of Peter Docter, the Academy Award-winning director of Up,with a voice cast that includes Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, and Phyllis Smith, just to name a few.

The Canadian Premiere of Testament of Youth is slated for the Opening Night GALA, a sweeping coming-of-age story set in World War I screens at the prestigious Peller Estates winery, with UK-based director James Kent in attendance.

On this week's radio show...Unlock your love of Cinema.The 2nd annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival, otherwise known as NIFF kicks off June 18th -21st. http://www.thewineladies.com/featured-slider/73-one-sip-at-a-time-wine-ladies/events/wineand-food-tours/1995-coming-soon-niagara-integrated-film-festival-june-18-25-2015

This is such an exciting time here in our wine country, the 2nd annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival, otherwise known as NIFF is kicking off June 18th -21st. We’ll be welcoming hundreds of excited wine,food and film buffs from around the world!

Over 50 films will be premiering and the Niagara region will be awash with actors, movie directors, producers, script writers. It's going to be fantastic!

“Uncork your love of Cinema” at this weekend long event marrying film,food and wine with a wide range of ways you can participate. Starting off with a stupendous Opening Night Experience extravaganza gala, loads of movie screenings, wine tastings, and glittering after parties just to name a few.

Let's not forget the other stars,our winemakers and chefs who have teamed up to bring you the foodie and film buff "Oscar" worthy wine tasting dinners, exquisite wine and food pairings all weekend long.

Kicking off the show we’ll be welcoming Dino Fazio, Niagara Integrated Film Festival Manager and Dino will fill us in on all that this cinematic experience has to offer long after the credits roll!

And many different wineries are hosting events including Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate who will be hosting the Ultimate Gala Experience for three nights… in glamourous Hollywood premiere-style, before, while and after you take in your riveting film premiere you will be treated to a divine tasting menu created by Executive Chef Tim MacKiddie of JT… who will be our second guest.

And finally we turn our attention to one of the films actually premiering at NIFF with our next esteemed guest, she is the screenwriter, and the producer of this film was shot in the Niagara region in which the plot surrounds the wine, sex, relationships,etc...She is an award winning screenwriter, known for her work on the movie Looking for "Angelina” and now she has our vote for an Oscar! The film is called the The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship and our guest is Alessandra Piccione.

Wine and romance are both uncorked in this delightful journey into Niagara’s spectacular wine country. The film was shot in various locations, including several wineries, a B&B and a restaurant–keep your eyes open to spot the locale–and employed dozens of local cast and crew. The film celebrates the region while not glossing over the work required keeping a relationship strong. While Niagara Falls has enjoyed the moniker “Honeymoon Capital of the World” since the early 1900s, amour seems trickier for the couples in The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship. Love in the new millennium is harder to balance—how do you keep a fine vintage relationship from turning to plonk? – Kate Yorga

NIAGARA INTEGRATED FILM FESTIVAL http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/events/niagara-integrated-film-festival/ Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) takes place from June 18th to 21st at multiple venues across several municipalities in beautiful Niagara Region.

Opening Night at Peller Estates Winery (June 18th) Testament of Youth Canadian Premiere Cast: Emily Watson, Hayley Atwell, Kit Harington, Alicia Vikander Director James Kent attending A powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World Ware memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that ware from a woman’s point of view.

Beginning at 7:00pm, enjoy a seasonally designed plated dinner with thoughtfully paired wines to kick off your NIFF experience at 2014’s Winery of the Year Award winner. Following this culinary journey, you will sip on another glass of Peller’s finest wine while enjoying the feature film presentation.

Galas at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery Friday, June 19th The Falling Canadian Premiere Cast: Florence Pugh, Maisie Williams, Greta Scacchi, Maxine Peake It`s 1969 at a strict English girls` school where charismatic Abbie, and intense and troubled Lydia, are best friends. After a tragedy occurs at the school, a mysterious fainting epidemic breaks out threatening the stability of all involved.

Saturday, June 20th Match Canadian Premiere Cast: Patrick Stewart, Carla Gugino, Matthew Lillard Patrick Stewart gives a captivating performance in this witty, emotionally gripping adaptation of director Stephen Belber`s own Tony Award-nominated play.

Sunday, June 21st Unexpected Canadian Premiere Cast: Cobie Smulders, Gail Bean, Elizabeth McGovern When Samantha Abbott begins her final semester teaching science at a Chicago high school, she faces some unexpected news: she’s pregnant. Soon after, Samantha learns that one of her favourite students, Jasmine, has landed in a similar situation.

Galas at Jackson-Triggs are the ultimate film food and wine experience! NIFF is thrilled to present a premiere feature film nightly under the stars in the fabulous Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Amphitheatre.

The Ultimate Gala Experience at Jackson-Triggs begins at 7:00pm, and includes spectacular chef-attended food stations spanning the property to allow you to explore the architecturally stunning winery and vineyards. This divine tasting menu is accompanied by specially selected wines, followed by admission to the film, and an additional glass of wine to sip on during the feature film.

Filmalicious Friday, June 19th Peller Estates For Grace Chef Curtis Duffy and Co-Director Kevin Pang attending.

Curtis Duffy, one of the country's most renowned chefs, is building his dream restaurant at the worst time of his personal life. Already the recipient of two coveted stars from the Michelin Guide, Duffy has ambitions for his Chicago restaurant Grace to become the best in the country. But his laser focus on his cooking career cost Duffy his marriage and two young daughters. 'For Grace' is a story about food, family, balance and sacrifice.

Friday, June 19th Redstone Winery Advantageous Canadian Premiere Cast: Jacqueline Kim, Freya Adams, James Urbanik, Jennifer Ehle, Ken Jeong Star and Co-writer Jacqueline Kim attending.

In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter Jules do all they can to hold on to their joy together, despite the instability surfacing in their world.

Friday, June 19th Southbrook Vineyards People, Places, Things Canadian Premiere Cast: Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Stephanie Allynne Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) is a graphic novelist, a professor at the School of Visual Arts and the father of beautiful twin girls (Gia and Aundrea Gadsby). His seemingly picture-perfect Brooklyn life is turned upside down when he walks in on the mother of his children, and longtime girlfriend, Charlie, (Stephanie Allynne) with their friend, Gary, (Michael Chernus) at his daughters’ over the top fifth birthday party.

Cast: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family "playdate" becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on.

Saturday, June 20th Peller Estates Little Big Master North American Premiere A young woman named Penny is desperate to get away from her overprotective mother. She follows a trail to a mysterious box with the words "Open Me" scrawled on top. She opens it - and that's when she's plunged into a strange world… “...a breath of fresh air…” - Variety Saturday, June 20th Redstone Winery I’ll See You in My Dreams Niagara Premiere Cast: Blythe Danner, Sam Elliot, Martin Starr, Malin Akerman, Rhea Perlman Carol, a widow in her 70s, is forced to confront her fears about love, family, and death. After her

routine is rattled she decides to start dating again and falls into relationships with two very different men. “....a crowd pleaser…” - Variety Saturday, June 20th Southbrook Vineyards Posthumous Canadian Premiere Cast: Jack Huston, Brit Marling, Lambert Wilson, Tom Schilling After false reports of his demise put him and his work on the map, an artist decides to continue the charade by posing as his own brother. Soon, a reporter enters his life and has a profound effect on him. “....a screwball setup out of the Preston Sturges playbook…” - Variety Each Filmalicious evening begins at 7:00pm with an exquisite 3-course* meal with wine pairings and admission to the film premiere, which begins at 9:30pm. During the screening, an assortment of traditional and non-traditional food concessions will be available along with a cash bar. *Southbrook meal includes elaborate food-station style service.

If you can’t make it for the full Filmalicious experience, NIFF also offers a screening package that includes admission to the film premiere along with a glass of wine selected from among the vineyard’s finest selections. Seating begins at 8:45 pm.

Film Feast Tours (June 20 & 21) Film Feast shines the spotlight on the very best of food, film, and wine – all combined to create a unique afternoon in the vineyards. Leave the car behind and join us for Film Feast which takes you on a bus tour to three of Niagara’s most spectacular wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake (Konzelmann, Pillitteri, and PondView) or Twenty Valley (Angels Gate, Calamus, and Tawse).

Spotlight Series Screenings (June 18 - 21) These includes screenings and celebrity appearances of many wonderful films chosen from across Canada and around the globe, and brought to Niagara especially for you.

Film titles include: Diary of a Teenage Girl (USA) starring Bel Powley, who is appearing at NIFF The Hotel Dieu (Canada) Canadian Premiere The Quiet Hour (UK/Ireland) Canadian Premiere Fanciful (Poland) Canadian Premiere The Lost Aviator (Australia/UK) Canadian Premiere Viaje (Costa Rica) Canadian Premiere Liza the Fox-Fairy (Hungary) Canadian Premiere Station to Station (USA) Canadian Premiere Lost Penny (Canada) Canadian Premiere These films are screened at Landmark Theatres (Pen Centre) in St. Catharines and the Seneca Queen Theatre in downtown Niagara Falls.

Visit NiagaraFilmFest.com for further information and tickets.

Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) http://www.tourismstcatharines.ca/event/niagara-integrated-film-festival-niff%20 Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF): June 18-21. 2015 Movie buffs & foodies, it’s your time! - Come for the evening, stay for the weekend and experience the first Niagara Integrated Film Festival. NIFF is no ordinary film festival.

Film screenings, parties and tastings will take place in non-traditional venues throughout the Niagara Region, including wineries, airport hangars, parks and academic institutions.

Visit our website to join in the festival or find out where the fun happens! - See more at: http://www.tourismstcatharines.ca/event/niagara-integrated-film-festival-niff%20#sthash.Eh0ItrM7 .dpuf

Five Events You Can’t Miss This Summer http://niagarafied.ca/niagara-life/five-events-you-cant-miss-this-summer/ Niagara Integrated Film Festival – June 18-21 This is the second year for the Niagara Integrated Film Festival, and wow, there is so much going on.

It’s probably better to peruse the website for yourself to see all of the details, some of which are still to be confirmed. Jackson-Triggs, pictured above, is just one of the wineries that will have a starring role in this event. They are hosting the Ultimate Gala Experience and Film Screening, nightly from June 19th-21st.

Other wineries are joining in the party too. The Filmalicious and Film Feast events are ones that really appeal to me. Filmalicious involves a vineyard dinner at a Niagara winery and a film screening – the ultimate “dinner and a movie”, according to their website. If you can’t make it to the dinner (which would be a crying shame) you can also just purchase a ticket for the film screening.

Watching a first-class film under the stars with a glass of wine in hand…it doesn’t get much better.

The Film Feast program involves a bus tour to three Niagara wineries, where you will sample a flight of wines matched with delicious hors d’oeuvres. On top of that, at each of the wineries you will watch a short film from “Canada’s Not Short on Talent”, a presentation of some of the country’s best at Cannes. Sounds like a fabulous way to spend the day.

And there is so much more happening. Come and make a weekend of it. And of course, you know where to stay, right???

Niagara Entertainment LINK UNAVAILABLE

May7, 2015－Film Festival features local talent http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/index.php?p=Sections&id=4436 NIAGARA - Niagara isn’t just home to some of the world’s most avid film buffs.

It’s a shooting location for Hollywood stars, a home base for movie dealmakers and the breeding ground for some of the most creative film talent working today., according to the Niagara Integrated Film Festival. Niagara natives have been in front of and behind the camera on everything from super-hero blockbusters to critical-darling Cannes winners.

The second annual celebration of cinema will screen several motion pictures from June 18 to 21 at Pen Centre's Landmark Cinemas and the Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls. It will also feature a spotlight on the region’s finest with its 'Niagara Rises' program.

This year, that program includes 'The Hotel Dieu,' a sensitive drama from St. Catharines’ production

house Fourgrounds Media, about a troubled teen coming to terms with blindness following a drunk-driving accident. The Garden City was also home to the filming of 'Lost Penny,' a mind-bending part-whimsy part-horror film starring Rachael McOwen (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) about a young girl who turns to black magic to find her long-lost father. The Winnebagos and camera trucks fanned out across the Niagara Region for 'The Colossal Failure Of The Modern Relationship,' a romantic drama about a woman (Krista Bridges) who breaks off an affair with her husband’s boss (David Cubitt) and tries to repair her marriage with a romantic trip to wine country, with mortifying complications.

And the heart of rock ‘n’ roll beats in 'The Cocksure Lads Movie,' a light-hearted, pop-musical, produced by the Niagara Region’s Darren Portelli and written, directed and co-produced by Murray Foster (Moxy Fruvous, Great Big Sea). It’s a tale of a British bar band looking for their big break and weathering a break-up in Toronto, says a press release from NIFF. Tickets can be purchased at https://niagarafilmfest.com/tickets/ or by calling 1-800-656-0713.

The second annual film festival supported by Signature Sponsors: RBC, and Ralota Technologies, and government partners Ontario Tourism, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Niagara Region, and the City of St. Catharines.

February19, 2015－2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival Announces Dates & Team http://indienyc.com/2nd-annual-niagara-integrated-film-festival-announces-dates-team/ Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is proud to announce the dates for its 2nd annual film, food and wine festival, June 18-21, in the Niagara Region, Ontario.

NIFF celebrates the cinematic arts with an exclusive look at top-shelf films from around the globe, paired with Niagara’s world-class wineries, and flavored with food from award-winning Canadian chefs, all in the breathtaking beauty of the Niagara Region.

NIFF is run by an expert team of film festival managers and directors, led by Artistic Director and Founder Bill Marshall – Founder and Chair Emeritus of Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world’s most successful public film festivals.

The NIFF 2015 team includes: President – Sari Ruda Festival Manager – Dino Fazio Director of Programming – Tony Watts Programming Manager – Kate Yorga Director of Marketing – Judith Murchison Event Manager – Angela Urquhart NIFF highlights the connection of film, food, and wine, with unparalleled programming, that includes Filmalicious, Film Feast, World’s Smallest Film Festival, Industry Day and Niagara Rises.

Filmalicious is an opportunity for guests to settle into a winery and have Canada’s most talented chefs present a sumptuous dinner, highlighted with stunning wine pairings, followed by a special feature film presentation in the vineyard.

Film Feast is a unique bus excursion of Niagara’s most spectacular wineries where guests sample award-winning vintages, accompanied by exquisitely prepared hors d’oeuvres, and view a selection of short films.

World’s Smallest Film Festival is a film competition featuring shorts shot entirely on a mobile device. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase today’s ground- breaking mobile film capabilities and the talent and creativity of filmmakers.

Niagara Rises showcases the talent bursting from this exciting creative cluster, and where many filmmakers have honed their crafts working on everything from Hollywood blockbusters like X-Men to world acclaimed Cannes winners. niagarafilmfest.com

April9, 2015－Niagara festivals get Celebrate Ontario funds http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/04/09/niagara-festivals-get-celebrate-ontario-funds

By Greg Furminger Port Colborne’s civic holiday weekend Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival is getting $45,900 this year from the Celebrate Ontario program.

It’s one of the many benefiting applicants from across the region that present events aimed at drawing tourists, creating jobs and growing local economies Announced Thursday, the province is helping 270 festivals and events across Ontario into fiscal 2016 — the highest number in the history of the program. Since 2007, Celebrate Ontario has committed $137 million to support more than 1,700 events.

Niagara’s largest funding recipients this time around are the Shaw Festival Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Nov. 11 to Jan. 27 Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, each which are receiving $247,500.

The other Niagara recipients are: Niagara Integrated Film Festival in Grimsby, June 18-21, $90,000;

May6, 2015ďź?Local talent to shine again at NIFF http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/05/06/local-talent-to-shine-again-at-niff

By John Law Lost Penny, one of four locally made features to be screened at the upcoming Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Niagara filmmakers will once again share the spotlight at the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Niagara Rises, a series catering to locally-themed movies, will return when the four-day festival kicks off June 18. Four features, along with a series of short films, will take place at Landmark Cinemas (Pen Centre) in St. Catharines and the Seneca Queen Theatre in downtown Niagara Falls.

"There's a wealth of incredible talent in the region, it's really unbelievable," says programmer Kate Yorga. "Part of our festival mandate is to celebrate that talent."

The mandate this year not only encompasses Niagara-born filmmakers, but movies made in the region. It opens the door to both indie and big budget features at the festival.

"There was a great wealth to choose from this year," says Yorga. "Even the shorts, too, it was great to have an embarrassment of riches to choose from."

This year's slate of features: THE HOTEL DIEU – A troubled teen comes to terms with blindness following a drink driving accident in this drama from St. Catharines production house Fourgrounds Media.

LOST PENNY – Pseudo-horror flick shot in St. Catharines about a young girl who resorts to black magic to find her long-lost father. Stars Rachael McOwen of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

THE COLOSSAL FAILURE OF THE MODERN RELATIONSHIP – Filmed throughout the region, this romantic drama finds a woman (Krista Bridges) breaking off an affair with her husband's boss (David Cubitt) to repair her marriage with a trip to wine country.

THE COCKSURE LADS MOVIE – Music-based comedy produced by Niagara's Darren Portelli and former Moxy Fruvous member Murray Foster, about a British bar band looking for their big break while going through a split in Toronto.

The festival is expected to release its final schedule of screenings next week.

The local component to last year's inaugural festival made bringing Niagara Rises back an easy decision, says Yorga.

"It was huge," she says. "People were really excited to see their homegrown talent. "For people to see physical proof of the great talent that's in their own backyard…that's why there's again excitement about it this year."

This year's Niagara Integrated Film Festival will once again utilize local wineries and restaurants in addition to theaters. Films will be announced at a press conference at Jackson-Triggs Winery May 20. john.law@sunmedia.ca

May7, 2015－Film Festival features local talent http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/index.php?p=Sections&id=4436 NIAGARA - Niagara isn’t just home to some of the world’s most avid film buffs.

It’s a shooting location for Hollywood stars, a home base for movie dealmakers and the breeding ground for some of the most creative film talent working today., according to the Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Niagara natives have been in front of and behind the camera on everything from super-hero blockbusters to critical-darling Cannes winners.

The second annual celebration of cinema will screen several motion pictures from June 18 to 21 at Pen Centre's Landmark Cinemas and the Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls.

It will also feature a spotlight on the region’s finest with its 'Niagara Rises' program.

This year, that program includes 'The Hotel Dieu,' a sensitive drama from St. Catharines’ production house Fourgrounds Media, about a troubled teen coming to terms with blindness following a

drunk-driving accident.

The Garden City was also home to the filming of 'Lost Penny,' a mind-bending part-whimsy part-horror film starring Rachael McOwen (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) about a young girl who turns to black magic to find her long-lost father.

The Winnebagos and camera trucks fanned out across the Niagara Region for 'The Colossal Failure Of The Modern Relationship,' a romantic drama about a woman (Krista Bridges) who breaks off an affair with her husband’s boss (David Cubitt) and tries to repair her marriage with a romantic trip to wine country, with mortifying complications.

And the heart of rock ‘n’ roll beats in 'The Cocksure Lads Movie,' a light-hearted, pop-musical, produced by the Niagara Region’s Darren Portelli and written, directed and co-produced by Murray Foster (Moxy Fruvous, Great Big Sea).

It’s a tale of a British bar band looking for their big break and weathering a break-up in Toronto, says a press release from NIFF. Tickets can be purchased at https://niagarafilmfest.com/tickets/ or by calling 1-800-656-0713.

The second annual film festival supported by Signature Sponsors: RBC, and Ralota Technologies, and government partners Ontario Tourism, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Niagara Region, and the City of St. Catharines.

May13, 2015－Programmer Tony Watts Scoops Up 5 Critically Acclaimed Features For The 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.thebusinessoffilmdaily.com/Bumpereditioncannes2015/D1_S9.htm l Renowned programmer Tony Watts attends Cannes with the mission to add to the features he has already programmed from his globe-trotting trips.

Attending several film festivals, he has already picked the best of the best for the upcoming Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) in Ontario, Canada.

Watts, Director of Programming for NIFF, worked through the marketplace to land five critically acclaimed features all of which are garnering rave reviews - which will be showcased at the 2nd annual NIFF. In the world of film festivals it's about the securing of premieres for both the consumer and press, and Watts has pulled off Niagara or Canadian premieres for all the following films.

Niagara Premiere for I'll See You in My Dreams is directed by Brett Haley and stars the Blythe

Danner, Sam Elliott and Martin Starr. Canadian Premiere for The Lost Aviator, the documentary has received rave reviews, directed by Andrew Lancaster with a stellar Aussie cast including Ewen Leslie, Kipan Rothbury and Yael Stone. Canadian Premiere for People, Places, Things, a comedy from director James C. Strouse that stars everyone's favorite funny man Jemaine Clement, a film that will keep you laughing for weeks. Canadian Premiere and another comedy is Unexpected, by director Kris Swanberg that features a large cast including Elizabeth McGovern and Cobie Smulders.

Canadian Premiere for 7 Chinese Brothers from director Bob Byington starring Jason Schwartzman and Olympia Dukakis, keeps the chuckling going...

About Tony Watts The programmer's programmer, and a player in international film and television since the '70s, Watts' credentials speak for themselves. The Director of Programmes for the inaugural Toronto Film Festival (Festival of Festivals) he has held executive positions with Premiere (the UK's first satellite Pay TV channel), and with its successor Sky, Hong Kong-based Star movies and Sundance Channel International (where he reported directly to Sundance founder Robert Redford). In recent years, he's been CEO of RTL Asia (the pay-TV arm of Europe's largest broadcaster), and is CEO/Founder of The Festivals Channel - a subscription app movie service. Watts is considered one of the world's leading experts on international film.

About NIFF The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is a film festival that aims to shine a cinematic spotlight on the Niagara Region's extraordinary beauty while showcasing top shelf independent films from across the world. NIFF is run by an expert team of film festival managers, led by Bill Marshall, Founder and Chair Emeritus of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), the world's most successful public film festival. NIFF runs June 18 - 21, 2015.

May15, 2015－#NIFF2015 ACCOMODATIONS WHITE OAKS RESORT AND SPA – COMFORT LUXURY PAMPERING FINE DINING RESTAURANTS SWIMMING FAMILY FUN – CLIFTON HILL NIAGARA FALLS ONT CANADA https://ideagirlcanada.wordpress.com/category/niff-niagara-integrated-film-festival-tiff/ the idea girl says Welcome to our Hollywood Film Producers, Film Directors, Screen Script Writers TV, Movies and other Documentary type projects. Welcome to our Hollywood Actors, Actresses that might be checking out #NIFF2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival (incognito :)) and to all our GUESTS who come to either stay at the White Oaks Resort and Spa (where most of the #NIFF2014, and #NIFF2015 events – head office, tickets and information location) Last year #NIFF2014 was a huge success with 10,000 guests participating and enjoying the “red carpet Hollywood Style experience.”

Harry and I were invited as travel blogging guests and we filmed as many functions possible at the time. Last year we had to rent a car from a friend. This year we have our own vehicle so we will not have any RESTRICTIONS about what time and place we’ll be at various events in the Southern Ontario. (This year we are video blogging in the Southwest Ontario, along Hwy #401 West – Pet Friendly Hotels, Restaurants, Cafe’s, Bars, Leash Free, Dog Parks, Shopping (where can I go shopping

with my pet?), Retail Store locations for Pet Smart along our journeys as I rate and write a critical review of what our hotels consider as “pet friendly services.” My goal is to expand a new tourism industry, one we don’t have yet here in ontario, canada. It’s providing pet services that are not yet in place but I will try my best to change it.

I’m rating room comfort – type of bed, quiet (can I work on my blogging and other projects in peace or is it too noisy of a place to write a film or TV script?) types of food (healthy, snack – not so healthy, dietary, vegetarian), any snacks or extra’s provided for my pooch (comfort inn st thomas ontario canada – hwy #3 has 4 pet friendly rooms on the main floor – convenient patio doors to take your dog for a walk, they supplied us with free dog poop scoop bags (a green cannister that attaches to the leash for your convenience), a denta bone for Daisy to chew on (she loves munching on it! and she NEVER eats the regular ones they sell at Walmart here in fort erie), and a little round tag to write the name of your dog on, hotel room and your cell number should your pooch decide to be a runner!) – we also find out if there’s a COYOTE watch near the HOTELS for your pet’s safety and concerns. then I’ll blog nearby shopping retail stores where you can go shopping for your pooch, something I love to do for Daisy as she loves to wear her DIVA t- shirts, sweaters and winter coats, I probably spend more money on HER wardrobe than I do my own. LOL

May16, 2015―NIFF Brings Audiences Inside Out — and More http://hnmag.ca/festivals/niff-brings-audiences-inside-out-and-more/ (Via WireService.ca): We’ve mentioned Niagara Integrated Film Festival as the force behind the World’s Smallest Film Festival, but of course there’s a lot more to it than that. Though the festival proper starts on June 18th, on the 14th NIFF will put on a special screening of Disney•Pixar’s newest animated feature Inside Out. Inside Out takes audiences inside the mind of Riley, a young girl who’s coping with her family’s move. Riley’s emotions — especially Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler — have a life of their own as they guide her from their Headquarters in her mind. The special screening takes place on June 14th, at 1:00pm at Landmark Cinemas 2 and 3, Pen Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario.

NIFF’s Opening Night Gala on the 18th will see the screening of Testament of Youth. This 2014 British First World War drama film is based on the memoirs of Vera Brittain, an independent young woman who abandoned her Oxford studies to become a war nurse. The festivities will take place at the Peller Estates winery, with director James Kent in attendance.

Opening Night is not the only NIFF event to combine film, wine, and fine dining. From the 19th to the 21st, the Ultimate Gala Experience takes place each evening at Jackson-Triggs Winery. (The festival site notes: “If you’re interested in attending the screenings only, NIFF offers an Opening Night Screening package and a Gala Film Screening package that includes admission to the film premiere along with a glass of wine selected from among the vineyards’ finest selections.”)

May20, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Fest preparing for launch http://www.htzfm.com/news/2015/05/20/niagara-integrated-film-fest-preparing-for-launch

The 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is getting ready for next month's festivities.The festival runs June 18th to the 21st.Building on its success from last year, officials say this year’s expanded programming ranges from tender coming-of-age stories, light-hearted comedies, and special screenings to gripping dramas and documentaries.

NIFF will showcase 22 narrative and eight documentary features, from countries including: the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Costa Rica, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Hong Kong. Out of the total lineup, four world and one North American premieres will be screened.

In addition, 20 Canadian premieres are scheduled, including four Ontario films and 12 Niagara Region debuts.An early kick-start to the festival will be the screening of the DISNEY PIXAR film Inside Out on June 14th.CKTB's Larry Fedoruk will be talking to NIFF's President Sari Ruda at 4:15 today.

For more information go to https://niagarafilmfest.com/

May21, 2015－FF7 – Wine, Dine, and Movies, Hooray! Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.kimbehzadi.com/film-festival/ff7-wine-dine-and-movies-hooray-niagara-integrated-film -festival/ Have you ever wished that your movie theater served wine and beer while watching your favorite movie? Fear no more, because now you can experience the fantastic trio of wining, dining, and movie watching with the Niagara Integrated Film Festival. This

year’s festival, June 18-21st, is the 2nd year for the Niagara Film Festival.

The brainchild of Bill Marshall, the founder of the Toronto International Film Festival, Niagara Integrated Film Festival focuses on regional wines and chefs while curating over 60 films from all over the world. With catchy little phrases like “Uncork your love of cinema” you can’t helped but be hooked.

If you’re interested in volunteering, the festival is shorter in length. So, only two shifts (8 hours in total) are required. Just fill out the Volunteer Google-docs form and away you go! This is excellent for younger volunteers or individuals who only have weekends free (like myself). I’m able to put in a time-off request for work for a single weekend and take a drive into wine country, also known as the Niagara region.

There are also different components of the festival including the Gala, Filmalicious, Film Feast, Spotlight Series, NIFF Awards and Industry Day. I have fond memories of volunteering at one of the Filmalicious events. Is there anything as romantic as the sun setting on a vineyard watching recovered, never-been-seen, short films featuring Peter Sellers? I think not. Another glass of wine, please!

Plan your stay ahead of time! There are so many options and this festival is only a few short weeks away. There are few different locations for the festival, which is great because some films are even screened on vineyard properties. You have the option to visit Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Beamsville, or Niagara-On-The-Lake depending on where or what movie you want to see! You can take a look at all the different Chefs and Winemakers featured this year.

Don’t forget there is also the chance to vote on your favorite submission in the World’s Smallest Film Festival. I don’t want to give away too much, but the Niagara Integrated Film Festival certainly put on a good show its first year.

Official Website: https://niagarafilmfest.com/ Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1PzfOWC Twitter: https://twitter.com/niagarafilm

May22, 2015－NIFF returns for sophomore run http://playbackonline.ca/2015/05/22/niff-returns-for-sophomore-run/

By Jordan Pinto F estival founder Bill Marshall on the challenges of mounting a full-scale food, film and wine festival that takes place at bucolic Niagara wineries.

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF), which returns for its sophomore edition this June 18-21, faces hellishly fierce competition from many other huge events in the saturated summer schedule – though they are not what you might expect.

Weddings, it seems, are festival founder Bill Marshall’s main competitor when it comes to organizing an event of this magnitude across the wineries of Niagara.

The film, food and wine-focused festival, which debuted last year, is returning with a showcase of 30 narrative and documentary features, as well as introducing the new Niagara Rises Program this year.

The new feature support local talent by focusing on Canadian films made solely in the Niagara Region.Bill_Marshall_at_TIFF_1 Titles to get their showcase in the program are The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny.

Disney/Pixar’s Peter Docter-directed film Inside Out will also screen at a pre-festival event (on June 14), a week in advance of its public opening.

Marshall, who is well known as a co-founder of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), told Playback Daily that while last year the festival was as much an experiment as anything (which even in its inaugural year drew 10,000 attendees), this year the festival hopes to attract around 17,000 people.

“The sheer technology of taking the movies out to the wineries, and building the screens and the sound systems, connecting it to the food and wine, was a bit challenging at first,” he said, but this year the NIFF team has a greater idea of what to expect.

Marshall also noted that the challenge in getting NIFF off the ground is getting both the locals to put the event in their yearly calendar, and getting the out of town audience to commit as well.

Among the featured films at the festival are four world premieres and one North American premiere.

Potential winery venues also had to be scrapped because of wedding bookings, which Marshall jokes is his festival’s biggest competitor for this year and in the years to come. So if you’re thinking of booking your wedding in Niagara for summer, just make sure to check your dates first.

May26, 2015－You can win $1,000 for 3 minutes work, but you have to hurry. http://www.610cktb.com/news/2015/05/26/you-can-win-1000-for-3-minutes-work-on-your-phone-or-tablet The Niagara International Film Fest is introducing the World’s Smallest Film Festival.

It's a film competition featuring short films shot entirely on any mobile device, including smartphones and tablets.

You need to submit the entry by June 11th, find out more by clicking here.

Your mobile movie could win you $1,000 or a tablet.

Water is one of the Niagara Region’s most defining characteristics so it’s only fitting that this year’s theme revolves entirely around water.

Create a 1-3 minute short film on your mobile mesene device and get bragging rights with a film premiere at the much anticipated 2nd annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

May27, 2015－Short film contest features big prize http://bulletnewsniagara.ca/index.php?p=Sections&id=4612

By Lisa Tors / Community Editor NIAGARA – Sometimes, being small is a big thing.The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has issued a call to aspiring filmmakers to enter a short film competition, with their film shot entirely on any mobile device.Using a smart phone or tablet, entrants are asked to produce a one- to three-minute film for “The World’s Smallest Film Festival” based on the theme “water.”

The possible prize? Not so small: $1,000 for the Director’s Prize. The Audience Choice Award winner will receive a tablet.

The contest is open to all filmmakers, emerging or established.

All submitted short films will be featured on the World’s Smallest Film Festival YouTube channel.

Your film should have a beginning, middle and end, have a unique point of view, and have impact that lasts long after the credits roll. Films with the most ‘likes’ will be short listed and judged by a jury at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival, and get a premiere screening at NIFF, which takes place June 18-21 at various locations in Niagara.

The deadline to submit a film short is June 11. To make a submission, visit https://niagarafilmfest.com/wsff/wsff-submission/.

For full contest details and more information, visit https://niagarafilmfest.com/wsff/ WSFF is sponsored by Niagara Investment in Culture (Niagara Region); Ralota Technologies; Celebrate Ontario and Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Qubecity－ May27, 2015－Lost Penny film promo with Tia Blake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCwfBnxcBaY

Published on Feb 3, 2015 LOST PENNY tells the story of a teen who wants to escape her overprotective mother. When Penny comes across a mysterious box that promises to make her dreams come true, she is plunged into a world where things are not quite as they seem. http://www.cubecity.org/penny.htm CAST Penny ... Rachael McOwen Mother ... Victoria Guthrie Tenshi ... Andrew Roth Lucien ... Christopher Elliott Gadget ... Stephen Velichko Fudge ... Victoria Murdoch Hostess ... Melanie Gaydos Runaway ... Hannah Ladwig Shadow Genie ... Kevin Connelly Pirate ... William G. Hobbs Enforcer ... Robert Tanos Bouncer ... Isaac Mitchell Security Check ... Todd Melville Dealer ... Paul Hoerdt Red Dancer ... Tia Blake Harbinger ... Thomas Nelson Producer ... Roberto Munoz

Director ... Mann Munoz a co-production of CubeCity Entertainment, Inc. http://www.cubecity.org and Curium Films http://www.curiumfilms.com Category Film & Animation License Standard YouTube License

May27, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) Offers $1,000 For a 3 Minute Film http://filmbutton.com/mainpage/niagara-integrated-film-festival-niff-offers-1000-for-a3-minute-film/ Win $1,000 for 3 minutes work ST. CATHARINES – Your mobile movie making magic could win you $1,000 or a tablet.

World’s Smallest Film Festival is a competition featuring short films shot entirely on any mobile device (smartphone or tablet). The opportunities are endless when shooting a film using mobile technology. Who knows, maybe one day you will have the next major film festival feature. Like this year’s Tangerine, shot entirely on a mobile phone, created so much buzz at Sundance it attracted a major film distributor, Magnolia Pictures.

Water is one of the Niagara Region’s most defining characteristics so it’s only fitting that this year’s theme should revolve entirely around water.

Create a 1-3 minute short film on your mobile device and get bragging rights with a film premiere at the much anticipated 2nd annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Get your mobile game on and submit now! Deadline June 11!

Tarantino… Nolan… Bigelow….You? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase today’s ground-breaking mobile film capabilities and your talent. This is open to all creative filmmakers, emerging or established.

All submitted short films will be featured on the World’s Smallest Film Festival YouTube channel.

Your film should have a beginning, middle and end, have a unique point of view, and have impact that lasts long after the credits roll. Films with the most ‘likes’ will be short listed and judged by a Jury at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival, and get a premiere screening at NIFF.

May29, 2015－NIAGARA — The organizers behind the Niagara Integrated Film Festival are looking to prove Niagara’s not short on talent. http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5651209-mobile-movie-mania/ Local filmmakers and wannabe filmmakers will have the chance to show off their big vision in an interesting way: the World’s Smallest Film Festival, a film competition featuring short films shot entirely on mobile devices.

This year’s theme revolves around one of Niagara’s most defining characteristics: water. Filmmakers are encouraged to create a one- to three-minute short film on a smartphone or tablet and submit it by the June 11 deadline.

The competition is open to all creative filmmakers, both emerging and established. The winner will have their entry premiere at the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival, taking place June 18-21, and could win $1,000 or a tablet.

Full contest details are available on the Niagara Film Festival website, www.niagarafilmfest.com/wsff .

NIFF - Niagara Integrated Film Festival https://www.niagaraonthelake.com/page/attraction/2310/Attractions/niff-niagara-inte grated-film-festival About Transcending the boundaries of traditional film festivals, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) makes audiences part of the cinematic dialogue. NIFF shifts the typical Blockbuster format into a new paradigm of cultural tourism with food and wine tastings complementing the film screenings.

Imagine tasting award–winning Niagara wine, paired with fine cuisine prepared by the Region’s top chefs, followed by the screening of a world–class film shown in the scenic summer vineyard- it

doesn’t get any better than NIFF! Join us in Niagara-on-the-Lake for spectacular film events, including NIFF Galas at Jackson-Triggs (June 19 - 21) and Filmalicious (June 19 - 20).

The Gala Experience at Jackson-Triggs begins each evening at 7pm in glamorous Hollywood premiere-style, and includes spectacular chef-attended food stations spanning the property to allow you to explore the architecturally stunning winery and vineyards. This divine tasting menu will be accompanied by specially selected wines, followed by admission to the film, and an additional glass of wine to sip on during the feature presentation.

Filmalicious is the ultimate “dinner and a movie” event is hosted at two magnificent Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries Peller Estates and Southbrook Vineyards. During this sensory experience, each guest will enjoy a sumptuous vineyard dinner paired with award-winning Niagara wines selected specially by the winemaker.

Visit NiagaraFilmFest.com or call 289 438-1695 for event details.

June10, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Fest preparing for launch http://www.1057ezrock.com/news/2015/05/20/niagara-integrated-film-fest-preparing-f or-launch The 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is getting ready for next month's festivities.The festival runs June 18th to the 21st.Building on its success from last year, officials say this year’s expanded programming ranges from tender coming-of-age stories, light-hearted comedies, and special screenings to gripping dramas and documentaries.

NIFF will showcase 22 narrative and eight documentary features, from countries including: the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Costa Rica, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Hong Kong. Out of the total lineup, four world and one North American premieres will be screened.

In addition, 20 Canadian premieres are scheduled, including four Ontario films and 12 Niagara Region debuts.An early kick-start to the festival will be the screening of the DISNEY PIXAR film Inside Out on June 14th.

CKTB's Larry Fedoruk will be talking to NIFF's President Sari Ruda at 4:15 today.

For more information go to https://niagarafilmfest.com/

Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce - NIFF Appreciation Night and 2015 Launch http://www.greaterniagarachamber.com/Portals/0/2015/ctw/01/011215_niff.pdf

Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) Invites you to a Night of Appreciation and 2015 Festival Launch Date: Saturday, January 17, 2015 Time: 7:00 pm Place: Woodbourne Inn (Hosts: Karen and John Klassen) 214 Four Mile Creek Road St. David, Ontario, L0S 1P0 www.woodbourneinn.com NIFF got off to a great start for its inaugural year in 2014 and the plans for the coming year, scheduled for June 18–21, 2015, are shaping up to be even better.

We’ll have more sponsors, fantastic films, exceptional locations especially at the wineries, unique local activities and we need your support to continue to grow this festival into one of the world’s best festival experiences.

This evening is about thanking our previous sponsors and patrons, welcoming our new sponsors and partners, visioning what NIFF will become and beginning to get the festival launch underway with this years’ leadership team.

Discount NIFF Membership passes will be available, Artist Dr. David Drum and Barbara Vance, Artists will donate 50% of all art sold that evening to NIFF (www.daviddrumfineart.com).

The Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team looks forward to your attendance and being part of building a world class culinary, wine and film festival. Help us create that Niagara experience, so compelling that everyone “saves the date” for the next year!

Please RSVP to Bradley Hamilton (hamiltonbrd@gmail.com) or call 905 380 5236.

Gil Taylor, Chairman of Bo

May29, 2015－Calamus NIFF Film Festival http://www.pourniagara.com/event/calamus-niff-film-festival/ June 20 @ 12:00 pm - June 21 @ 4:30 pm | $105.00 Calamus Estate Winery will be hosting film viewings as part of Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Participants will receive a wine and food pairing, winery tour and enjoy a selection of short films from Canada’s Not Short on Talent.

For further information please visit www.niagarafilmfest.com/buy-tickets Details Start: June 20 @ 12:00 pm End: June 21 @ 4:30 pm Cost: $105.00 Website: http://www.niagarafilmfest.com/buy-tickets Organizer Calamus Estate Winery Phone: 905-562-9303 Website: www.calamuswines.com Venue Calamus Estate Winery 3100 Glen Road Jordan, Ontario L0R 1S0 Canada + Google Map Phone: 905-562-9303 Website: www.calamuswines.com

Mobile movie mania Win $1,000 for three minutes work http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5651209-mobile-movie-mania/ NIAGARA — The organizers behind the Niagara Integrated Film Festival are looking to prove Niagara’s not short on talent.

Local filmmakers and wannabe filmmakers will have the chance to show off their big vision in an interesting way: the World’s Smallest Film Festival, a film competition featuring short films shot

entirely on mobile devices.

This year’s theme revolves around one of Niagara’s most defining characteristics: water. Filmmakers are encouraged to create a one- to three-minute short film on a smartphone or tablet and submit it by the June 11 deadline.

The competition is open to all creative filmmakers, both emerging and established. The winner will have their entry premiere at the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival, taking place June 18-21, and could win $1,000 or a tablet.

Full contest details are available on the Niagara Film Festival website, www.niagarafilmfest.com/wsff.

June2, 2015－Niagara Falls Summer Festivals https://www.niagarafallsmarriott.com/niagara-seasons/niagara-falls-summer-festivals Summer fun is hard to avoid – and who would want to, in a town like Niagara? Beautiful and breathtaking Niagara summers are greeted with enthusiasm and energy. There’s always something, and usually an outdoor festival with local flavour, to check out during the hottest months of the year in Niagara.

Niagara Integrated Film Festival Of course, food and dancing are major festival themes but that’s not the only kind of event in town.

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival is just one of many Niagara cultural festivals held throughout the year, and across the whole upper Niagara area it fills local cinemas with contemporary films and presentations. And gourmet cuisine to accompany in ‘Filmalicious’ presentations as well, because the two need not be mutually exclusive.

There are additional festivals to be announced throughout the summer months. Stay tuned to this post via social share or bookmark for future updates.

Enjoy Niagara Region Festivals by staying at the Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa, a luxury resort that offers the best views of Niagara Falls. For our best rates and value based packages visit:

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrat ed-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country."Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs.

Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is

timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-inte grated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS

tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrated-film-f estival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but

June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.lfpress.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at

Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.thewhig.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integ rated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance

Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

Grace Lutheran Church - June 3, 2015 - Lost Penny LINK UNABAILAVLE

June3, 2015ďź?Winery refuses Niagara Film Fest screening http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/06/03/winery-refuses-niagara-film-fest-screening

By John Law One of the biggest screenings for this year's Niagara Integrated Film Festival has also caused the biggest stir.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, the acclaimed coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood), has been bumped from its original screening at Jackson-Triggs Winery because the venue had problems with the content.

The screening was part of NIFF's Filmalicious series, in which movies are paired up with food and wine at outdoor locations throughout the region. Jackson-Triggs is one of six wineries taking part this year.

But this week, the winery informed NIFF founder Bill Marshall it would not allow the film to be screened on its property.

"It's the first time I've run across a venue saying, 'Oh no, that's not what we want here'," said Marshall.

Directed by first-time filmmaker Michelle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl follows a 15-year-old teen in the 1970s who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend. It premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where it earned huge buzz. It's scheduled for release Aug. 7.

The film has been rated R by the MPAA in the U.S. for "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens", which prompted Jackson-Triggs to pull the plug.

"Since we are an open venue, we have decided to refrain from screening The Diary of a Teenage Girl due to its graphic nudity and R rating on IMBD (Internet Movie Data Base)," the winery said in an e-mailed statement to The Review. "We have a longstanding history in the Niagara region and have worked with the Niagara Integrated Film Festival to carefully select films we hope our patrons will enjoy."

Three other films for this year's festival will still be screened at Jackson-Triggs.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, loves the "concept" of screening movies at wineries, but is uneasy about having the content questioned.

"We're going to have to talk to the wineries," he said. "We're prepared to discuss the menu and screens and things, but I don't think we want to talk about the content very much. We have to get some ground rules."

The film has been moved to Landmark Cinemas at the Pen Centre June 20 and 21, starting at 9:30 p.m. both nights.

Despite concerns about screening an R-rated film, Jackson-Triggs' own website states "you must be of legal drinking age to enter" and requires visitors to enter their date of birth.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrated-film-festival

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June 3, 2015 - Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.midnorthmonitor.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-in tegrated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015 - Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.delhinewsrecord.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-int egrated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

June3, 2015－Entry for the Word’s Smallest Film Festival Are Now Open http://www.nfvf.co.za/home/index.php?ipkMenuID=&ipkArticleID=263 Submissions for the World's Smallest Film Festival (WSFF), an online component of the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) set in Canada’s Niagara region, are now being accepted.

The Word’s Smallest Film Festival is a film competition featuring short films, of 1-3 minutes in length, shot entirely on any mobile device (smartphone or tablet). The opportunities are endless when shooting a film using mobile technology – one of this year’s acclaimed Sundance feature films was shot entirely on a mobile phone.

The theme for the films is WATER, one of the Niagara region’s most defining characteristics, and the top shortlisted films will screen for a panel of jurors at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival and winners will receive a cash prize or a tablet.

All submitted short films will be featured on the World’s Smallest Film Festival YouTube channel in the time leading up to the awards ceremony on June 21st at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

The closing date for submissions is the 11th of June 2015. For more information on submission and the rules and regulations please go to niagarafilmfest.com.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase today’s groundbreaking mobile film capabilities and the talent and creativity of filmmakers, either emerging or established.

June4, 2015ďź?Film flap over screening of Diary of a Teenage Girl at NIFF http://www.610cktb.com/news/2015/06/04/film-flap-over-screening-of-diary-of-a-teena ge-girl-at-niff A film flap in Niagara, over the screening of the Kristen Wiig film, Diary of a Teenage Girl.

According to a Post Media report, the organizors of this months, Niagara Integrated Film Festival had scheduled the screening of the film at Jackson Triggs winery, but the winery backed out over the flick's controversial content.

NIFF chief, Bill Marshall, tells the news agency he loves the idea of screening movies at wineries but isn't happy with venues questioning the content of films.

The movie about a 15 year old girl who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend is rated R. It will be shown June 20th and 21st at Landmark Cinemas

at the Pen Centre instead.

June4,2015－Winery should put a cork in movie complaint http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/06/04/winery-should-put-a-cork-in-movie-complaint

By John Law When everything goes smooth, partnerships are great. You share the work. You share the expenses.

In the end, you share the rewards.

The flipside is that the more fingers in the pie, the more opinions on how things should run.

In just its second year, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) has already hit a pothole. One that was solved quickly, mind you, but one that raises red flags for the future.

As part of this year's line-up, the festival snagged the highly-touted The Diary of a Teenage Girl for its Canadian premiere. The coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard built up good buzz at Sundance earlier this year, and is likely the biggest screening of the festival.

As part of its uniquely Niagara concept, the festival screens movies in local wineries along with theatres. Jackson-Triggs in Niagara-on-the-Lake was chosen to screen The Diary of a Teenage Girl on June 20. The 'Ultimate Gala Experience' for $175 would include dinner, wine and admission to an after-party.

You might think Jackson-Triggs would be thrilled to host one of the festival's premiere events.

Instead, they declined. Because the movie looked too naughty.

Marielle Heller's movie certainly isn't for kids – the MPAA rated it R for, among other things, "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens." The story revolves around a 15-year-old girl who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend.

It's an adult-themed movie. It was going to be screened in an adult-themed venue – a winery. A place which asks for your age just to browse their website.

It was presumably going to be screened for an audience which could handle adult content in a movie. This is a film festival, not the Disney Channel.

The winery's puzzling excuse - e-mailed to me Wednesday – is that Jackson-Triggs has a "longstanding history in the Niagara region" and it needs to "carefully select films we hope our patrons enjoy."

Actually, Jackson-Triggs' role in this scenario was to prepare dinner and pour the wine. The movie is the film festival's domain, chosen and programmed by people who know what they're doing. If you're wondering what credentials founder Bill Marshall has, he co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, now the second biggest film festival in the world behind Cannes.

When someone like Marshall sees potential in Niagara for another festival, utilizing local wineries to set it apart, you say "Here's the key!" You don't say "Does this movie have boobies?"

Jackson-Triggs will be screening three other movies during the festival (June 18 to 21), but its refusal to show The Diary of a Teenage Girl is small-town silliness, and maybe a sign Niagara doesn't deserve a film festival.

It's certainly a warning sign about having a partner who doesn't understand what you do.

Jackson-Triggs does a bang-up job with its summer concert series, but it may want to take a pass on movies.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl will now be screened at the Pen Centre cinemas June 20 and 21. No dinner. No wine. Maybe that's how it should be. A film festival can't have its films compromised, and if a winery – of all things – is afraid of some mature content, it's best to part ways now before the plot thickens.

June4, 2015－Winery should put a cork in movie complaint http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/06/04/winery-should-put-a-cork-in-movie-co mplaint

By John Law When everything goes smooth, partnerships are great.

You share the work. You share the expenses. In the end, you share the rewards.

The flipside is that the more fingers in the pie, the more opinions on how things should run.

In just its second year, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) has already hit a pothole. One that was solved quickly, mind you, but one that raises red flags for the future.

As part of this year's line-up, the festival snagged the highly-touted The Diary of a Teenage Girl for its Canadian premiere. The coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard built up good buzz at Sundance earlier this year, and is likely the biggest screening of the festival.

As part of its uniquely Niagara concept, the festival screens movies in local wineries along with theatres. Jackson-Triggs in Niagara-on-the-Lake was chosen to screen The Diary of a Teenage Girl on June 20. The 'Ultimate Gala Experience' for $175 would include dinner, wine and admission to an after-party.

You might think Jackson-Triggs would be thrilled to host one of the festival's premiere events.

Instead, they declined. Because the movie looked too naughty.

Marielle Heller's movie certainly isn't for kids – the MPAA rated it R for, among other things, "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens." The story revolves around a 15-year-old girl who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend.

It's an adult-themed movie. It was going to be screened in an adult-themed venue – a winery. A place which asks for your age just to browse their website.

It was presumably going to be screened for an audience which could handle adult content in a movie. This is a film festival, not the Disney Channel.

The winery's puzzling excuse - e-mailed to me Wednesday – is that Jackson-Triggs has a "longstanding history in the Niagara region" and it needs to "carefully select films we hope our

patrons enjoy."

Actually, Jackson-Triggs' role in this scenario was to prepare dinner and pour the wine. The movie is the film festival's domain, chosen and programmed by people who know what they're doing. If you're wondering what credentials founder Bill Marshall has, he co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, now the second biggest film festival in the world behind Cannes.

When someone like Marshall sees potential in Niagara for another festival, utilizing local wineries to set it apart, you say "Here's the key!" You don't say "Does this movie have boobies?"

Jackson-Triggs will be screening three other movies during the festival (June 18 to 21), but its refusal to show The Diary of a Teenage Girl is small-town silliness, and maybe a sign Niagara doesn't deserve a film festival.

It's certainly a warning sign about having a partner who doesn't understand what you do.

Jackson-Triggs does a bang-up job with its summer concert series, but it may want to take a pass on movies.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl will now be screened at the Pen Centre cinemas June 20 and 21. No dinner. No wine. Maybe that's how it should be. A film festival can't have its films compromised, and if a winery – of all things – is afraid of some mature content, it's best to part ways now before the plot thickens.

June4, 2015ďź?Niagara Integrated Film Festival uncorks a love of cinema http://www.examiner.com/article/niagara-integrated-film-festival-uncorks-a-love-of-cin ema

Running June 18-21 the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) offers some fanciful choices about what to savor first – a chardonnay or a merlot, a documentary or a romantic comedy.

NIFF screening setup at Hillebrand Winery.

Julie Jocsak/ St. Catharines Standard/ QMI Agency Set in the beautiful award-winning Niagara wine region of southern Ontario, NIFF appeals to many appetites with creative combinations of premiere film screenings, culinary presentations and winery visits.

The brainchild of Bill Marshall (co-founder and Chair Emeritus of the Toronto International Film Festival), NIFF provides film enthusiasts, foodies and wine lovers an opportunity to share their passions.

Building on its inaugural success, the 2015 NIFF delivers an expanded program that includes 22 narrative and eight documentary features from countries including the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Costa Rica, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Hong Kong. Out of the total lineup, four world and one North American premieres will be screened. In addition, 20 Canadian premieres are scheduled, including four Ontario films and 12 Niagara Region debuts.

An early kick-start to the Festival will be a June 14 screening of the Disney Pixar animated “Inside Out,” ahead of its wide theatrical release on June 19. Hot off its world premiere at Cannes, “Inside Out” combines the directing skills of Academy Award-winner Peter Docter (“Up”) with a voice cast that includes Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, and Phyllis Smith.

NIFF opening night gala features the Canadian premiere of “Testament of Youth,” a sweeping coming-of-age story set in World War I starring Alicia Vikander, Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan, Dominic West, Kit Harington and Emily Watson. It screens at the prestigious Peller Estates winery.

Foodies and film buffs will be hard-pressed to resist the documentary “For Grace,” the truly remarkable story of Curtis Duffy, an obsessive Chicago chef determined to get as many Michelin stars as possible.

Attendees can enhance their movie-going experience by taking in some of the Festival’s food and wine presentations. Filmalicious offers the ultimate dinner and movie experience, featuring world-class regional chefs and some of the region’s finest vintages, all enjoyed under the stars. Film Feast is a program that combines wine-and-food tasting with a short film festival experience. It includes transportation to and from each participating winery.

Wineries and venues for the Festival include Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate, Peller Estates, Henry of Pelham Family Estate, Redstone, Southbrook Vineyards, Trius Winery at Hillebrand, Calamas Estate Winery, Angel’s Gate Winery, Tawse Winery, Pillitteri Estates Winery, Pondview Estate Winery, Konzelmann Estate Winery, Landmark Cinemas, Seneca Queen Theatre, and White Oaks Resort & Spa. The accompanying video provides a sneak peek at several of the films screening during the festival.

Visit NIFF online box office for ticket information and availability.

See you at the movies.

June4－Festivals All Over Plus A New Doc http://hnmag.ca/todays-top-stories/festivals-all-over-plus-a-new-doc/ Chuck Norris vs. Communism, described as “an offbeat documentary” will be one of the attractions at this year’s Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF), John Law of Postmedia writes in The Edmonton Sun. The film reveals the effect of smuggled videos featuring the martial arts expert when they reached Communist-era Romanians. For more on NIFF, see our own coverage.

105.7 EZ Rock - June 5, 2015 - NIFF ‘Inside Out’ Giveaway with Rob White LINK UNABAILABLE

June9, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Festival offers food for thought http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/09/niagara-integrated-film-festival-offers-food-for -thought We’re giving you plenty of notice to start planning the excitement of a film festival in a background of fabulous food and drink!

Yes, it’s the second year for the Niagara Integrated Film Festival, running June 18-21, and featuring some of the finest films on the planet — taking place in the Niagara region.

In fact, Niagara is proud to play host to a hugely talented bevy of VIP guests from around the world.

Film buffs, foodies, and wine enthusiasts are guaranteed to enjoy an unparalleled experience, meeting and mingling with the directors, actors, writers, producers and industry insiders who’ll be on hand at NIFF this year.

(Founded by Bill Marshall, founder and chairman emeritus of the Toronto International Film Festival, NIFF is a registered Canadian charity that produces and operates an annual film festival for the purpose of educating and advancing the public’s understanding and appreciation of film, in the heart of the premier hospitality of the Niagara Wine Region.)

NIFF’S opening-night film, Testament of Youth, will see director James Kent in attendance, supporting the launch of his first narrative feature.

Kent is the recipient of dozens of awards for his work on TV and film.

From a food perspective, epicures owe it to themselves to make a date with documentary film-subject and master chef Curtis Duffy for the Niagara premiere screening of the powerful foodie feature doc For Grace.

The film’s co-director, Kevin Pang, will also be in attendance.

One movie that combines love, humour, passion and food is the highly anticiapted The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship by acclaimed director Sergio Navarretta and writer Alessandra Piccione, who’ll be on hand to introduce their film.

The film stars such notables as acclaimed Canadian actor Enrico Colantoni.

Navarretta and Piccione will be joined by a number of the Canadian stars of the film, including Krista Bridges, Brooke Palsson, Becky Dalton, Frank Deluca and Alvaro D’Antonio.

Award-winning media artist and filmmaker Adrian Thiessen, a son of the Niagara Region, will be on hand to present his feature, Hotel Dieu.

There’s so much more, of course — for additional information, including ticket purchase, check out Niagarafilmfest.com or call 1-800-656-07131-800-656-0713.

June9, 2015－NIFF announces guest lineup http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/index.php?p=Sections&id=4728 Alicia Vikander stars in Testament of Youth, which will be shown on the festival's opening night, June 18. Photo courtesy Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

NIAGARA – Plan to attend the Niagara Integrated Film Festival this month for a chance to mingle with and hear stories from some of the festival’s special guests.

In its second year, the festival is proud to play host to a bevy of VIP guests, en route to the Niagara region from around the world.

Film buffs, foodies, and wine enthusiasts will enjoy an unparalleled experience, meeting and mingling with the directors, actors, writers, producers, and industry insiders, who will be on hand at

NIFF this year.

Founded by Bill Marshall (Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Toronto International Film Festival TIFF), NIFF, a registered Canadian charity, produces and operates an annual film festival for the purpose of educating and advancing the public’s understanding and appreciation of film, in the heart of the premier hospitality of the Niagara Wine Region.

This year’s festival funs June 18 through June 21.

* James Kent The opening night film TESTAMENT OF YOUTH will see Director James Kent in attendance, supporting the launch of his first narrative feature. Kent is an awards podium veteran, whose 90-minute TV Special HOLOCAUST: A MUSIC MEMORIAL FILM won a BAFTA (a British Oscar). His acclaimed television dramas include THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER, The BBC’s INSIDE MEN, THE WHITE QUEEN a flagship BBC historical drama, and THE THIRTEENTH TALE (starring Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman) for BBC and Heyday Films.

* Bel Powley Generating buzz with her breakthrough star turn in THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, Bel Powley will be in Niagara for this must-see Canadian premiere.

One of the most anticipated films of the summer, THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL also stars Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard. * Jacqueline Kim Also in attendance, the multi-talented Jacqueline Kim, who stars in and co-wrote the film ADVANTAGEOUS. The film, which won a special jury prize at the 2015 Sundance film festival, will make its Canadian premiere at NIFF. She also did double-duty as the film’s music composer and is the lead singer/songwriter for the band, This I Heard. * Kevin Pang Epicures owe it to themselves to make a date with documentary film-subject and Master Chef Curtis Duffy for the Niagara premiere screening of the foodie feature doc FOR GRACE. The film’s co-director Kevin Pang will also be in attendance.

* Lulu Wang NIFF is also proud to host director Lulu Wang at her Canadian Premiere screening of POSTHUMOUS, a sweet love story set in Berlin starring Jack Huston, Brit Marling and Lambert Wilson. * Kathleen Carroll Film aficionados will thrill to the memories of longtime New York Daily News film critic Kathleen Carroll, who will be at NIFF for a special screening and In Conversation session for the film NETWORK. Carroll will discuss her on-set experiences from that film - including interviews and visits with actors Faye Dunaway and William Holden and director Sidney Lumet. Kathleen will also engage the audience with tales of close encounters with a galaxy of stars from her three decades on the job. * Emily Hunter The Niagara premiere screening of the eco-event How to Change the World, will feature a visit from the queen of green, activist Emily Hunter, the daughter of Greenpeace founder, and subject of the film, Bob Hunter. * Murray Foster and Mike Ford The British-Invasion homage THE Cocksure Lads MOVIE will be in Niagara, along with the film’s amazing musical cast and creative talent, led by Murray Foster and Mike Ford (two former members of the Canadian band Moxy Fruvous from the late ‘80s). Murray also plays bass in the band Great Big Sea. The Cocksure Lads band will be performing live following their screening at NIFF. * Rayburn Blake NIFF will also host an anniversary screening of Festival Express, the documentary record of Canada’s own superstar train tour from 1970, a rolling rock event that included the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Rayburn Blake from the Canadian hitmakers Mashmakhan (As Years Go By) will visit the festival to speak about this weird performance experiment that embodied the era. * Sergio Navarretta and Alessandra Piccione, with Krista Bridges, Brooke Palsson, Becky Dalton, Frank Deluca and Alvaro D'Antonio Acclaimed director Sergio Navarretta and writer Alessandra Piccione will introduce their film The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship, and be joined by a number of the Canadian stars of the film including Krista Bridges, Brooke Palsson, Becky Dalton, Frank Deluca and Alvaro D'Antonio. * Adrian Thiessen Award-winning media artist and filmmaker Adrian Thiessen, a son of the Niagara Region, will be on hand to present his feature The Hotel Dieu. * Mann Munoz Director Mann Munoz - of the Niagara-based production house Moon Brothers – will introduce their fourth feature film LOST PENNY. Moon Brothers’ previous triumphs include Under Jakob’s Ladder (2012 Best Film - Period Piece + Best Actor for Jeff Stewart), and Lazer Us (2013 Best Adventure Film). * Jason Lupish, Kelso Steinhoff, Andrea Conte, Kevin McGuiness, Michael Pohorly and Curtis Harrison From the Film Shorts program we have 2014 NIFF winner Jason Lupish back with a short he directed

titled STRANGER that stars the wonderful Erica Sherwood (Jason and Erica won the very first Niagara Rises best feature and actress award in 2014) they both will be at NIFF again. Kelso Steinhoff, Director of PITKA KOIRAT: A HORSE IN THE FOLDS, will also be on hand, as will Director Andrea Conte who will be in attendance to promote Henny's Opus in B Minor. Kevin McGuiness, director of Down by the Waterside and HIGH T.N.T. will be proudly presenting his two films, and director Michael Pohorly of Made in Bali, will be at the festival with his terrific offering, along with Curtis Harrison with his wonderful film, The Day Santa Didn't Come, starring Tara Spencer-Nairn and Gabriel Hogan.

Tickets to all gala dinners, gala showings and special screenings can be purchased online at www.niagarafilmfest.com or by calling 1-800-656-0713.

For more information on films and showtimes, visit www.niagarafilmfest.com.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.saultthisweek.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integr ated-film-festival

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integ rated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is

timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.orilliapacket.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integra ted-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.timminstimes.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integr ated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder

Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Winery refuses Niagara Film Fest screening http://www.thoroldedition.ca/2015/06/03/winery-refuses-niagara-film-fest-screening

By John Law One of the biggest screenings for this year's Niagara Integrated Film Festival has also caused the biggest stir.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, the acclaimed coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood), has been bumped from its original screening at Jackson-Triggs Winery because the venue had problems with the content.

The screening was part of NIFF's Filmalicious series, in which movies are paired up with food and wine at outdoor locations throughout the region. Jackson-Triggs is one of six wineries taking part this year.

But this week, the winery informed NIFF founder Bill Marshall it would not allow the film to be screened on its property.

"It's the first time I've run across a venue saying, 'Oh no, that's not what we want here'," said Marshall.

Directed by first-time filmmaker Michelle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl follows a 15-year-old teen in the 1970s who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend. It premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where it earned huge buzz. It's scheduled for release Aug. 7.

The film has been rated R by the MPAA in the U.S. for "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens", which prompted Jackson-Triggs to pull the plug.

"Since we are an open venue, we have decided to refrain from screening The Diary of a Teenage Girl due to its graphic nudity and R rating on IMBD (Internet Movie Data Base)," the winery said in an e-mailed statement to The Review. "We have a longstanding history in the Niagara region and have worked with the Niagara Integrated Film Festival to carefully select films we hope our patrons will enjoy."

Three other films for this year's festival will still be screened at Jackson-Triggs.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, loves the "concept" of screening movies at wineries, but is uneasy about having the content questioned.

"We're going to have to talk to the wineries," he said. "We're prepared to discuss the menu and screens and things, but I don't think we want to talk about the content very much. We have to get some ground rules."

The film has been moved to Landmark Cinemas at the Pen Centre June 20 and 21, starting at 9:30 p.m. both nights.

Despite concerns about screening an R-rated film, Jackson-Triggs' own website states "you must be of legal drinking age to enter" and requires visitors to enter their date of birth.

June3, 2015ďź?Winery refuses Niagara Film Fest screening http://www.forterietimes.ca/2015/06/03/winery-refuses-niagara-film-fest-screening

By John Law One of the biggest screenings for this year's Niagara Integrated Film Festival has also caused the biggest stir.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, the acclaimed coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood), has been bumped from its original screening at Jackson-Triggs Winery because the venue had problems with the content.

The screening was part of NIFF's Filmalicious series, in which movies are paired up with food and wine at outdoor locations throughout the region. Jackson-Triggs is one of six wineries taking part this year.

But this week, the winery informed NIFF founder Bill Marshall it would not allow the film to be screened on its property.

"It's the first time I've run across a venue saying, 'Oh no, that's not what we want here'," said Marshall.

Directed by first-time filmmaker Michelle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl follows a 15-year-old teen in the 1970s who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend. It premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where it

earned huge buzz. It's scheduled for release Aug. 7.

The film has been rated R by the MPAA in the U.S. for "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens", which prompted Jackson-Triggs to pull the plug.

"Since we are an open venue, we have decided to refrain from screening The Diary of a Teenage Girl due to its graphic nudity and R rating on IMBD (Internet Movie Data Base)," the winery said in an e-mailed statement to The Review. "We have a longstanding history in the Niagara region and have worked with the Niagara Integrated Film Festival to carefully select films we hope our patrons will enjoy."

Three other films for this year's festival will still be screened at Jackson-Triggs.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, loves the "concept" of screening movies at wineries, but is uneasy about having the content questioned.

"We're going to have to talk to the wineries," he said. "We're prepared to discuss the menu and screens and things, but I don't think we want to talk about the content very much. We have to get some ground rules."

The film has been moved to Landmark Cinemas at the Pen Centre June 20 and 21, starting at 9:30 p.m. both nights.

Despite concerns about screening an R-rated film, Jackson-Triggs' own website states "you must be of legal drinking age to enter" and requires visitors to enter their date of birth.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.wallaceburgcourierpress.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-nia gara-integrated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine

country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.pelhamnews.ca/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrate d-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance

Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-inte grated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include:

-- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.thepost.on.ca/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrated -film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year. About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs.

Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but

June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.cochranetimespost.ca/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-int egrated-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713.

June3, 2015ďź?Lineup announced for second Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/06/02/lineup-announced-for-second-niagara-integrate d-film-festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival has uncorked its second year.

About 45 films -- including four world premieres -- will be screened at theatres and wineries throughout the region June 18 to 21.

Last year's inaugural event attracted about 10,000 people, and with more films and venues, founder Bill Marshall is starting to see the "world-class" festival he envisioned years ago in Niagara's wine country.

"Niagara Region offers festival-goers a unique, exquisite backdrop for an unparalleled cultural experience," he said.

Last year's event catered to foodies, film buffs and wine lovers with outdoor screenings in locations like Peller Estates and Oast House Brewers. This year kicks off with the Canadian premiere of the U.K. World War I drama Testament of Youth at Peller Estates, with director James Kent attending.

Other highlights include: -- The Canadian premiere of the Kristen Wiig drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

-- The offbeat documentary Chuck Norris vs. Communism, about how smuggled Chuck Norris VHS tapes helped the Romanian people discover western culture in the 1980s.

-- The Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's Match, with Patrick Stewart as a dance instructor at Juilliard whose serene life is interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious couple from Seattle.

-- The Niagara Rises series will debut four films with ties to the region: The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu, Lost Penny and The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship.

-- Jennifer Phang's sci-fi tale Advantageous, which won a special jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Before the festival begins it will host an advance screening of Disney-Pixar's new animated movie Inside Out June 14 at Landmark Cinemas in St. Catharines.

Marshall, who co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, says the Niagara event is timed to fill a niche. September is a "bottleneck" of film festivals clamouring for the same films, but June allows studios to showcase some of their big summer offerings.

"They're saying, 'We still deliver 12 to 15 movies a year, and we need a good thing in June'," says Marshall.

Last year's outdoor screenings proved so popular, more venues like Jackson-Triggs and Redstone were added.

"We spent more money and put more equipment in (the wineries)," Marshall said. "We have eight site specific teams."

NEED TO KNOW Contact niagarafilmfest.com or 1-800-656-0713

June4, 2015－Winery should put a cork in movie complaint http://www.thoroldedition.ca/2015/06/04/winery-should-put-a-cork-in-movie-complaint

By John Law When everything goes smooth, partnerships are great. You share the work. You share the expenses.

In the end, you share the rewards.

The flipside is that the more fingers in the pie, the more opinions on how things should run.

In just its second year, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) has already hit a pothole. One that was solved quickly, mind you, but one that raises red flags for the future.

As part of this year's line-up, the festival snagged the highly-touted The Diary of a Teenage Girl for its Canadian premiere. The coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard built up good buzz at Sundance earlier this year, and is likely the biggest screening of the festival.

As part of its uniquely Niagara concept, the festival screens movies in local wineries along with theatres. Jackson-Triggs in Niagara-on-the-Lake was chosen to screen The Diary of a Teenage Girl on June 20. The 'Ultimate Gala Experience' for $175 would include dinner, wine and admission to an after-party.

You might think Jackson-Triggs would be thrilled to host one of the festival's premiere events.

Instead, they declined. Because the movie looked too naughty.

Marielle Heller's movie certainly isn't for kids – the MPAA rated it R for, among other things, "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens." The story revolves around a 15-year-old girl who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend.

It's an adult-themed movie. It was going to be screened in an adult-themed venue – a winery. A place which asks for your age just to browse their website.

It was presumably going to be screened for an audience which could handle adult content in a

movie. This is a film festival, not the Disney Channel.

The winery's puzzling excuse - e-mailed to me Wednesday – is that Jackson-Triggs has a "longstanding history in the Niagara region" and it needs to "carefully select films we hope our patrons enjoy."

Actually, Jackson-Triggs' role in this scenario was to prepare dinner and pour the wine. The movie is the film festival's domain, chosen and programmed by people who know what they're doing. If you're wondering what credentials founder Bill Marshall has, he co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, now the second biggest film festival in the world behind Cannes.

When someone like Marshall sees potential in Niagara for another festival, utilizing local wineries to set it apart, you say "Here's the key!" You don't say "Does this movie have boobies?"

Jackson-Triggs will be screening three other movies during the festival (June 18 to 21), but its refusal to show The Diary of a Teenage Girl is small-town silliness, and maybe a sign Niagara doesn't deserve a film festival.

It's certainly a warning sign about having a partner who doesn't understand what you do.

Jackson-Triggs does a bang-up job with its summer concert series, but it may want to take a pass on movies.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl will now be screened at the Pen Centre cinemas June 20 and 21. No dinner. No wine. Maybe that's how it should be. A film festival can't have its films compromised, and if a winery – of all things – is afraid of some mature content, it's best to part ways now before the plot thickens.

June4,2015－Winery should put a cork in movie complaint http://www.forterietimes.ca/2015/06/04/winery-should-put-a-cork-in-movie-complaint

By John Law When everything goes smooth, partnerships are great. You share the work. You share the expenses. In the end, you share the rewards.

The flipside is that the more fingers in the pie, the more opinions on how things should run.

In just its second year, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) has already hit a pothole. One that was solved quickly, mind you, but one that raises red flags for the future.

As part of this year's line-up, the festival snagged the highly-touted The Diary of a Teenage Girl for its Canadian premiere. The coming-of-age movie starring Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard built up good buzz at Sundance earlier this year, and is likely the biggest screening of the festival.

As part of its uniquely Niagara concept, the festival screens movies in local wineries along with theatres. Jackson-Triggs in Niagara-on-the-Lake was chosen to screen The Diary of a Teenage Girl on June 20. The 'Ultimate Gala Experience' for $175 would include dinner, wine and admission to an after-party.

You might think Jackson-Triggs would be thrilled to host one of the festival's premiere events.

Instead, they declined. Because the movie looked too naughty.

Marielle Heller's movie certainly isn't for kids – the MPAA rated it R for, among other things, "graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking - all involving teens." The story revolves around a 15-year-old girl who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend.

It's an adult-themed movie. It was going to be screened in an adult-themed venue – a winery. A place which asks for your age just to browse their website.

It was presumably going to be screened for an audience which could handle adult content in a movie. This is a film festival, not the Disney Channel.

The winery's puzzling excuse - e-mailed to me Wednesday – is that Jackson-Triggs has a "longstanding history in the Niagara region" and it needs to "carefully select films we hope our patrons enjoy."

Actually, Jackson-Triggs' role in this scenario was to prepare dinner and pour the wine. The movie is

the film festival's domain, chosen and programmed by people who know what they're doing. If you're wondering what credentials founder Bill Marshall has, he co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976, now the second biggest film festival in the world behind Cannes.

When someone like Marshall sees potential in Niagara for another festival, utilizing local wineries to set it apart, you say "Here's the key!" You don't say "Does this movie have boobies?"

Jackson-Triggs will be screening three other movies during the festival (June 18 to 21), but its refusal to show The Diary of a Teenage Girl is small-town silliness, and maybe a sign Niagara doesn't deserve a film festival.

It's certainly a warning sign about having a partner who doesn't understand what you do.

Jackson-Triggs does a bang-up job with its summer concert series, but it may want to take a pass on movies.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl will now be screened at the Pen Centre cinemas June 20 and 21. No dinner. No wine. Maybe that's how it should be. A film festival can't have its films compromised, and if a winery – of all things – is afraid of some mature content, it's best to part ways now before the plot thickens.

June9, 2015－FILM+WINE+FOOD ALL AT THE NIAGARA INTEGRATED FILM FESTIVAL http://www.aznmodern.com/2015/06/09/filmwinefood-all-at-the-niagara-integrated-fil m-festival/ The official days of summer are just around the corner and there so much to see and do! The second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is one that should be on your radar and will be rolling out the red carpet June 19 to 21st.

If you love film, wine and food then you’ll definitely want to plan ahead. This film festival in the gorgeous Niagara Wine Region brings world class films to a setting that we simply cannot get in the big city. It’s the perfect escape for the weekend with the various hotels and inns located in the picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Located only about an hour and half away, the vineyards play host to a stellar line up of films. Some Canadian premieres are slated to be filmed and there’s truly something for everyone. Many of the

award-winning wineries will play host to screenings and offer event like FILMALICIOUS where you are invited to enjoy the ultimate dinner and movie night! Set against the backdrop of the beautiful vineyards you’ll be treated to films under the stars. FILMALICIOUS evenings include special celebrity appearances or entertainment.

I had a chance to join in the media preview for NIFF’s FILM FEAST last week to get a sampling of this unique afternoon program that offers a guided bus tour to some of the participating wineries.

This program offers screenings from NIFF’s short film selection selected from ‘Canada’s Not Short on Talent” films — these films were chosen to represent Canada at the annual presentation of the counntry’s best at the Cannes Film Festival in France. I had a few favourites within this program that had us touring the beautiful vineyards of Pondview Winery, Konzelmann Estate Winery, and Pilliteri Estate Winery on this media tour. A particular favourite short screened included The Timekeeper (directed by Scott Weber) is a wonderful and thought-provoking film that explores what we do with our time if we “spend” time like we do with our money. Also included in the tour, guests are treated to sample a flight of vintage wines and incredible hors d’oeuvres. FILM FEAST tours run daily during the festival (pick up from White Oaks Resorts) and is perfect if you like films that are hidden gems. I would encourage you to book this early as it will probably sell out! It’s a perfect afternoon outing if you can’t commit to a weekend away.

Peller Estates hosts several galas including a full gala presentation (with dinner) of the powerful film Testament of Youth ( directed by James Kent) – a story of love, war and remembrance based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. Stars Emily Watson, Hayley Atwell, Taron Egerton, Kit Harington, Alicia Vikader, an Dominic West.

Documentary For Grace (directed by Mark Helenowski, Kevin Pang) will screen (also available as full Filmalicious with dinner at Peller Estates). The film follows Curtis Duffy, one of the country’s most reowned chefs who is building his dream restaurant at the worse time of his personal life. Already the recipient of two coveted stars from the Michelin Guide, Duffy has ambitions for his Chicago restaurant Grace but his focus on his career has affected other aspects in life including family.

For full listing of films and events please visit niagarafilmfest.com Here’s the trailer for For Grace…

June13, 2015－Cinema lovers unite - NIFF is back in town next weekend! http://fine-music.blogspot.ca/2015/06/cinema-lovers-unite-niff-is-back-in.html It's hard to believe a year has gone by since the inaugural Niagara Integrated Film Festival took place, but here we are a year later and already the excitement is starting to build for Round 2.

I must admit I was a little blasé about it myself last year, not being a great movie-goer myself anyways, so I remember reading about it at the time but nothing seemed to grab me last year.

Maybe I was in the minority, since everyone else got rather excited about the whole thing and it appears to have taken off in Niagara.

So here we are a few days away from the launch of the second season, and I must admit, I am excited this year by some of the offerings. Going on the NIFF website www.niagarafilmfest.com, you can access a full list of films to be screened, and in some cases even view trailers for some of them.

I watched the trailer for one that caught my eye and it worked - I want to see that film!

It's called

Posthumous, starring Jack Huston, Brit Marling, Lambert Wilson, Tom Schilling and Alexander Fehling, and it receives its Canadian premiere at NIFF. The story deals with an artist who discovers his art is probably worth more when he's dead rather than alive. There are two screenings of the film, as part of the clever Filmalicious series where dinner is served prior to the screening at Southbrook Vineyards on Saturday evening, and the film alone at the Landmark Cinemas at Pen Centre on Sunday morning at 10.

It's important to note the Filmalicious series, as well as the Gala screenings take place at various wineries around the Region and although you can book both dinner and screening together, you can also opt just for the screening. Dinners start at 7 pm and the screenings follow at 9:30 pm.

Other wineries hosting screenings include Peller Estates, Henry of Pelham, Redstone and Jackson-Triggs.

This is one of the great hooks for NIFF - where else can you go for an evening of great food and a great film in such a magnificent setting than right here in Niagara wine country. As the film festival grows over the years, it is hoped this really becomes one of the key selling points for people outside and inside the area to come out and take part.

The opening night Gala is Thursday evening at Peller Estates winery and features the Canadian premiere of Testament of Youth, featuring Emily Watson, Hayley Attwell, Taron Egerton, Kit Harington, Alicia Vikander and Dominic West. The dinner and screening will be followed by an after party and I am told director James Kent will be attending the event that evening.

There's several local connections to some of the films being screened as well.

The British Invasion pop musical movie called The Cocksure Lads Movie screens Thursday evening at 9:30 at Landmark Cinemas at Pen Centre, and then there's an after party at the Oast Brewery and the band will actually be on hand Thursday evening to play live. The producer of the film lives here in Niagara, in fact.

Another film with a local connection is The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship, about a wine writer coming to Niagara to review the wines here. Again, the filmmakers are from Niagara.

It receives its World Premiere Friday evening at 6:30 at the Landmark Cinemas.

Then there's one of several short films being screened as part of the Niagara Rises Shorts programme, June 20th at 12 noon at Landmark. Entitled Henny's Opus in B Minor and starring Henny Nixon, it tells the story of an aging woman struggling with dementia who reconnects with the music of J.S. Bach. The film is only 5 minutes long and is directed by Andrea Conte, another Niagara resident.

Perhaps one of the most interesting films to be screened is a documentary called Festival Express, directed by Bob Smeaton and Frank Cvitanovich. It retells the story of the brief but historic train ride between Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg in 1970, when Janis Joplin, The Band and The Grateful Dead rode the rails on the customized train and played at several stops along the way. The only Canadian band on the tour was Mashmakhan, and one of the musicians from the band lives in the area and will be attending the screening on Friday afternoon at 4 at the Landmark Cinemas.

So that should whet your appetite for what's to come next weekend. There is no way you can catch them all, but you could have a lot of fun trying to see as many as you can between Thursday and Sunday! And just think, all this fun is happening right here in Niagara.

For detailed film descriptions and to order tickets, visit www.niagarafilmfest.com or call 1-800-656-0713. Some of the films are already sold out, so it is suggested you get your tickets sooner rather than later. And as a special bonus for my blog readers, NIFF is offering a 25% discount on your ticket purchase by using the promo code COMMUNITY. How cool is that?

June14, 2015ďź?WORLDS SMALLEST FILM FESTIVAL at NIFF, June 18th-21st http://canadadaphotography.blogspot.ca/2015/06/worlds-smallest-film-festival-at-niff_1 4.html

The 'Worlds Smallest Film Festival' challenge was to shoot an ultra short film ( less then 3 minutes) using a smart-phone or tablet. My ultra short 'stop motion' film, (52 seconds) was shot on an iPod in the spring of 2015. - The 'theme challenge' this year was WATER. So, guess what I did??

NIFF FESTIVAL DATES: : June 18-21, 2015.

Expect a unique culinary & film adventure with exquisite food, phenomenal films, and stellar wines all in the heart of Niagara. The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is an unforgettable adventure in great food and phenomenal film taking place at all the top wineries in breathtaking Niagara Region.

Consider one of the four event 'packages': GALA - Experience a Hollywood premiere-style affair. The Opening Night Gala will take place at Peller Estates with a seasonally designed plated dinner and delightfully paired wines to kick off your NIFF experience. Fri-Sun night Galas will take place at Jackson-Triggs Winery with spectacular chef-attended food stations spanning the property. We'll have red carpets and talent to introduce the films and provide an interactive audience Q&A. Finish the night off at the complimentary after-party with a glass of wine!

FILMALICIOUS - It's dinner and a movie at its finest! Hosted at some of the most splendid wineries across Niagara-on-the-Lake and Twenty Valley, during this sensory experience guests will enjoy a sumptuous dinner paired with award-winning Niagara wines selected specially by the winemaker.

FILM FEAST - Film Feast shines the spotlight on the very best of food, film, and wine -- all combined to create a unique afternoon in the vineyards. Leave the tour behind and take a guided bus tour to some of Niagara's remarkable wineries. At each winery, guests sample a flight of vintages accompanied by exquisitely prepared hors d'oeuvres. What makes Film Feast unlike anything else is that at each winery you will enjoy the amazing short films selected from Canada's Not Short on Talent, a program imported express from the Cannes Film Festival.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES - Spotlight Series takes place at the Pen Centre in St Catharines and at the historic Seneca Queen Theatre in downtown Niagara Falls. The Spotlight Series Weekend Pass is your best bet to see as many films as you can from Thursday to Sunday for one low price!

For TICKETS & MORE INFO Phone 289-438-1695 http://www.niagarafilmfest.com/ Learn more about NIFF: Bill Marshall (Founder & Chair Emeritus of TIFF) & Sar Ruda (Producer at Corsair Entertainment Corp) head up the Founders & Board of Directors https://niagarafilmfest.com/about-us/#founders Individual Tickets - Schedule of Galas & Special Events - https://niagarafilmfest.com/buy-tickets/ Line up of the Main Festival 2015 FILMS - https://niagarafilmfest.com/2015-films/

June14, 2015－NTW does NIFF: A Film Feast for all of the senses http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5671286-ntw-does-niff-a-film-feast-fo r-all-of-the-senses/

By Melinda Cheevers NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE — What’s the best part about having a film festival set in the heart of wine

country? Pairing great wine with the films being showcased and throwing some tasty food in for good measure.

The organizers behind the Niagara Integrated Film Festival have fully embraced the area in which they’re setting up shop, creating partnerships with wineries throughout Niagara and putting on unique events that allows the films being shown to share the spotlight with Niagara’s wine and culinary scene. The Film Feast tour is a great example of that, taking guests to three different wineries to screen two short films at each. There are wine samples and food available at the wineries. There are two itineraries available, one heading through the Twenty Valley and the other through Niagara-on-the-Lake. Transportation between the wineries is provided.

On Thursday, members of the media from Niagara and Toronto were given a private Film Feast sneak peek. It was fun getting to play tourist for the day and having the chance to experience the area through the eyes of an outsider.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake itinerary started off at Pondview Estates Winery with an outdoor wine tasting on the patio. Kimberley guided guests through the perfectly paired wine and food offerings: Brie Cheese with Harmony White, Grand Padano with BellaTerra Chardonnay and Aged Cheddar and Capicola and Prosciutto with Harmony Red or Cabernet Merlot. We headed into the barrel room, which was just a tad bit chilly for two short films: Kajutuuq: The Spirit that Comes, set in the Arctic circle and Flankers, set in rural Newfoundland.

The second stop was Konzelmann Estate Winery where we were whisked down to the barrel cellar and plied with three small tasty treats: chicken caesar on frico basket, smoked salmon blinis, and mascarpone and strawberry muffin mini. Simon from Konzelmann told the group the Pinot Noir, paired with each of the courses, is a versatile wine that works well with appetizers, entrees and dessert. The winery, he said, takes its junk food fairly seriously and offers a junk food pairing menu in its tasting room. There were two very different films screened at Konzelmann: The Timekeeper, a thoughtful look at how people “spend” time, and Saving Face about a good wrestler fighting against his urges to go bad.

The final stop on the tour was Pillitteri Estate Winery. We went upstairs to the winery’s entertaining space that overlooked the vineyards (not a bad view), before settling in at tables where we dined while enjoying the two films. Brittany brought us through three pairings: thyme and butter tossed mushrooms en croute with goats cheese and crisps paired with Pinot Gris; beef tenderloin with fingerling sea salt frites and saffron aioli with Cab Merlot; and confit duck “cornish pasty” with

pickled blue cheese paired with Vidal ice wine. The two films, were Farewell, a comedic look at the special relationship between musicians and their agents, and Sleeping Giant, set on Lake Superior, that explores the new friendship of Adam and two local boys and how that relationship is tested when a pretty girl arrives on the scene. Sleeping Giant was so well received director Andrew Cividino ended up turning the story into a full length feature film.

While the films may be short, they are still able to invoke fear, illicit laughter, make you think and raise important questions. Truly the mark of some great work, and definitely an indication of time well spent.

NIFF returns for its second year June 18-21. There are Film Feast tours on both Saturday and Sunday and each are $105 per person. The 20 Valley Tour is at noon and the Niagara-on-the-Lake itinerary starts at 12:30. Both finish at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $105 each. For more details on NIFF visit www.niagarafilmfest.com.

June15, 2015－The Canadian film festival you wish you knew about http://www.chatelaine.com/recipes/chatelainekitchen/the-canadian-film-festival-youwish-you-knew-about/ A celebration of food, wine and film, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is perfect for food lovers, wine aficionados and movie buffs.

With its sprawling vineyards and roadside fruit stands, it’s hard not to fall head over heels for Niagara’s wine region.

But if you’ve never made the trip to this scenic destination, there’s no better time than the present, while the hottest film festival is in town.

For film junkies, wine drinkers and food lovers alike, this one of a kind festival offers it all. In their second year of pairing trendy films from around the globe with the best chefs and wineries in this award-winning region, it’s the perfect opportunity to get a sneak peek at our homegrown talent, while supporting local food-makers. Catch the premiere of 1 of 20 Canadian films or head to the unique Filmalicous program which gives festival-goers the opportunity to dine in one of Niagara’s vineyards before heading outside for a screening under the stars. If you prefer to skip dinner and get right to the movie, you can pop by to watch a quick flick, sip on local vintages and snack on hand-crafted treats during the show.

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival runs from June 18th to 21st.

Can’t make it to Niagara? Don’t worry! Here are a few other other exciting festivals coming up across Canada this summer: Dawson City Music Festival: July 24 – 26 One of the most talked about music festivals in the country, Canada’s far north is the perfect venue for an unparalleled summer experience.

Taste, Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine: July 16 – 19 This three-day festival pairs local, sustainable and seasonal cuisine from Victoria Island with over 100 British Columbia wines.

Okanagan Mile High Wine and Music Festival: August 8 Regional wines, delicious cheese and live music are the star of this festival, located in beautiful British Columbia.

Calgary Stampede: July 3 -12 This iconic exhibition known to most Canadians as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” includes a huge market, midway and derby. While there, you can expect to find adventurous food combinations like donut popsicles, red curry poutine and cactus burgers.

Fantasia International Film Fest: July 14 – August 4 In it’s 18th year, the largest genre film festival in the world lives in the heart of Montreal.

Shediac Lobster Festival: July 8 -12 Want to be a part of the worlds longest lobster dinner or longest lobster roll? Then this is the festival is for you.

CubeCity - June 15, 2015 - Lost Penny promo with Sarah Buffett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnOpfTkL_1Q

June16, 2015－Screenings: NIFF, ‘Jaws’ and ‘The French Connection’ highlight a busy week http://buffalo.com/2015/06/16/news/movies/screenings-niff-jaws-and-the-french-conn ection-highlight-a-busy-week/ It is year two for the Niagara Integrated Film Festival — a.k.a., NIFF — and once again the fest offers an intriguing selection of cinema in gorgeous locations. Running from June 18 to 21, NIFF will take place in and around the Niagara Wine Region, with a number of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries serving as venues. It’s hard to go wrong with an event that pairs food, wine, and film, and does so in such a fun way.

The 2015 festival launches at 7 p.m. on June 18 at Peller Estates Winery with dinner and a screening of “Testament of Youth,” a World War I drama starring “Game of Thrones” dreamboat Kit Harington and “Ex Machina” stunner Alicia Vikander. The screening is followed by a Q-and-A with the film’s director, James Kent. Other cinematic highlights of NIFF 2015 include the coming-of-age story “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” starring Kristen Wiig, and “The Falling,” an English boarding school drama starring Maisie Williams (better known as Arya Stark on “Game of Thrones”).

It’s an ambitious experience, one certainly unlike any other on the local film calendar. Visit niagarafilmfest.com for all of the event and film details.

One of downtown Buffalo’s unique and reliably enjoyable summer film series is held twice a week on the back patio of Bacchus (54 W. Chippewa St.). It's a lovely spot, and always a crowd-pleasing lineup. Coming up: “Moneyball” on June 17 and 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook” on June 18. The movies start just after dusk. Visit bacchusbuffalo.com for the full schedule.

The Cultivate Cinema Circle series follows up its recent debut with a real treat for cinephiles: Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali.” Part of the filmmaker’s “Apu Trilogy,” the 1955 film about rural Bengali life was recently restored by the Criterion Collection. Even better? Internationally renowned film blogger Girish Shambu (girishshambu.blogspot.com) will introduce the film. The film will be shown at 9:30 p.m. June 18 at the North Park Theatre. For more information on the screening and on Cultivate Cinema Circle, visit cultivatecinemacircle.com.

In a summer of middling new releases, one of the more interesting films to hit local screens is the 1970s-set thriller “The Connection.” This involving, stylish film starring Oscar winner Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”) tells the true story that inspired William Friedkin’s classic “The French Connection.”

Bravo to the North Park Theatre, then, for pairing these two films together. “The Connection” runs from June 19 to 25, while “The French Connection” screens at 9:30 p.m. June 19 and 4:30 June 20.

This is a not-to-be-missed double feature. For the full North Park schedule, visit northparktheatre.org.

The Transit Drive-In’s Retro Movie Tuesdays series continues with a night of John Hughes favorites: “Sixteen Candles” at 9:15 p.m. and “Pretty in Pink” at 11 p.m. See the entire schedule at transitdrivein.com.

The controversial Kurt Cobain docudrama “Soaked in Bleach” continues its run in the Screening

Room Cinema Cafe at 7:30 p.m. June 16. The cinematic debut of Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” is showing at 8 p.m. June 19, 20, 21, and 23 also in the Screening Room.

For the full Screening Room schedule, visit screeningroom.net.

Speaking of Spielberg, if you’re in the mood to debate whether “Raiders” or “Jaws” is the superior film, you’re in luck. Turner Classic Movies Presents “Jaws” at Regal’s Elmwood and Transit cinemas at 2 and 7 p.m. June 21 and 24 as part of the film’s 40th anniversary. Visit fathomevents.com for details.

The classic “Born Yesterday,” starring Judy Holliday, screens at “Senior Center Saturday Activity Day” at noon June 20 at the Clarence Public Library. Visit buffalolib.org.

June16, 2015－NIAGARA INTEGRATED FILM FESTIVAL http://www.grandtoronto.ca/events/niagara-integrated-film-festival/ Le festival de films intégrés du Niagara rassemble la nourriture somptueuse, des vins divins et des films superbes, le tout sous un ciel étoilé dans la région du Niagara. Les films seront présentés à Beamsville, St-Catharines, Niagara-on-the-lake et Niagara Falls.

Le tout se déroulera du 18 au 21 juin 2015. Les billets sont en vente en ligne.

Il n’y a pas de places assignés, alors il est préférable d’arriver un peu en avance.

L’an dernier, plus de 8 000 personnes sont venues assister au festival.

June2, 2015－How To Give Dad An Unforgettable Father’s Day Gift http://urbanmoms.ca/life/how-to-give-dad-an-unforgettable-fathers-day-gift/ Filmalicious At The Niagara Intergrated Film Festival: The second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival (June 18-21, 2015) in Ontario’s wine region will be a real treat for any cineophile dad. Make it a perfect weekend getaway and check into one of the

manyFilmalicious—really, the ultimate dinner and a movie date night. The events are held at some of the regions most stunning wineries across the award-winning Niagara-On-The-Lake. This beautiful date night includes a vineyard dinner paired with Niagara wines and a feature film presentation set against the backdrop of the rolling vineyards under the starry nights. You may even be fortunate to have a celebrity guest speaker or surprise entertainment at the event.

Canadian Club Whisky Tour: If dad is a whisky lover, a road trip to the Canadian Club is worth a visit. The 1.5 hour tour takes you back in time when Hiram Walker’s distillery was at the height of popularity.

This historical tour includes a visit to the basement where the Speakeasy Room hosted meetings with the infamous Al Capone. Find out about Walker’s personal friendships with Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Of course on site tastings are offered.

June10,2015－Niagara Integrated Film Festival June 2015 http://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/niagara-integrated-film-festival-2015/

By Alex and Priya – A Vine Romance Watching movies under the stars sounds lovely, watching them in the beauty of vineyards with a glass of wine in hand and it’s downright poetic! That’s what awaits you if you head out to theNiagara Integrated Film Festival June 18-21.

The festival is entering it’s second year and recently held a media tour to give a hint of what attendees will experience. Let us tell you, you’re not going to want to miss out on this unique collaboration of wine & film. In fact, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to Posthumous, screening on Saturday June 20 at 9:30 pm at Southbrook Vineyards (581 Niagara Stone Rd). This includes a glass of wine during the film! All you have to do is follow us on twitter @avineromance and we’ll select a random winner on June 11th.

For now let’s get back to the media tour. We started out at Pillitteri where the menu consisted of Thyme and Butter Tossed Mushrooms en Croute with Goats Cheese and Crisps (Wine Pairing: Pinot Gris), Beef tenderloin with fingerling sea salt frites and saffron aioli (Wine Pairing: Cab Merlot) and Confit Duck “ Cornish Pasty” with Pickled Blue Cheese (Wine Pairing: Vidal Ice Wine).

Next up was Konzelmann Estates. The menu here was paired with their Pinot Noir and included Mini Chicken Caesar On Frico Basket Parmesan cheese basket filled with arugula, chicken and crispy bacon with garlic mayo, Smoked Salmon Blinis Savoury pancake with Smoked Salmon & Creme fraiche and Mascarpone & Strawberry Muffin Mini cornmeal muffin filled with Mascarpone cheese and strawberry wedge.

Finally we visited PondView where our palates were tempted by Brie Cheese (Wine Pairing: Harmony white),Grand Padano (Wine Pairing: BellaTerra Chardonnay) and Aged Cheddar and Capicola and Prosciutto(Wine Pairing: Choice of Harmony Red or Cabernet Merlot).

The postcards for the festival say ‘Uncork your love for cinema� and at each winery we watched two short films, all of which were by Canadian filmmakers. A really nice touch to pair great Canadian wine with great Canadian films!

As a vegan, I was disappointed that I couldn’t sample any of the food but this is my ‘beef’ (pun intended) with the area of wine pairings in general. Wine is typically paired with meat and cheese, which is fine for most folks but there certainly is a growing niche audience of people like myself who choose a vegan diet for a variety of reasons and who’d love to find out great pairings for the foods they eat. Some smart businessman or sommelier is going to corner that market–hey it may be myself and Alex!

Nevertheless, the Niagara Integrated Film Festival is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoor movie experience surrounded by a truly beautiful landscape. It is the brainchild of Bill Marshall, founder of

the Toronto International Film Festival, so you can be sure the films (and wines) selected meet high standards.

Remember to follow us on twitter (@avineromance) for your chance to win a pair of tickets!

Alex and Priya are not only wine lovers but lovers in real life. No wine snobbery here — they’re all about bringing wine back to the masses.

Newfoundlander, Alex may have model looks (yes, he was a Harlequin cover model in another life!) but he is also a Certified Sommelier who lives, breathes, and of course, drinks wine. Alex is very passionate about wine and was the sole person in a class of over 200 to earn a perfect score on his Wine Specialist Exam in Napa, CA! With her background as a comic performer and producer, Priya is a consummate and entertaining hostess. She’s produced and hosted events for groups of 100 to over 2000 people so she knows a thing or two about how to get things done and get them done right.

Together they aim to make wine fun, flirty and accessible regardless of your income bracket. Let us make your next wine tour or event truly memorable!

June16, 2015-LE 7E ART AU CŒUR DES VIGNOBLES DU NIAGARA http://www.lexpress.to/archives/15536/ Une scène de Testament of Youth, le film d'ouverture du NIFF.Ceux et celles qui ont parcouru la péninsule du Niagara, en vélo ou en voiture, savent que la région est parsemée de vignobles et de vergers, de jolis petits marchés à ciel ouvert, de fromageries et d’épiceries fines. À une heure et demie de route de Toronto, c’est l’endroit idéal pour des virées gustatives ou gourmandes et de jolies randonnées bucoliques, avec toujours en toile de fond, les célèbres chutes Niagara aussi majestueuses le jour, que lorsqu’elles scintillent de mille couleurs, la nuit.La région a développé au cours des trente dernières années un secteur d’activité important sur le plan vinicole et touristique. On y compte plus d’une soixantaine de vignobles, dont certains ont d’excellents restaurants et de magnifiques terrasses qui s’ouvrent sur les champs de raisins – chardonnay, cabernets, et autres cépages – on y trouve aussi de très jolis Bed & Breakfeast et de charmants gîtes touristiques.Pour donner encore plus d’attrait à cet endroit de l’Ontario, fier de sa cuisine florissante et de ses établissements vinicoles, le Torontois Bill Marshall, co-fondateur du Festival international du film de Toronto (1976), a créé il y a un an, le Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Le mot «intégré» prend ici toute son importance, car le festival s’appuie sur la participation des propriétaires de vignobles pour offrir aux résidents-cinéphiles de la région, ainsi qu’aux touristes américains et étrangers – vin, gastronomie et 7e art au cœur des vignobles – développant ainsi davantage le tourisme œnophile et gastronome.Véritable épicurien au cœur et au ventre, Bill Marshall considère le NIFF comme étant un mélange parfait de divertissement et d’hospitalité raffinée. Il prévoit

même que Niagara – qui est déjà une sorte de vallée de Napa canadienne – sera la destination vedette de l’Ontario, puisqu’on y trouve d’excellents cépages, des mets où la philosophie «de la ferme à la table» est de rigueur, ainsi qu’une vie culturelle riche et invitante.D’ailleurs fort du succès de la première édition du festival l’an dernier, l’édition 2015 propose du 18 au 21 juin, des forfaits uniques dans 15 lieux pittoresques, allant de Grimsby à Niagara-on-the-Lake, ainsi qu’une programmation élargie, comprenant 22 longs-métrages et 8 documentaires, issus des États-Unis, du Royaume-Uni, de l’Allemagne, du Costa Rica, de la Hongrie, des Pays-Bas, de la Pologne, de la Roumanie, de la Chine (Hong Kong), et du Canada.

Vingt premières canadiennes sont prévues, incluant quatre films de l’Ontario, et douze de la région de Niagara.Le soir du 18 juin, de 19h à 11h45, à la Peller Estates Winery, se tient The Ultimate Opening Night Experience. Cette grande soirée d’ouverture comprend non seulement un dîner saisonnier avec des vins soigneusement choisis, mais aussi une variété de petits goûters traditionnels et non traditionnels qui seront disponibles tout près du bar payant, histoire d’arroser un peu plus vos papilles avant 21h30, l’heure de la projection du film d’ouverture: Testament of Youth du cinéaste américain James Kent.

Ce film – une adaptation des mémoires de Vera Brittain – raconte l’histoire d’une jeune étudiante britannique, Vera, qui s’engage en tant qu’infirmière pendant la Première Guerre Mondiale. À son retour à Oxford, elle devient une auteure et une féministe célèbre.

Le prix d’entrée de cette soirée: 175$, donnant aussi un accès gratuit à l’Opening Night After Party.Filmalicious et Henry of PelhamÀ compter du 19, on peut partir à la découverte de vignobles avec les forfaits du fabuleux programme Filmalicious Film Screening Package. Filmalicious propose un somptueux dîner accompagné de vins primés du Niagara, choisis spécialement par le vigneron, suivi de la projection du film sous les étoiles, au cœur des vignobles. Et si jamais Dame Nature décide de ne pas coopérer, la projection se fait alors sous une tente en plein air.Parmi les films à voir dans le cadre de Filmalicious: The Overnight, deuxième long-métrage du réalisateur Patrick Brice (USA, 2015) avec Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Adam Scott et Judith Godrèche, une première canadienne présentée dans le vignoble Henry of Pelham. Ce domaine de 300 acres est lié à l’histoire et au développement de la viniculture dans la région. Son acte de propriété a été concédé la première fois à Nicholas Smith en 1778, l’arrière, arrière, arrière-grand-père des propriétaires actuels, les frères Speck, (Paul, Matthew et Daniel). C’est Henry Smith, le plus jeune fils de Nicholas Smith qui en 1842, a construit la maison qui abrite aujourd’hui la boutique de vin et le centre d’accueil du vignoble. Il a laissé tomber le nom Smith pour Pelham, en guise de reconnaissance de la route Pelham, l’une des principales voies de commerce dans le Niagara, et aussi en hommage au premier ministre de Grande-Bretagne, Sir Henry Pelham (1694-1754).Henry of Pelham est reconnue, au-delà des frontières, comme étant l’un des grands vignobles de la Vallée du Niagara. Son cépage hybride, le Baco Noir, donne des vins à l’acidité élevée et aux tanins extrêmement souples. Henry of Pelham en a fait une spécialité (signature de la maison) et élabore un vin au goût de fruits noirs, relevé de notes de noisettes et d’épices. Sandrine Bourcier, œnologue d’origine française, a commencé à travailler pour la maison en 1997 et a pris le poste de chef de vinification en 2013. En entrevue à L’Express, elle précise que l’art et la culture font bon ménage avec le tourisme vinicole et gourmand chez Henry of Pelham depuis quelques années déjà.

«La famille Speck, dit-elle a toujours été passionnée par l’art. Non seulement la maison abrite une galerie au deuxième, mais depuis plus de dix ans maintenant, le domaine devient une scène à ciel ouvert durant l’été pour les pièces de Shakespeare. Le cinéma est donc une suite tout à fait logique. Accueillir le 7e art dans nos vignobles en dégustant notre Chardonnay, notre Riesling ou notre Baco Noir, c’est absolument génial!»

Cinéastes de la relève Pour Andrea Conte, jeune cinéaste de la relève, dont le premier court-métrage Henny’s Opus in B Minor sera projeté en grande première à Niagara, le NIFF est un ajout majeur pour la région.

«Je suis né et j’ai grandi à Queenston» (en amont de Niagara-on-the-Lake), raconte-t-il. «J’ai vu la région se transformer et prendre de la vitalité au cours des vingt dernières années… Le développement de l’industrie vinicole et gastronomique favorise l’expansion de Niagara, et aussi le milieu des arts et de la culture, c’est un plus pour nous les artistes. Avoir mon film présenté chez moi dans un festival créé par le co-fondateur du TIFF, renforce aussi Niagara comme lieu pour les productions cinématographiques…ce nouveau festival fera encore mieux découvrir la région, son potentiel et sa richesse, c’est absolument formidable.»Henny’s Opus in B Minor sera présenté dans le programme Niagara Rises Shorts, le 20 juin à midi au cinéma Landmark à St. Catharines. Le film nous invite à découvrir Henny, une femme profondément frustrée et peinée par la perte de ses capacités et de sa mémoire, elle qui était musicienne de formation classique. En réintroduisant Henny à son compositeur préféré Jean-Sébastien Bach, la femme retrouve ses souvenirs et se reconnaît à nouveau.À ne pas manquer également deux programmes assez uniques: The Film Feast NOTL incluant trois arrêts à Niagara-on-the-Lake, aux vignobles Konzelmann Estate Winery, Pillitteri Estates Winery, et la PondView Estate Winery. Quant au Film Feast 20 Valley, il propose cette fois la tournée des vignobles Angels Gate Winery, Calamus Estate Winery, et Tawse Winery.À chaque arrêt: dégustation de vins, hors d’oeuvres et projection des meilleurs courts-métrages canadiens, issus du programme Not Short On Talent, valorisant le talent des cinéastes primés et émergents du Canada; un programme présenté annuellement au Festival de Cannes, en France… De quoi éblouir tous vos sens!

June17, 2015－Film, food and wine - Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=637609

BNN interviews Bill Marshall, who founded the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and has now created NIFF - The Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

June16, 2015－Mingle with the stars at NIFF http://www.niagarathisweek.com/whatson-story/5681352-mingle-with-the-stars-at-niff/ NIAGARA — Festival-goers will have a chance to see the stars up close when the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival comes to town this weekend.

Taking place June 18 to 21, there will be a large number of VIP guests heading to Niagara for the event including directors, actors, writers, producers and industry insiders.

Things kick off on June 18 with Testament of Youth’s screening, director James Kent will be in attendance. The breakthrough star of The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Bel Powley will be present for that film’s Canadian premiere at the festival. Originally scheduled to screen at Jackson-Triggs, the film was moved to Landmark Cinemas.

The star and co-writer of Advantageous, the film that won a special jury prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, will be in attendance for its Canadian premiere, Jacqueline Kim. She also acted as the film’s music composer drawing on her talents as lead singer/songwriter for the band This I Heard.

If foodies weren’t already sold on the idea of checking out For Grace, the feature doc about Master Chef Curtis Duffy’s quest for Michelin stars, they will be now that he’s confirmed to be in attendance. The film’s co-director, Kevin Pang, is also coming for the Niagara premiere.

Director Lulu Wang will be in Niagara for the Canadian premiere screening of Posthumous.

Other unique opportunities at this year’s festival include an “In Conversation” session with New York Daily News film critic Kathleen Carroll on her on-set experiences from the film Network and her decades-long career in the industry, as well as a visit from queen of green activist Emily Hunter at the Niagara premiere screening of How to Change the World, a film about Greenpeace founder and Emily’s dad, Bob Hunter.

Two of the stars from the British Invasion homage The Cocksure Lads, Murray Foster and Mike Ford will also be in town for the festival. The pair are former members of Moxy Fruvous and Murray currently plays in Great Big Sea. The band from the movie will perform live following the NIFF screening.

Plenty of Niagara filmmakers will be on hand for the festival as well, including Adrian Thiessen presenting his feature The Hotel Dieu, Mann Munoz with Lost Penny, as well as Jason Lupish and his short Stranger.

NIFF screenings will take place at wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines, Landmark Cinema at the Pen Centre and the Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls.

All tickets can be purchased online at www.niagarafilmfest.com or by calling 1-800-656-0713.

June17, 2015－Niagara film and food http://www.chch.com/niagara-film-and-food/

June18, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) – Selected Viewing http://blogs.artvoice.com/film/2015/06/17/niagara-integrated-film-festival-niff-selectedviewing/

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) is set to take place this weekend. The event, which I wrote about in greater detail in our cover story, is a unique fusion of food, wine, and film, and it’s all happening just across the border throughout the Niagara region. The latest project from Toronto International Film Festival founder Bill Marshall is a great opportunity for those involved in Buffalo’s film community and local movie lovers alike to share in a world-class film festival experience without having to travel far or spend a great deal of money. Amongst the many films being shown, here’s some brief words on a few that are worth checking out.

THE COCKSURE LADS, directed by Murray Foster – Great Big Sea bassist.

A Britpop band from England called The Cocksure Lads, land in Toronto to kickoff their first-ever North American tour. Ten minutes after arriving, they get into a fight over royalties and break up.

The Lads scatter across the city, spending the day drinking, fighting, meeting girls and falling in love.

Through it all they learn what it means to be a band – but can they patch things up before their big show that night?

My thoughts: Nothing too deep, however it’s a funny and entertaining musical comedy boasting a likable cast and a light-hearted, irreverent tone. Likely to be a big hit with audiences

.

FOR GRACE, directed by Mark Helenowski & Kevin Pang (USA) – Niagara Premiere [Filmalicious] Curtis Duffy, one of the country’s most renowned chefs, is building his dream restaurant at the worst time of his personal life. Already the recipient of two coveted stars from the Michelin Guide, Duffy has ambitions for his Chicago restaurant Grace to become the best in the country. But his laser focus on his cooking career cost Duffy his marriage and two young daughters. ‘For Grace’ follows the building of Grace from concrete box to its opening night. It’s a story about food, family, balance and sacrifice. It also revisits Duffy’s turbulent childhood — How a teacher recognized talent in a troubled teenager, how an unimaginable family tragedy made Duffy seek refuge in the kitchen, and how cooking ultimately exacted a price.

My thoughts: Those expecting a fun food doc about the pleasures of working as a chef should look elsewhere, as this one makes no attempts to shy away from the darker turns Duffy’s life story takes in his relentless and troubled pursuit for perfection. However, it’s through exploring the harsh truth that sometimes working to realize a dream must come at the cost of losing those closest to us that ultimately gives the documentary its emotional power and lasting impact.

THE LOST AVIATOR, directed by Andrew Lancaster (Australia/UK/USA/France) – Canadian Premiere [Spotlight] Set in the Golden Age of Aviation, Andrew Lancaster follows the life and times of his great uncle, Captain Bill Lancaster. Against his family’s wishes, he uncovers a fascinating tale of high adventures, obsession, a love triangle and a sensational murder trial.My thoughts: Part biopic, historical drama, and murder mystery, this engaging, genre-blending documentary is sure to fascinate even those familiar with the life story of Captain Bill Lancaster. My only major complaint is that the present-day segments detailing the younger Lancaster’s perspective sometimes slow the film’s momentum and ultimately prove less interesting than his uncle’s story.

June18, 2015－Filmmaker Mike Enns Chats About The New Niagara Film & Wine Fest! http://urbanmoms.ca/entertainment/filmmaker-mike-enns-chats-about-the-new-niagara-film-wine -fest/

What better way to kick off the summer season than a trip to one of the world’s award-winning wine regions. The vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake will host the inauguralNiagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) June 19 to 22, 2014. Wine, food and film pairings bring a unique perspective to this festival that includes film industry guests (actors and directors), cineophiles and wine lovers alike.

Highlighting the world-class epicurean wonders of Niagara, NIFF will take full advantage of its unique location with two special programs. Film Feast is a gourmet wine tour meets short film festival mash-up where fine wines and hors d’oeuvres will be served in Canada’s Not Short on Talent program. Filmalicious is a sublime dinner and a movie experience, where guests will enjoy dinner accompanied by a top selection of wines, and finished off with a feature film, at one of the Region’s top wineries.

In Niagara Rises, a special program showcasing home-grown Niagara filmmakers, Mike Enns will kick off the world première of his documentary Restrung, NIFF’s opening night film. Mike Enns is a filmmaker who focusses on “stories with soul”. He embraces the discovery process and enjoys the imperfections and surprises of each project that he documents.

I had a chance to speak with Mike Enns recently at NIFF’s press conference.

June18, 2015－Exclusive // The 2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.chch.com/exclusive-the-2015-niagara-integrated-film-festival/

Brigitte got to spend a day in wine country sampling what the Niagara Integrated Film Festival has to offer this year. The festival runs from June 18-21. Check out niagarafilmfest.com for tickets and more information.

June18, 2015－Welland movie gets film festival showing http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/06/18/welland-movie-gets-film-festival-showing

By Allan Benner

It was February 2014 — two months after the holidays ended — but Curtis Harrison’s childhood home on Clare Ave. in Welland was all decked out for Christmas.

He was trying to emulate the Christmases he remembered as a child in the 1980s, and he did his best to ensure the decorations added to his parents’ home were as gaudy as possible.

A Christmas Story, a movie partly filmed in St. Catharines about a boy named Ralphie and his quest for the ultimate Christmas present, a Red Ryder BB gun, was among Harrison’s favourite seasonal flicks.

While that movie was set in the 1940s, Harrison wanted to make a similar one based on his own childhood memories growing up in Welland, four decades later.

“I wanted to create kind of a 1980s version of that,” he said.

“I wanted to put a lot of Canadiana in it, and make a film about what it was like when we were growing up in the ’80s, especially in Welland.”

With funding from the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent, Harrison, 36, who has since gone on to a successful career in the film industry in California, returned to his parents’ home that winter to film a 10-minute movie called The Day Santa Didn’t Come.

Harrison’s hometown will soon have an opportunity to see the fruits of his efforts.

The movie, starring Toronto-born Jack Fulton playing Curtis as a child, is included in the 2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

It will be playing at the Landmark Cinemas at the Pen Centre Saturday at noon, as one of seven films created by Niagara-area filmmakers included in the festival’s Niagara Rises Shorts program.

Harrison is overjoyed to know his work will be playing for local audiences.

“It’s come full circle. It feels amazing not only to have the community be such a part of making the film, but also be able to watch it as well,” Harrison said in an interview from Los Angeles, where he was filming a television commercial.

“The entire process was incredible, shooting in Welland at my parents’ house and then being able to bring it back and show it. It’s an amazing experience.”

Harrison said his family has already seen the film when it premiered in Toronto.

“They were of course over the moon about it. They were super excited,” he said.

Harrison said he’s in the early stages of creating a full-length version of the movie, which will include a few more parallels to the classic movie that inspired him.

But instead of a Red Ryder BB gun, Harrison said the must-have toy in his movie is a Yeti Sasquatch 2000.

“It’s the toy of the year, and his mom is trying to get it for him,” he said.

Harrison said he hopes to start filming that movie in northern Ontario next February, once he can obtain remaining necessary funding.

He said fellow Canadian actor and director Jason Priestley, best known as Brandon from the Beverly Hills 90210 television series, has agreed to direct the film.

Tickets for the NIFF short films cost $12.50 each, or $10 for seniors, and can be purchased at niagarafilmfest.com or by phoning 1-800-656-0713.

June18, 2015－Chef Curtis Duffy's FOR GRACE at NIFF http://starvingfoodie.blogspot.ca/2015/06/chef-curtis-duffys-for-grace-at-niff.html

If you are planning on going to the NIAGARA INTEGRATED FILM FESTIVAL (NIFF) in the Niagara

region the weekend of June 18-21 then you must try and go see the documentary "For Grace". a film by Chicago Tribune Food Writer and Filmmaker Kevin Pang and fellow Chicago filmmaker Mark Helenowski. The story follows Michelin Star Chef Curtis Duffy.

I was lucky to have seen the film at the Hot Docs Film Festival already otherwise I would be seeing it at NIFF for sure but since I have already seen it and thoroughly loved it I can recommend it 100% for you to go and see it. Even if you aren't a chef or foodie you will still like the film as it's more of

story of overcoming hardship and succeeding and surrounding yourself with people that become family.

The story started as a short video and article project about Michelin Star Chef Curtis Duffy for the Chicago Tribune but once they realized it was more than a story about a superstar chef opening a new restaurant they decided to turn it into a feature documentary.

The film starts off similar to one of those restaurant makeover shows. Chef Duffy is about to leave the restaurant Avenues to open his dream restaurant with his good friend and business partner.

You think you are about to watch a film about the struggles of opening a high end restaurant in Chicago and it is that but then it turns into a whole lot more. The Chef lost both of his parents in a family tragedy just as he was beginning his culinary journey and a lovely Home Ec teacher took him under her wing and gave him support and guidance and is still in touch with him and was like a mother to him when he didn't have one. He is newly divorced with 2 young girls at a time in his life when the pressure is on to succeed. With his fractured family life he pours all of his time and energy into his culinary dream. He opens his restaurant "For Grace" 9 months later than planned and a year later he receives 3 Michelin stars for the Best New Restaurant in Chicago.

Chef Duffy apprenticed with acclaimed Chef Greg Achatz and the two chefs share similar tragedies to success stories and how to work hard and still be a good person and succeed. Chef Achatz had a mouth Cancer illness that he survived and he was featured in the documentary "Spinning Plates" This film had many big guys in the audience shedding a tear at the end of the film. While it had a bit of food porn it was a whole lot more than a story about food. It was a story about working hard and overcoming life's difficult situations and how to maintain integrity and life balance in the process.

Chef Duffy's family are the people he spends up to 16 hours a day with everyday at the restaurant

but it's his dream and he has sacrificed a lot to achieve his dream.

There is a connection to Toronto with Writer Pang, who lives in Chicago now but happens to have lived in Scarborough as a kid.

I really enjoyed Chef Duffy's story, his passion and his great heart.

His restaurant serves plates at $700 each and that's why everything must be perfection. You might not be able to afford to go to his restaurant but you can afford to get a bit of the experience by watching the documentary.

I believe the director and Chef Duffy will be in attendance at the NIFF screening.

Screenings June 19 & 20 For Tickets https://niagarafilmfest.com/buy-tickets/ For full details about NIFF https://niagarafilmfest.com/

June19, 2015ďź?THE MORNING SHOW http://globalnews.ca/video/2064280/niagara-integrated-film-festival Niagara Integrated Film Festival

June19, 2015－5 experiences at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF) http://scenecreek.com/festivals/5-experiences-at-the-niagara-integrated-film-festival-ni ff/

By Charles Trapunski NIFF begins only its second season this weekend, but is well worth the drive to the Niagara region to take in some films, a wine tasting, some food pairings, and an all and all delightful experience. Remember, the “I” stands for “Integrated” and that is what your experience will be – fully integrated.

5. For Grace – this Mark Helenowski and Kevin pang film recently played to sell-out crowds at Hot Docs, and wowed audience members. Co-director Kevin Pang hails from Toronto originally, and will be on hand to take questions about his film. Best of all, the film is paired on Friday night, June 19th with a sumptuous dinner at Peller Estates, which boasts an outstanding dining space and great wines. Its the perfect place to see a film about a meticulous and passionate restaurant owner.

4. The Timekeeper – playing as a part of the Canada’s Not Short on Talent program which played at Cannes, The Timekeeper by Scott Weber is an absolute gem of a film, and proof that Canadians really do bring a certain sensibility to our films. There is a few twists in The Timekeeper which would be a shame to reveal, but let’s just say that you should make time for an absolute gem of a short. Meaningful without being schmaltzy, The Timekeeper is playing 3 p.m. June 20th at Landmark.

3. Viaje – This film, whose title roughly translates to Journey is not for everybody, (it’s moody, in Spanish and in black and white), but Paz Fábrega’s film reveals a real wealth of surprises in a take on a story of a couple meeting cute, (at a party) and then trying to spend as much time together as possible bfore one has to disappear. Viaje was a standout at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and the sort of film that demands regonition, so that more gems like it can be crafted. June 20th 6 p.m. at Landmark 2. The Diary of a Teenage Girl – What is a film festival without a little bit of well-earned controversy? This Sundance stunner was all set to play at a winery, before the winery heard about the content of the film, and pulled out. Luckily, the film was moved to Landmark Cinemas on both June 20th at night and June 21st during the day, and best of all, star Bel Powley will be attending the festival. These screenings are sure to make for interesting Q&A’s, so definitely read into this Diary.

1. The Overnight – Part of the excitement of the festival is going to Niagara and staying overnight, so what better film to see on an overnight trip than Patrick Brice’s The Overnight? The best part of the film is that it seems to be heading one way, and then takes a dramatic left turn in an unexpected direction. The comic performances from its leads are hilarious, but Adam Scott and Jason Schwartzman have one scene in particular that stands out. Part of a Filmalicious dinner at Henry of Pelham on Friday night.

Please see https://niagarafilmfest.com/ for further details.

June21－Cross-platform storytelling key to industry success http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/06/21/cross-platform-storytelling-key-to-industry -success

By Ray Spiteri Ted Biggs, senior producer of digital-media production company Smokebomb Entertainment, talks to an audience during the Niagara Integrated Film Festival's second annual Industry Day at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Saturday. (RAY SPITERI/Niagara Falls Review/Postmedia Network) The key to keeping an audience hooked is not worrying too much about which platform you’re telling your story on, but to make sure you’re telling the story the audience wants to hear.

That’s the advice Ted Biggs, senior producer of Smokebomb Entertainment, had for the audience at the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival’s Industry Day Saturday.

“We just look at every platform as an opportunity,” said Biggs. “We’re using a lot of social media, we’re doing a lot of other things that keep audiences hooked on whatever screen they’re looking at.”

Biggs works for Smokebomb Entertainment, which is the digital arm of Shaftesbury Films, which produces the international hit television series Murdoch Mysteries.

Biggs discussed examples of cross-platform storytelling, from TV screen to computer screen to phone screen and beyond.

For example, the company launched an experience called The Infernal Device in April, which was meant to keep fans of the series glued to the franchise between seasons eight and nine. It also turned the Canadian Victorian mystery show into a multi-platform enterprise.

“We wanted to do something special for the fans, so what we did this year is we combined an online game that was deployed on CBC’s website, a series of puzzles and six live events that took place in five cities across Canada and London, England,” said Biggs.

“We basically took the idea of a room-escape game, or a murder-mystery game is what it evolved into, and staged murders in period costume with actors in six different locations.”

The game took advantage of a number of social-media platforms, allowing fans to upload clues and other game-related information.

“There’s significant interest in the (Murdoch Mysteries) franchise anyway, (but) what we’d like to do is keep people as interested on concurrent storylines between the traditional broadcast slots,” he said.

“We’re taking a story into a whole new level, we’re bringing it out into the real world and letting people actually interact with their heroes and to play detective in this case.”

Industry Day provided a top class of film and television insiders to offer their wealth of knowledge and insights on the current challenges facing the industry. The event took place at the White Oaks Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

In addition to Biggs’ session, titled How To Hook An Audience, discussions about the future of Canadian content and the process of an independent producer took place.

“We’re doing something which I’m really, truly proud of,” said Sari Ruda, president and one of the founders of the Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

“We’ve brought some of Canada’s top people in the industry to talk about what is happening in the (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) — what is the future of Canadian content.”

There were also discussions surrounding the CRTC’s promise to offer consumers pick-and-pay TV channels.

“One of the elements that we’re trying to do here with the Niagara Film Festival is to, not only bring wonderful films from around the world and locally to our audiences, but we’re also trying to bring very important discussions about what is going on in the industry here as well.”

June21, 2015－British actress Bel Powley at Niagara Integrated Film Festival Awards http://www.demotix.com/news/7915202/british-actress-bel-powley-niagara-integrated -film-festival-awards#media-7915192

British actress Bel Powley won the 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival's NIFF Rising Star Award based on her latest film "The Diary of A Teenage Girl.".

June21, 2015－NIFF 2015: THE WINNER IS… http://www.strictlydocs.com/niff-2015-the-winner-is/ Chuck Norris Vs Communism The 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Fest has successfully wrapped…and if the wine didn’t win you over, the films likely did.

At the NIFF 2015 awards ceremony at White Oaks Resort and Hotel in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, more than just a few winners walked away including a handful dealing in non-fiction.

With the film festival spotlighting such acclaimed documentaries as the thrilling flyboy biography The Lost Aviator and the incredible chronicle of how a group of hippies started Greenpeace in the stirring feature How to Change the World – NIFF’s showcase of non-fiction was nothing less than

aspiring for a festival still in its infancy.

However, the top winner of the Best Documentary Award turned out to be For Grace – a look at Curtis Duffy, one of America’s top chefs as he tries to build his dream restaurant at “the worst time of his personal life. For Grace is a story about food, family, balance and sacrifice” – fitting for a festival set in wine country. The movie was directed by Kevin Pang and Mark Helenowski.

For more information, visit the NIFF 2015 website at www.niagarafilmfest.com.

June22, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Fearival 2015 http://themindreels.com/2015/06/22/niagara-integrated-film-fearival-2015/ Against the backdrop of wine country with the dull thrum of the falls imaginable at the farthest edge of earshot, members of the film and wine industry gather to make connections, share experiences and celebrate the finer things in life – film and a good vino.

And I was fortunate enough to be invited to join them. Enjoying the opportunity to get out of the city for the weekend, I clambered aboard the bus, and upon arriving in picturesque St. Catherine’s (such a wonderful small town feel to it coupled with some gorgeous historical buildings and homes), was met by a driver to deliver me unto the second annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

Using the luxurious White Oaks Resort and Spa as home base for the event, situated in

Niagara-on-the-Lake, I settled into the stunning location for the duration of the weekend, and was delighted with the staff, the amenities, and the ease of access that the festival had in play.

Being a still growing film festival, the whole weekend came across as more relaxed and almost European in its approach and appreciation of cinematic and vineyard endeavors. The festival boasted a fantastic line-up of films including a pre-release screening of Pixar’s Inside Out. There was a healthy mix of documentary, shorts and feature films. NIFF has begun creating for themselves a refreshing and surprisingly relaxing approach to the film festival, which, as much as I love them, far too often feels too rushed to be truly enjoyed. Here there was an opportunity to not only interview directors, actors, producers, founders and creative types, there was ample time to simply just socialize with them, over a glass of wine, and there were a number of glasses and bottles on offer from the various vineyards in the area.

It was here that I found myself, away from the bustle of the city, with an opportunity to draw breath of fresh air, and savor the pleasant scent of a good wine while discussing the industry in general.

Everything about the event moves at an easy pace, encouraged by the lush surroundings of the resort. The message presented by the festival is clear, take your time, enjoy, relax and sipping a Pinot Grigio as I was, I found it difficult to argue with the thought process at work there.

St. Catherine’s and Niagara-on-the-Lake have always been an area I simply pass through, a momentary flash through the passenger side window, but spending the weekend on vineyard estates, surrounded by the beautifully quaint buildings, which still, happily outnumber the infringing box stores and unavoidable urban sprawl there is a draw to this area, a pull I wasn’t made aware of before. There could be no better place for a festival of this nature; still close to Toronto and yet, seemingly, a world away.

I arrived just as Industry Day was coming to a close, and was able to join those present for a few glasses of wine, and after simply observing for a while, was drawn into a number of enlightening and enjoyable conversations. I chatted with Toronto Sun film critic Jim Slotek, talking about fave films of the year, classics, and what had screened so far at the festival. We were joined by journalist BJ Del Conte, and it was fun to just be in the midst of film buffs who shared the same passions, even if we didn’t like all the same films…

But the highlight of my afternoon, alongside catching up with the wonderful folks at GAT PR, who went above and beyond for me and every festival goer this weekend, was chatting for over an hour with Academy Award winner (for his work on Superman: The Movie) Colin Chivers. We talked special effects and visual effects, the advent of CGI, how it impacted practical effects and some of the amazing things he’s done – as well as those accomplishments of members of his family, who even now, are working on the new Bond film and the new Star Wars film! He told great stories, seemed not to tire of me asking questions, and was a delightfully singular experience in my life.

I also got to chat with Aaron Enkelaar, who was the visual effects lead, and on set supervisor for effects on a little series called Lost Girl. Now, he has expanded his work to include developing an Augmented Reality program to work with developers, land owners, and selling real estate. Fantastic stuff!

I had a quick break between the reception and my screening that eve, so I was able to catch up with my old friends, Katie and Alex Brandeau, we easily hadn’t seen each other in 7 to 8 years, and it was so much fun to just get reacquainted. (You two are awesome and I can’t wait to see you again!).

And as the perfect weather held (actually it had done a nice job for the entire festival) I clambered onto a shuttle, which ferried me out to the gorgeous Peller EstatesWinery. I toured the main building, had a glass of their incredibly smooth and delicious 2013 Baco Noir (I was going to pick up a bottle then and there, but the shop had already closed) and then got ready for the evening’s screening on the vineyard’s property.

Set up in an event tent, just off the main house, which also provided dinner for those who had booked a special ticket, with grass underfoot, wine glass in hand, I settled in for the film… which is reviewed next…

Afterwards, we were driven back to the Resort, and I called it a day around 1:30am, with a comfortable wine buzz in my head.

I was up early, 7, and in the pool doing laps by 7:10, making sure I got a good hour’s exercise, and just enjoyment, before I tackled the interviews that GAT PR had been kind enough to schedule for me.

First up was Lulu Wang who was on site to promote her delightful screwball romantic comedy, Posthumous (there is a VOD and possibly Netflix deal coming, so watch for my review to coincide with that).

After chatting with Lulu, who was a joy, I got prepped for the award ceremony, and the possible line-up of interviews following it, and then was invited to sit down with some peers, and filmmakers to chat over a fantastic buffet breakfast. The conversation wandered from CRTC rulings to VPNs to young directors and artists need to create and express themselves, and not get pigeonholed into genres. It was fun, light, and in a charming environment (speaking of!! The music piped in through the resort’s speakers all weekend, was bliss, we’re talking Sinatra, Holiday, Sammy, Dino, and Connick jr., it was pretty sweet).

From there, it was time to gear up for the awards, and Bill Marshall, co-founder and CEO of the Festival opened the event with a speech detailing how sponsorship is growing, that Industry Day was a huge success, and that the entire festival is full is promise, and expanding and blooming on the vine. He was also on hand to present the first few awards.

A well deserved presentation for Rising Star Award, went to Bel Powley for her performance in The Diary of a Teenage Girl. She is definitely one to watch… and I had a brief chat about the 70s, the era her film was set in, with her during the reception afterwards…

Taking the Best Foreign Language Film at the festival was Viaje, a romantic Spanish film (just typing that line makes it sound like a perfect match for a good bottle of wine!). The Best Family Film of the festival went to Hong Kong’s Little Big Master.

They then handed out Best Actor – Patrick Stewart for Match (he wasn’t there, but I could totally see him enjoying the festival if he had!), Best Actress – Alicia Vikander for Testament of Youth, and Best Feature – The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

The awards then shifted to a section known as Niagara Rises, this focussed on the local talent with films in the festival. The 2015 Emerging Artist Award went to The Hotel Dieu director Adrian Thiessen, whom I chatted with during the reception… It’s a little noisy, but hey, the reception was in full swing…

The Short Film Award went to Made In Bali, the Jury Prize went to the highly enjoyable The Cocksure Lads Movie, and the Best Feature Film award went, deservedly, to The Hotel Dieu, Wrapping up the awards ceremony was the World’s Smallest Film Festival Awards, and showcases films shot on smart phones! There were two, Best Director, and Audience Choice, and they both went to Andrea Conte, whom I also had an opportunity to chat with at the reception…

I then got to chat with Dirk Bansema the WSFF co-ordinator…

The Awards ceremony spilled out into the reception area, where, surprise, even more tasty wine was imbibed on, and some socializing, chatting and pics, took place. I chatted with Kevin McGuiness about his two animated features that were in the short festival…

I chatted with Sari Ruda, the co-founder and President of the Festival‌

and Tony Watts the Director of Programmin (who may watch as many movies, if not more, than I do!)‌

All in all, as I drained the last of my wine, and looked longingly at the empty glass and bottle that

accompanied it, I loved this festival. It’s still growing, still trying things out, finding what works, but the environment, the concept, the films, and oh, the wine… is bound to make this festival a winner!

I cannot rave enough about all the people involved, and I cannot pay high enough compliments to everyone who made the weekend what it was… to the talent I met, to new friends made, old friends caught up with, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of wine country, a flickering screen and a full glass.

Do yourself a favor, when this one rolls around next year, make the effort to check it out! (I know I’ll want to!)

June22, 2015－Filmalicious Review: The Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.today-magazine.com/events/filmalicious-review-niagara-integrated-film-festival/

By Gabrielle Tieman Film enthusiasts, foodies and wine connoisseurs alike are all guaranteed to be swept off their feet

by Filmalicious and its unparalleled outdoor movie experience.

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival could not have chosen a better backdrop for the Canadian Premiere of Sundance Film Festival favourite People, Places, Things than host venue Southbrook Vineyards. Pairing their juxtaposed modern organic vineyard with seasonally inspired appetizers, homegrown wines and a fantastic film under the stars, it was an incredible evening that truly celebrated how wonderful and unique the Niagara Region is.

Included in the price of the ticket were two seasonally inspired appetizers – a rich pork hock terrine and a delicate cone of strawberries doused in petite verdot vinaigrette and Elgin Buffalo Cheese – a retro bag of light popcorn and a glass of wine. Each dish was perfectly paired, mimicking the warm June evening, the produce of Niagara and the casual content attitude of the winery.

The venue and staff exuded a presence that encouraged film goers to relax and enjoy their evening with ease and leisure. Ushered through the modern and naturally lit tasting bar of Southbrook, film goers were escorted onto a beautiful outdoor terrace surrounded by the vineyard and serenaded by a musical duet playing some of the feature songs from the soon to be enjoyed film. Offering a selection of salads, charcuteries and thin crust pizzas fresh from the outdoor wood oven, there was no shortage of homegrown food or wine. As the sun disappeared, film goers were escorted into a large white tent nestled amongst the grapes; boasting a large screen and [surprisingly] comfortable chairs, the film began and swept us off our feet.

The film, as well as the evening, can be described in a single word: lovely. This charming and soulful tale of graphic artist Will Henry as he muddles through single parenthood and teaching following the adultery of his partner is a surprisingly light and joy filled tale with tons of quick, quirky humour.

Lead actor Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame brings his special brand of loveable nerd to Niagara in a force that had the audience mesmerized. The audience fell for each supporting character effortlessly as they worked together in perfect tandem. The audience laughed, exclaimed and were left silent when the film ended, wanting the film to continue further into the night, searching for the perfect happy ending.

Overall, the evening was a feat of perfection as NIFF demonstrates for a second year how wonderfully the Niagara Region pairs with incredible international film.

June22, 2015－The Cocksure Lads Movie, The Hotel Dieu win NIFF prizes http://playbackonline.ca/2015/06/22/cocksure-lads-the-hotel-dieu-win-niff-prizes/

By Julianna Cummins

Murray Foster’s The Cocksure Lads Movie and Adrian Thiessen’s The Hotel Dieu were among the Canadian titles to pick up prizes at the sophomore edition of the Niagara International Film Festival.

The food, film and wine festival wrapped up this past weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with the winning films announced on Sunday. Cocksure Lads won the Niagara Rises Special Jury Prize, while The Hotel Dieu won the Best Niagara Rises Feature prize and with director Thiessen also picking up the RBC Emerging Artist Award. Michael Pohorly’s Made in Bali, a Canada/Indonesia copro, won the Best Niagara Rises Short award.

In foreign production prize-giving, Bel Powely won the NIFF Rising Star award for her role in The Diary of a Teenage Girl, with the film also taking home the best feature award. James Kent won the best director prize for The Testament of Youth and the best doc award went to For Grace from directors Kevin Pang and Mark Helenonski. The best male actor prize was presented to Patrick Stewart for Match, with the best female actress prize going to Alicia Vikander for The Testament of Youth.

Heard it through the grape vine http://www.niagaralifemag.com/news/article/000545/Heard-it-through-the-grape-vine

Story By Joanne McDonald / Photos by Steve Henschel There hasn't been this much buzz in Niagara since Marilyn Monroe slept in Room 801 at the old General Brock Hotel and Superman flew over the Falls, at a perfect camera angle, to rescue a young boy from the churning waters.

Bill Marshall may not leap tall buildings, but he's landed a brilliant leap of faith, and it's about to rocket this region to the world stage.

You heard it through the grapevine – the stars will come out June 18-21 when the Niagara Integrated Film Festival brings thousands of fans, filmmakers, press and industry leaders together to share the extraordinary experience of fine food, wine, and a spectacular lineup of films from around the world screened in vineyards across Niagara.

NIFF Founder and CEO, Marshall says bringing a film festival to Niagara's award-winning wineries and culinary excellence was a no brainer.

“There's no better food, you can't beat the wine and the region looks fabulous.

It's an incredibly unique concept of setting up film screens on the rolling terroir. NIFF has become a signature event for the region, a choice location for distributors to premiere summer release films - more than 70 films will be showcased – and both audience and industry insiders have put NIFF easily in the top 50 of the world's 5,000 film festivals.

Now in its second year, the credits are still rolling on NIFF's inaugural foray into wine country. And they're about to get even better.

NIFF co-founder and president Sari Ruda is passionate about the distinctive wineries and their professionalism and commitment that will bring the best of Niagara to the festival. “Every winery has a completely different style, from historic and classic to high modern,” Ruda said. “We've tried really hard to be representative of the region, to bring the best of the region and as we grow, we will bring in more wineries.”

“We're reaching to the stars with programming,” says Ruda. “We're trying hard to provide something for everybody and we're encouraging people to plan in advance to see the kind of things that attract their attention.”

Last year's ticket sales went beyond box office expectations so planning early will ensure the best festival experience. From the spectacular Opening Night event, the Galas, and Filmalicious with top chefs, dinner and film screenings in the vineyards, to the Film Feast tours through wine country with wine, food and a selection of short films, or booking a 10-pack of tickets and a guarantee of seeing 10 great films, NIFF has left no stone unturned to enjoy the festival.

The festival will offer a diverse selection of programs from grand galas to picnic blanket viewings. There will be ways to watch a movie on a $10 ticket and they'll all be terrific films.

Chasing films Kate Yorga, NIFF programming manager, has been chasing films around the world for months solid. “We are trying to track down films and inviting a lot of films. Head programmer Tony Watts started at Sundance and went to Berlin. He's currently in Hong Kong, then Cannes,” Yorga said. “He has had his ear to the ground since last summer.”

Be it the thrill of watching a world premiere, or the magic of a hard-to-find film from a distant land, “you get the festival buzz, that's part of the experience when a festival comes to town. It creates this energy that makes everything come alive, meeting people from near and far. You never know who you will bump into and that's part of the experience,” Yorga said.

NIFF will highlight the connection of film, food, and wine, with programming to include: Opening Night, Galas, Filmalicious, Film Feast, World's Smallest Film Festival, Niagara Rises, Family Fun Fare and Industry Day. Film Feast will feature a selection of short films from the series Canada's Not Short on Talent, curated by Danny Lennon for the Cannes Film Festival. “We had it last year and people absolutely loved it,” Ruda said. “A really good short, one to five minutes, can pack an incredible punch of information and emotion,” Ruda said. “Last year I was amazed at how incredibly engaged people were and the animated discussions about the short films.”

A showcase for local talent, “Niagara Rises is being sponsored by RBC, an incredible gift to us. They are committed to helping the community and our initiative and mandate to help local Niagara film producers,” Ruda said, grateful for the support of sponsors also including Orbixa Technologies and White Oaks Resort and Spa. Last year six corporations gave NIFF straight up donations to give purchased tickets to community organizations.

Success means drawing visitors to enjoy the beauty of the region, and for Ruda, “we want to lay the groundwork for a legacy of helping to build the film and television and digital media industry here in the Niagara Region where there is already an incredible wealth of talent and skills awaiting the opportunity to build itself into a major hub.”

Economic benefits There are no boundaries around Dino Fazio's enthusiasm for showing the world what Niagara has to offer. Former general manager of the Winter Festival of Lights, he's brought millions of visitors to Niagara over the years.

NIFF festival manager, Fazio said the film festival's economic benefit to Niagara has been huge. “The direct impact last year was $1 million plus the intangibles of bringing the film industry to Niagara looking at the region as a place to shoot or to locate a studio.”

Ruda agrees, “We were very happy last year, we balanced the budget and that was unique, almost unheard of and very lucky. The goal for this year is to have enough sponsors to do that again, pump up attendance and really be able to keep the community in mind and look after them.”

Young NIFF is being raised on the same formula that turned Toronto cousin TIFF into a strapping world-renowned festival – take the best programmers on the planet, chase the best movies around the world, introduce audiences to the people who made the movies, and show them in great locations.Marshall said meeting the producers and celebrities is a big part of the festival magic. “You spend about 90 minutes watching the story, and it's great, but the average film takes eight years to make and the people who made it have a lot to talk about.”

It's also about bringing the film industry to Niagara to help develop and showcase the talent that already exists. “I was talking to this kid whose family grows fruit and he said, ‘I've got this little short, can I show it to you?'” said Marshall. Turns out, “it's terrific, Made in Bali by Michael Pohorly from NOTL.” Niagara Rises featuring local filmmakers will surprise people. “We've got three more local films running and nobody knows they're that good.”Marshall's heart is never far from the struggles of young filmmakers trying to find their way in the industry. Making movies starts with a good script and the story of Marshall's own foray into filmmaking and the launch of the Toronto festival in 1976, is a blockbuster.

He was chief of staff during the 70s to former Toronto mayor David Crombie, but Marshall was no civic lifer. He just wanted to make movies and launching TIFF was a way to bring the experts together who could teach him how. A partner in a film company, “we weren't good at making movies. We were getting nervous,” Marshall recalled.

Against all the naysayers who said the film festival would never work, people would never come and wouldn't give him any money, TIFF was born.“Everybody hated the concept except the people and you can't stop them now.” The very first year 35,000 people came, a diverse, multicultural audience thrilled to have access to international movies that couldn't be found anywhere else.Outrageous was just the second movie Marshall produced. When it went to Cannes, the critics, all Marshall's pals, were terrified they wouldn't like it. But they loved it. The film went on to Berlin and won Most Popular Audience, and starring talented actor Craig Russell developed a burgeoning international following. Somewhere in the States it's still being distributed on DVD and just last week Marshall got a cheque for $45.It took years of legwork to get the films and distributors on board when TIFF was launched and since become a launching ground for Oscar winning films as the world's top film festival.

“The Internet has changed everything. We've had $2.5 million worth of media exposure from NIFF,” Marshall said, and distributors are sold when they hear about the unique festival and perfect launch pad for their summer release films.Marshall has a pretty good idea of where NIFF is headed. “Give us a few years and we'll be in the top 10 in the world.”

World premieres Yorga said that for organizers and audiences, it's the thrill and distinction of seeing something first, be it

a Canadian premiere or a world premiere and NIFF audiences will undoubtedly be seeing some films first.

“Last year we had some world premieres and I can definitely say right now we have two films that have not played anywhere,” Yorga said, giving up only that one is a romantic comedy and the other a dramatic fantasy.

But, Yorga reminds filmgoers, there are also big rewards in finding the movie gems that audiences outside the festival would never have a chance to see. Last year's winner was from South Africa, Four Corners, directed by Ian Gabriel.“As a personal filmgoer, when I go to a festival those are the films I choose, to go to see a film from a foreign country that will expose you to a magical world and ideas and entertainment the you might not otherwise get to see.”Fazio says festival excitement is building across the region. “We've got the support locally and the ownership is what we're really starting to build and the community is embracing it as a regional local event.”

Author Mark Twain in his 1897 travelogue Following the Equator called Niagara a Garden of Eden.

Not a bad pre-century segue to NIFF and the new world – and all the sights and sounds, and tastes to be savoured in the garden of vineyards that is now Niagara.

Tickets are on sale now. For package deals, early bird savings and the full lineup of films and programs visit: https://niagarafilmfest.com/tickets/Phone: 1-800-656-0713 NIFF Programs NIFF will highlight the connection of film, food, and wine, with unparalleled programming to include: Opening Night, Galas, Filmalicious, Film Feast, World's Smallest Film Festival, Niagara Rises, Family Fun Fare and Industry Day. For ticket sales, package deals, early bird savings and the full lineup of films and program details visit: https://niagarafilmfest.com/tickets/ Phone: 1-800-656-0713 Opening Night The stars will be out with industry celebrities and newsmakers to launch NIFF 2015 during ‘Opening Night' celebrations Thursday, June 18 at the internationally acclaimed Peller Estates.

Galas Galas will be held June 19-21 at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The spotlight will be on Canada's most awarded winery and an ultimate epicurean experience featuring fine wine, a sumptuous dinner prepared by Executive Chef Timothy MacKiddie and a feature presentation film in the vineyard with celebrities and newsmakers.

Filmalicious Filmalicious is a spectacular dinner and a movie event hosted at four of Niagara Region's world-class wineries. Each location will present a sumptuous dinner with wine pairings from some of Canada's most talented chefs, followed by a special feature film presentation in the vineyard with celebrities and newsmakers sharing the experience. Locations include: Henry of Pelham Estate Winery, St. Catharines; Peller Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Redstone Winery, Beamsville; and Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Film Feast Film Feast is a unique three-hour bus excursion of Niagara's most spectacular wineries from Twenty Valley to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Guests will sample award-winning vintages, accompanied by exquisitely prepared hors d'oeuvres, and watch a selection of intriguing short films. Included will be the series Canada's Not Short on Talent, a compilation of Canada's top short films. Originally an exclusive series to

the Cannes Film Festival, NIFF brings these creative shorts to Canadian soil.

World's Smallest Film Festival The World's Smallest Film Festival is a film competition featuring shorts shot entirely on a mobile device.

This is an exciting opportunity to showcase today's ground-breaking mobile film capabilities and the talent and creativity of filmmakers.

Niagara Rises The Niagara Region is home to some incredible filmmakers who have honed their crafts working on everything from Hollywood blockbusters like X-Men to world acclaimed Cannes winners. NIFF celebrates and supports the local industry and the Niagara Rises program showcases the talent bursting forth from this exciting creative cluster.

Family Fun Fare New to the festival this year is the Family Fun Fare featuring indoor and outdoor entertainment for the whole family with tickets sold on a per-picnic blanket basis to encourage group viewings.

Industry Day Industry day will be a full day event geared to those in the industry. Niagara is home to some incredible filmmakers. Both Brock University and Niagara College have film programs and there are many movie-related types of industry in the region.

City Life Magazine - June 16, 2015 - Uncorking the Falls LINK UNAVAILABLE

July26, 2015―Niagara Integrated Film Festival Pairs Great Films With Food and Wine http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/lin-stranberg-/niagara-integrated-film-festival_b_76501 56.html With its parks and gardens and elegant architecture, Niagara-on-the-Lake has always been a fashionable place, but no one could accuse it of being hip. That may be about to change.

There's never been a shortage of reasons to visit NOTL. It's graced with lush vineyards and wineries, a romantic atmosphere, world-renowned theatre -- and now, an international film festival.

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF), at only two years old, is still flying under the radar. And that's good news for anyone who plans to visit next June. NIFF has spectacular settings, big names and international connections, but it's still early days for this event, so it's small enough to be intimate and unpretentious. The concept's a winner: great food, film and wine at the start of summer in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

NIFF was born from the experience of Bill Marshall, one of the founders of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which is now the leading public film festival in the world. He and his wife, Sari Ruda, conceived NIFF as the ultimate approach to seeing films. "This festival integrates wine and food, municipalities, and technologies with the big screen," he said.

This year's festival ran June 18-21, showcasing narrative and documentary feature and short films from Canada, U.K., the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Eastern Europe, screened at wineries and movie theatres from Beamsville and St. Catharines to NOTL and Niagara Falls.

The programming is smart and the lineup is lively. There are Filmalicious evenings, pairing film, food and wine; the Niagara Rises Series, with Niagara filmmakers; Mondo Wacko, a selection of edgy films; World's Smallest Film Festival, a cash prize competition for one to three-minute shorts based on a single theme and shot entirely on a mobile device, and Industry Day, an affordable conference with tips and insights from film and TV pros.

I opted for the Opening Gala and a Filmalicious event, both at the beautiful Peller Estates. Sipping bubbly at sunset in the vineyard, chatting with filmmakers and friends, the strains of a jazz trio in the background, was something like a scene from a movie -- a prequel to the elegant table d'h么te dinner and wine served amid the casks in the cellar.

U..K director James Kent was there for the Canadian premiere of his moving Testament of Youth and on hand for drinks, dinner and a post-screening Q&A. The Filmalicious evening delivered more of the same, this time with U.S. director Kevin Pang and Chef Curtis Duffy in for the screening of For Grace, a powerful documentary about the chef and his drive to create his Chicago restaurant, Grace, awarded three stars from Michelin.

June18―Second Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival to be held this weekend http://artvoice.com/issues/v14n24/cover_story DINNER AND A MOVIE DELUXE SECOND ANNUAL NIAGARA INTEGRATED FILM FESTIVAL TO BE HELD THIS WEEKEND

BY JORDAN CANAHAI The Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF), a weekend summer film festival that uniquely combines food, wine, and film is set to begin this Thursday, June 18th. The event, the second annual, aims to shine a cinematic spotlight on the Niagara Region’s extraordinary beauty, wineries, and cuisine while showcasing a diverse selection of the best films from around the world. NIFF is run by an expert team of film festival managers, led by Bill Marshall, Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the world’s most successful public film festival.

“There’s not much more I can do with the Toronto Film Festival, it just keeps on going like the Queen Mary,” explains Marshall. That festival, which he founded in 1976, has gone on to be ranked as one of the top three film festivals in the world, as well as one of Canada’s major tourist events.

Having always had an interest in film festivals, Marshall had been thinking about innovative and interesting things to incorporate into a new one that would make it different from the many others when he came upon the inspiration to create NIFF. “The Niagara region has so many things going for it. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

The area is home to many internationally respected and award winning wineries, along with wonderful dining opportunities from our world-class chefs. I thought if one combined movies from the world’s finest filmmaking talent with great wine and food, in a location of such scenic beauty, it would prove to be as interesting and enjoyable a film festival experience as one could have.”

Among the special events offered through the festival is FILMALICIOUS, a dinner and movie night at its finest. During this sensory experience guests will enjoy a sumptuous dinner paired with award-winning Niagara wines selected specially by the winemaker, each one beginning at 7pm on Friday, June 19th and Saturday, June 20th, and hosted at some of the most splendid wineries across Niagara-on-the-Lake and Twenty Valley including: Niagara-on-the Lake’s Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, Peller Estates Winery, Southbrook Vineyards and White Oaks Resort. Henry of Pelham Family Estate in St. Catherine’s and Redstone Winery in Beamsville are also included in the festival.

June23, 2015―'Lost Penny' to have second screening http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/index.php?p=Sections&id=4874

Some cast and crew from the film 'Lost Penny,' which had its Canadian premiere at the Landmark Cinemas, June 21 as part of the Niagara Integrated Film Festival. Photo courtesy Cube City Entertainment.

NIAGARA FALLS – 'Lost Penny' premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival June 21, but its filmmakers are bringing it back for another screening in July.

'Lost Penny' will have a special screening Tuesday, July 7 at the Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls, giving local audiences one more chance to see the movie on the big screen.

'Lost Penny' is the story of a girl's search for the father who abandoned her. When Penny finds a magical box that promises her greatest wish, she is plunged into an upside-down world of smoke and mirrors ... one which conceals a dark secret.

Shot exclusively in the Niagara Region, principal photography for 'Lost Penny' was completed in two and a half weeks in August, 2014. The filmmakers spread their casting net in Niagara and Toronto, and even as far away as New York City and Australia. They cast Rachael McOwen in the role of Penny. She has a Canadian connection, having graduated from the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

The cast also features local actors, including Tia Blake as the Red Dancer; William G. Hobbs as the Pirate; Robert Tanos as the Enforcer and Thomas Nelson as the Barefoot Man. The Under-World Club that Penny finds herself in was shot primarily at Broadway Lights Dance Studio in St. Catharines, which was once the location of the Hideaway Club.

Join the filmmakers, cast, and crew and come out and see the movie Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. The Seneca Queen Theatre is located at 4624 Queen St. in downtown Niagara Falls.

Advance general admission tickets may be purchased at http://www.cubecity.org for $10. Tickets at the door will cost $15 (cash only). For more info, or to watch the movie trailer, visit http://www.cubecity.org .

June24, 2015―Who needs super heroes?NIFF screening of I’ll See You In My Dreams delivers a hit without special effects http://www.niagarathisweek.com/opinion-story/5693544-who-needs-super-heroes-/

By Melinda Cheevers It’s difficult to imagine a more appropriate backdrop than a winery for the Niagara Integrated Film Festival screening of I’ll See You In My Dreams.

The film’s opening scene shows the protagonist, played by Blythe Danner, pouring herself a comically oversized glass of wine. Throughout the rest of the movie, the ensemble cast spends ample time sipping on wine, with the audience for the NIFF screening doing the same.

The winery itself, an architecturally sleek and stunning facility nestled deep into Beamsville’s wine country, served up a delicious riesling and a unique twist on regular movie munchies in the form of popcorn topped with caramelized maple-bacon syrup. As one of the new kid’s on the viticulture block, Redstone Winery certainly made a strong impression on attendees to the NIFF screening hosted there on Saturday.

It also didn’t hurt that the film was one of the most poignant and satisfying cinematic experiences I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy in quite some time.

At its core, the film is about a middle-aged widow struggling to move on with her life after her husband dies in a plane crash. After finally deciding to get back into the dating scene – following an ill-fated romp through the icky world of speed-dating – Carol, played by Danner, is eventually left to choose between two diametrically opposed suitors. She finds herself being courted by both her pool boy who is about 20 years her junior, and a more age-appropriate retired businessman she meets at a friend’s retirement home.

The elder gentlemen, Bill, is played brilliantly by veteran actor Sam Elliott, whose name and face you might not recognize, but his gravel-voiced southern drawl will be immediately recognizable from a bevy of truck commercials and other voice over work. The young pool boy, Lloyd, is played

by Martin Starr, and while he is better known as the comedic relief in Judd Apatow’s comedies, he delivered a strong performance as a wayward pool boy falling for an older woman.

A tight narrative with incredible storytelling – including a mid-movie twist that shocked the audience – hurtles the viewer around an emotional ride that builds towards a powerful third act.

Anyone who appreciates well-written dialogue and character development over superhero punches and special effects will definitely want to check out this film.

2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival Award Winners http://filmbutton.com/mainpage/2nd-annual-niagara-integrated-film-festival-award-wi nners/

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE – Taking in the breathtaking sights of Niagara’s beautiful wine country, guests had a chance to enjoy a spectacular lineup of films – including multiple Canadian premieres – under the stars and in the theatres. Local wineries and chefs served guests extraordinary food, made with homegrown Niagara produce, paired with some of the regions best wines.

To close a wonderful weekend, filled with these remarkable experiences a selection of NIFF Awards were handed out on Sunday, June 21, at the White Oaks Resort and Spa, with nods going to both global and local filmmakers.

“We are so grateful to all our stellar sponsors and partners,” says NIFF Founder and President Sari Ruda, “both those who are back for our second edition, and those joining our vision this year. We could not have done it without their incredible support, and we hope to continue working with them in year 3.”

And the awards go to…

NIFF Rising Star – Bel Powley – The Diary of a Teenage Girl Best Feature – The Diary of a Teenage Girl – Marielle Heller Best Director – James Kent – The Testament of Youth Best Documentary – For Grace – Directors Kevin Pang and Mark Helenowski Best Male Actor – Patrick Stewart – “Match” Best Female Actress – Alicia Vikander – The Testament of Youth Best Family Film – Little Big Master – Director Adrian Kwan Best Niagara Rises Feature – The Hotel Dieu – Director Adrian Thiessen RBC Emerging Artist Award ($2,500) – Adrian Thiessen “The Hotel Dieu” Best Niagara Rises Short – Made In Bali – Director Michael Pohorly Niagara Rises Special Jury Prize – The Cocksure Lads Movie World Smallest Film Festival Director’s Choice ($1,000) Director Andrea Conte – Many More Rivers To Cross World Smallest Film Festival Audience Choice (Samsung Tablet) – Many More Rivers To Cross – Director Andrea Conte

Niagara Film Festival 2015 Press Breaks(Review)

June17, 2015ďź?BEST OF ENEMIES / HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD Reviews By Greg Klymkiw - 2 Must-See Documentaries @ the 2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://klymkiwfilmcorner.blogspot.ca/2015/06/best-of-enemies-how-to-change-world.h tml

Best Enemies (2014) Dir. Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon Starring: Gore Vidal, William F. Buckley Jr.

of

Review By Greg Klymkiw This is a documentary that brilliantly fulfills some mighty pre-requisites: Important subject matter that needed, after so many decades have passed, to be presented in as blisteringly entertaining and deeply incisive a manner as possible. As such, Best of Enemies is a great story and superb filmmaking.

In 1968, America changed forever - in many ways. First of all, during the Republican and Democratic conventions, the country was in post-JFK-assassination ennui, the height of Vietnam, civil rights clashes, endless protests and yearning for some kind of defining change. Ever more jaw-dropping was that Television News at the network level was still infused with passion, journalistic excellence and thorough, balanced coverage. These days, it's little more than exploitative sound bites and out and out propaganda.

Of the three networks, ABC's national news was strictly a cellar-dweller affair with such abysmal ratings, it would not have been an exaggeration to count its viewers, sardonically of course, on two hands. ABC knew something had to turn this around. Eschewing traditional coverage of the

conventions, ABC instead presented a live debate/commentary on these events by none other than the ultra-conservative William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal, the left-leaning best selling writer of controversial works like Myra Breckenridge.

This format of vicious jugular-slashing debate had never before been used in so effective a fashion.

In fact, it was so unique, so compelling and so much a reflection of America's split-down-the-middle sensibilities, that ABC's ratings skyrocketed to epic levels. Using actual footage with the debates and supplementing it with contemporary interviews, a bottomless pit of additional archival footage, contemporary interviews with those still alive to offer vivid, candid reflections and off-screen readings of Buckley and Vidal's prose by John Lithgow and Kelsey Grammar, directors Neville and Gordon have us on the edge of our seats.

It's razzle-dazzle filmmaking at its best. Most telling, in spite of some rather shocking LIVE (and then, unheard of) name-calling twixt the two pundits, is that America sat down and absorbed, in the millions, two dynamic, intelligent men, duking it out with equally intelligent discourse. What Vidal and Buckley achieved set the trend for TV broadcasting to follow, so much so, that today, point-counter-point duels are a matter of course. The difference between then and now, however, is the high degree of intellectual political discourse between the two men - a far cry from the cacophonous scream-fests so prevalent on television ever since.

We get biographical details on both men in order to set the stage for the astonishing footage, allowing us the opportunity to know them as intimately as possible within the context of such a film and reflecting all the events of interest in America AS THEY HAPPENED. One of the more chilling sequences involves Mayor Robert Daley of Chicago turning his city into a veritable police state during the Democratic Convention (captured at the time, brilliantly and shockingly by cinematographer Haskell Wexler with his feature length directorial debut Medium Cool).

As thrilling as the film is, we also experience a considerable degree of melancholy. By witnessing such intelligent and exciting debates in raw, unexpurgated form, there's a sinking feeling that overwhelms us as we realize how this landmark event eventually denigrated into what we now know today.

The experience of seeing this film is the best anyone's going to have to actually experiencing this event as it happened. This is great documentary filmmaking as it should really be - namely, great filmmaking period.

THE FILM CORNER RATING: ***** 5-Stars Best of Enemies plays at the 2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival. For tickets, showtimes, dates and venues, visit the NIFF website by clicking HERE.

How To Change The World (2015) Dir. Jerry Rothwell Review By Greg Klymkiw "If we wait for the meek to inherit the earth, there won't be anything left to inherit" - Robert Hunter Robert (Bob) Hunter was many things. Mostly, I just always thought he was cool. And well, you'd kind of have to be that to have accomplished so much in so short a time (he died of cancer at age 63). A committed veteran journalist, broadcaster and the founder of Greenpeace, Hunter is clearly the hero of this film, but director Jerry Rothwell leaves no stone unturned to tell as much of this extraordinary story as possible. Rothwell poured over hundreds of 16mm rolls of film that had been canned and unopened since the 1970s. Seeing, pretty much before his very eyes, the visual history of the Greenpeace organization, the filmmaker consulted with Hunter's colleagues and foes, conducted fresh interviews with all of them, then blended his Herculean research to expertly select and edit footage from the Greenpeace Archives. The result is a documentary which paints a portrait of environmental activism which comes across as thrilling as Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin "Master and Commander" high-seas swashbucklers. FULL REVIEW from Hot Docs 2015 HERE. THE FILM CORNER RATING: **** Four Stars How To Change The World plays at the 2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival. For tickets, showtimes, dates and venues, visit the NIFF website by clicking HERE.

MovieMovesMe - June 18, 2015 - NIFF 2015: The Quiet Hour (2014) http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/18/niff-2015-the-quiet-hour-2014/ We have seen many films about the post-apocalyptic world, about the aftermath of alien invasion or some human error that causes a catastrophic ending. And every time we see those kind of films, we realize that there is no one who would do harm to the world as we know it except human beings themselves. That mostly happens because of their desire to control. The desire to have the kind of power that influences the entire world. The Quiet Hour, directed by StĂŠphanie Joalland, is where we once again see ourselves as the only creature who repeats the same mistake twice.

The Quiet Hour follows the life of a feisty teenage girl, Sarah, who all alone must look after her blind brother. Moreover, she has to protect her farm from outsiders, who won’t back down in order to survive. One desperate day, Sarah finds an unknown man and takes him as a hostage in order to not get killed by people

who surrounded her house. Will this girl survive in this unequal fight? Only time will tell, a time that always demands a price that not everyone can afford paying…

The Quiet Hour is an independent, ambitious project that totally deserves our attention. Casting talented, youthful actors, the film achieves its goal completely. This excellent sci-fi thriller truly delivers its intended message. It has nothing complicated, except an inhuman condition that makes some individuals act like they are a beast. It is also hard to pick anyone who I would be able to emphasize as the main star of this film.

Everyone involved in this film does a tremendous job by portraying their characters in the way it should be. This is why Stéphanie Joalland`s film is worth seeing, since she seems to know well how to create an outstanding project out of a simple story.

Screening time: June 20 | 10 PM | Spotlight | Seneca Queen Theatre

June21,2015―NIFF 15 – THE COLOSSAL FAILURE OF THE MODERN RELATIONSHIP Review http://filmbutton.com/mainpage/niff-15-the-colossal-failure-of-the-modern-relationshi p-review/

by chelsea innes for FILMbutton Sergio Navarretta’s The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship shows the story of a cheating common law wife joining her husband, a food critic, on a trip to the Niagara wine region in a last ditch attempt to save their relationship. When her lover and his girlfriend join them their secrets unwind over several meals paired perfectly with the local wines.

The movie features two love triangles. The first is the literal love triangle between the main characters Catherine (Krista Bridges), her common law husband and his boss (Enrico Colantoni, David Cubitt). The sneaking around is familiar, yet cheeky, and playful with the men being portrayed as the temptresses. The film portrays to the audience the unending struggle of ‘wanting what you can’t have’ as well as the basic human struggle for our lives to have purpose and meaning.

The relationship between food, wine, and love is clearly the film’s second, but not, secondary triangle. The ‘slow-motion’ meal sequences portray each character enjoying their meal and wine as if they were enjoying a lover. An example of this is the transitional fades that resemble how a typical sex scene would be cut while the characters are shot sipping their wine in close up. While they swirl and swig on an ever-present Pinot Noir, the conversation flows and the meals are referred to as ‘orgasmic’. At this point, ‘The Chef’ character really drives home the point between food and love by stating “the secret to good food is honestly (…) without honesty all is lost”.

Navarretta’s Italian-Canadian heritage is evident and sets a real vibe that runs rampant throughout the film. The characters are encouraged to let loose, be passionate, and embrace their ‘inner Sicilian’. Juxtaposing Italian music with Niagara’s rolling vineyards and a Moose sign with the word “Ciao” also makes this fusion apparent. In essence, through Navarretta’s eyes, we see Canada’s Niagara region portrayed as a place where you can explore great food, wine and love with a large ‘splash’ of passion…Italian-style.

June21, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Festival - NIFF 2015 http://filmfoodstuff.blogspot.ca/2015/06/niagara-integrated-film-festival-niff.html Finally one of my Film Festival wishes has come true thanks to the legendary Bill Marshall who was one of the co-founders of the Toronto International Film Festival and his partner Sari Ruda (co-founder and President.

In 2014 after many years of trying to get it started this dynamic duo finally got the Niagara Integrated Film Festival off the ground.

A festival that pairs Food & Wine and Film into one festival.

This is a more civilized way to attend a Film Festival. The film screenings are held at different wineries around the Niagara Region and also at a couple of theatres in a couple of malls. This is only the second year for the festival but you would never know it based on the expert team that is in place who have many years of festival experience. The festival ran from June 18-21 which is high season for weddings but also a great time to have an indoor/outdoor festival in the Niagara Region when things are in full bloom.

At the wineries you can attend a 3 course dinner with wine pairings and then stay to watch a film outside in a tent on the winery grounds. You can purchase the dinner and film package for $159 but you can also purchase tickets for the film screening only for $29. Fancy snacks and wine were also available for the screening portion. Ticket prices for the mall screenings are $12.50 for adults and $10 for seniors/students which is a great price for a film festival film.

Hopefully in time there will be more sponsors to bring down the costs of the winery screenings.

Even though this is a relatively small festival compared to the behemoth TIFF festival there are still some films with a few high profile people. The "Filmalicious" screening that I attended at Redstone Winery screened the film MATCH starring Sir Patrick Stewart. The Filmalicious program is the Winery screenings that include a 3 course dinner and wine pairing and a screening of a film after the dinner. Redstone Winery has only been open for 2 weeks so we were the first group of people to sample their dinner menu. I will go into more detail about the dinner in another blog post on http://starvingfoodie.blogspot.com. I will also post a separate post about the film Match.

Other films at the festival included Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship which stars well known Canadian Actor Enrico Colantoni (Remedy). I was trying to see that film but didn't have the time. Another film that is in theatres now that screened at NIFF was I'll see you in my Dreams starring Blythe Danner. And the film For Grace, a documentary about Chicago Michelin Star Chef Curtis Duffy screened at Peller Estates and Chef Duffy and Director Kevin Pang were in attendance. The sci-fi film Advantageous co-written and acted by Jacqueline Kim screened at Henry of Pelham and Ms. Kim was in attendance at that screening.

I sat down with Founder Bill Marshall at the White Oaks Resort where the festival set up shop for their Industry day and for media interviews and asked him a few questions about the festival.

For more information about the Niagara Integrated Film Festival Http://www.Niagarafilmfest.com Still photos of Bill Marshall and Sari Ruda provide by GatPR. Programming Team: Tony Watts - Director of Programming, Kate Yorga - Programming Manager & Emma Norton - Assistant Programmer

June22, 2015ďź?Kevin Pang & Curtis Duffy discuss FOR Grace at NIFF15 http://filmfoodstuff.blogspot.ca/2015/06/kevin-pang-curtis-duffy-discuss-for.html While at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival - NIFF2015 I had a chance to interview Director Kevin Pang and Michelin Star Chef Curtis Duffy who was the subject of the Documentary FOR GRACE that screened at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival the night before at Peller Estates winery.

Director Pang was familiar with Toronto since he lived in Scarborough when he was a kid. He is now a food writer at the Chicago Tribune and For Grace was supposed to be a short profile piece on Chef Duffy's new restaurant but it turned into a whole lot more.

Chef Duffy is a highly regarded American Chef who overcame many personal challenges to achieve his dream of being a Top chef.

I decided to shoot a bit of video and used my still camera so the sound you hear is the water feature in the garden near where we were standing. And I should have packed my tripod because this camera doesn't seem to stabilize the way my video camera does.

But it was a pleasure meeting Chef Duffy and Director Pang as I really loved their film when I saw it at Hot Docs.

Here's is a bit of the interview we did.

Niagara Integrated Film Festival - NIFF2015 www.niagarafilmfest.com Grace Restaurant Chicago - Curtis Duffy http://www.grace-restaurant.com/people FOR GRACE FILM http://www.forgracefilm.com/ Kevin Pang - Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/columnists/chi-kevin-pang-staff.html

June 11, 2015 - Liza: The Fox Fairy Review http://klymkiwfilmcorner.blogspot.ca/2015/06/liza-fox-fairy-liza-rokatunder-review.html LIZA THE FOX-FAIRY (Liza a Rókatündér) - Review By Greg Klymkiw - NIFF 2015 MUST-SEE Wacko Winner from Hungary gets Canadian Premiere during the legendary Bill Marshall's 2nd Annual Niagara Integrated Film Festival in Southern Ontario Wine Country

Liza The Fox-Fairy aka Liza a Rókatündér (2015) Dir. Károly Ujj Mészáros Starring: Mónika Balsai, Szabolcs Fazekas, David Sakurai Review By Greg Klymkiw Watching Liza The Fox-Fairy, I felt like I had died and sailed up to Heaven. It's also proof-positive how great publicists genuinely understand the writers they work with. I didn't even bother including this title on my list of films I'd requested to screen in advance of the 2015 Niagara Integrated Film Festival and the gentle words of the veteran flack handling NIFF's press relations, "I think you might want to see this one, too," led me to this terrific motion picture (at first, wearily, in spite of not ever really being led astray by said flack's almost placid urging), which not only appealed to my taste, but did so with the kind of artistry and imagination I continually long for in the movies.

This magnificently mordant fantasy is also a deeply black comedy, an utterly insane musical and perhaps one of the most unexpectedly sweet and melancholy love stories I've seen in quite some time. That it also blends an old-style Eastern European sense of realism, an occasional use of a fluorescent-dappled post-modernist visual palette and that this Budapest-back-dropped ode to ghostly apparitions, murder and Japanese culture oddly joins a splendid cinematic coterie that includes Canada's brilliant Winnipeg-infused, Hungarian-heritaged John (Crime Wave) Paizs and the Colorado=spawned Zellner (Kumiko The Treasure Hunter) Brothers (with dashes of Otto Preminger's Laura), all yielding globs of rich icing on this delicious cake of celluloid dreaming.

Liza (Mónika Balsai) has toiled for twelve long years as a personal slave/caretaker to a morbidly obese old lady in Hungary who once lived with her deceased husband, a consular official, in Japan.

She not only teaches Liza Japanese in their endless days, weeks, months and aeons together, but

insists her jane-of-all-trades endlessly spin tunes by the old gal's favourite Nippon pop star Tomy Tani (David Sakurai). Frumpy Liza, having never known true love, magically becomes the recipient of numerous visitations by the ghost of Tomy who croons and converses endlessly with her. Some might call him an imaginary friend, but he is, ultimately, an all-too-real a presence in Liza's life.

On Liza's 30th birthday, everything changes. Whilst enjoying a celebratory greasy burger and fries at the grim Hungarian fast food eatery, MEKK BURGER, the old lady dies and in her will, leaves the loyal, dowdy au pair her apartment and a small amount of money. Liza immediately becomes a beacon for male suitors. Alas, one-by-one, the men begin to die "accidentally" in Liza's presence.

Though each death is clearly accidental, the Budapest Homicide Department smells something fishy and assigns Detective Zoltรกn Zรกszlรณs (Szabolcs Fazekas) to stakeout her comings and goings.

Zoltรกn slowly falls for Liza in a big way, even though men are dropping like flies around her.

Melancholy Liza, who transforms herself into a Cosmopolitan Magazine babe, feels like she's become the reincarnated Japanese "Fox-Lady" whom, a legend has it, could never know true love as all men who courted her died horrible deaths. As Liza's apartment becomes insanely plastered with crime scene tape body outlines, the jealous ghost of Tomy appears to be the real culprit.

He loves Liza and wants her all to himself.

For eternity.

What's a girl to do?

To find out, head down to St. Catharines and surrounding environs to see Liza The Fox-Fairy at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival. Who knows when you'll have a chance to see this thoroughly delightful picture on a big screen with an audience.

THE FILM CORNER RATING: **** 4 Stars Liza The Fox-Fairy enjoys its Canadian Premiere at NIFF 2015. For info, dates and tickets, visit the festival's website by clicking HERE.

June 12, 2015 - The Quiet Hour review http://klymkiwfilmcorner.blogspot.ca/2015/06/the-quiet-hour-review-by-greg-klymkiw.html

Dir. StĂŠphanie Joalland Starring: Dakota Blue Richards, Karl Davies, Brigitte Millar, Jack McMullen Review By Greg Klymkiw After the Apocalypse, it's going to be very quiet.

At least that's the way it's got to be in StĂŠphanie Joalland's first feature film The Quiet Hour. The end of the world as we know it in the universe of the film is an alien invasion in which the unseen extraterrestrial critters (save for their hovering spaceship and mini-patrol-jets) are wiping out as many humans as possible and stripping the Earth of its natural resources.

Humanity has about two one-hour periods a day (hence the title) to wander about outdoors without getting zapped. The rest of the time, mankind needs to hunker down, ever-so quietly, lest they give their position away to the merciless space invaders.

Perhaps the most merciless creature on God's soon-to-NOT-be-green Earth is man. Food is scarce, so many marauders have turned to cannibalism. (This flesh munching is all handled a bit too discretely for my bloodthirsty tastes).

Safe havens are also in short supply, so if you've got one, it's eventually going to be under siege.

Placing a whopping emphasis upon character over action and suspense is probably not a bad thing to do, but every so often, it reminds the viewer that we're dealing with what is probably a very minuscule budget - hence: no onscreen aliens, only a handful of visible humans and most of the action confined to an isolated old farm house.

No matter. It's what happens inside the farmhouse that's important and writer-director Joalland acquits herself very well in this respect. Sarah (Dakota Blue Richards) is a hot babe (Thank Christ!), holed up in the stately country house with Tom (Jack McMullen), her blind younger brother. When Jude (Karl Davies), an army-fatigue-adorned young hunk shows up with a bullet wound in his leg, he's allowed, grudgingly, to stay and get patched up. The wounded lad claims to be a young father whose wife and child have been killed by marauders.

The plot thickens when a group of armed inbreds show up and demand Jude be turned over to them.

Hmmm. Why? Is he really who or what he says he is? Is he a killer? A scavenger lying in wait to decimate our plucky bro and sis? The reality, however, is that even if they acquiesce to the demands to give him up, the sibs risk losing an ally against a passel of dangerous scumbags.

Suspense and violence follow.

Very quietly, mind you.

The accent is on the relationships between these people in a world on the brink of disaster and much of the film involves three-hander interplay between them. Joalland's script is nicely written with an accent on character development and realistic dialogue. The performances are solid and as a director, her mise-en-scene deftly juggles the demands of making this claustrophobic setting work dramatically and cinematically.

I appreciated the muted quality of the film, but after awhile, I did expect a good, old fashioned Straw Dogs-like orgy of violence. There is violence, but it continues to play out in the muted realism of the rest of the movie. This, of course, is the noble way to play things out, but I do fear that many (including myself) will be a tad letdown by the lack of a truly, madly, deeply inspired donnybrook with geysers of blood-letting.

We deserve it. We've paid attention, justifiably so, to the good writing and fine acting and stately pace. Lacking a climactic dust-up seems a bit of a cop-out, taking things far too preciously for comfort. Still, it's an intelligent, considered work and one can't complain too much about that.

THE FILM CORNER RATING: *** 3 Stars The Quiet Hour enjoys its Canadian Premiere at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NIFF 2015). For tix, times and venues, visit the festival's website by clicking HERE.

Movies Move Me - June 13, 2015 - Unexpected http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/14/niff-2015-unexpected-2015/

Samantha is an inner-city high school teacher whose life is very predictable, until the unpredictable happens: she finds out she is pregnant. While she has to deal with her own personal problems, Samantha finds out that one of her best students, Jasmine, is also pregnant. This situation causes them to develop a friendship which allows them to navigate through the struggles they will face on their way to an unexpected future‌ Unexpected, directed by Kris Swanberg, begins with Samantha, where she finds out about the new situation that is about to change her life. Meantime, we find out about another young woman who shares the same fate as Samantha, Jasmine. Despite their age difference, both women become friends, and, as usually happens in friendships, there are ups and downs. As the film progresses, we find out more about Samantha; about her personal life, and all the fears she experiences during her pregnancy. However, all this does not stop her from trying to help her new friend, who just five minutes ago was her student.

Swanberg`s film is quite interesting and takes an unusual approach where he presents an unlikely friendship between a teacher and a student. While Cobie Smulders, who portrays Samantha, delivers a convincing performance, it is also interesting to see how Gail Bean handles her part, with enough grace to believe in her character. She portrays someone whose life has never been full until the moment she realizes she is one step away from creating her own, long-awaited family.

Unexpected is one of those films that certainly brings refreshing scenes that we need, at times, to see in films. It hardly can be called a comedy, or a drama, since it`s not sentimental enough: but that`s a good thing. All that is important is that Swarberg`s film exceeds the viewer`s expectations, creating something both charming and moving, which is enough to give it a try and see it as I have.

Schedule: June 20 | 7 PM | Spotlight | Seneca Queen Theatre June 21 | 9:30 PM to 11:45 PM | Gala (Screening Only) | Jackson-Triggs June 21 | 7 PM to 11:45 PM | Full Gala (With Dinner) | Jackson-Triggs

Movies Move Me - June 14, 2015 - I’ll See You In My Dreams Review http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/14/niff-2015-ill-see-you-in-my-dreams-2015/ It`s never too late to fall in love. It`s never too late to start feeling alive, no matter how old you are.

It’s also never late one day, to open your eyes and find yourself surrounded by a person who can comfort you, even when everyone else may see you as very old for that. And this is when you realize that fate has some more plans for you, a plan, where you once again get back to the time where you felt like a teenage girl who falls in love with a young man. I`ll See You in My Dreams is a film where you see two souls find themselves in the middle of a hurricane of feelings and passion that could have been possibly seen only in their dreams. But what happens with them is more than that‌ Carol (Blythe Danner) stops seeing anyone after her husband`s death in an airplane crash that happened twenty years ago. Her dog Hazel dies one unfortunate morning, leaving her completely alone. It seems that nothing beyond the usual and routine is left for the rest of her life, until the moment when she meets Bill (Sam Elliott), an old man with full of charm, whose bold attitude draws Carol`s attention. Despite their age, both of them find a way to start building their happiness, to fill their empty evenings with each other`s presence.

Blythe Danner`s Carol is a gracefully aged woman; former singer and teacher, who enjoys her life as much as she can. We even see her at a speed dating event, where she tries to find someone she thinks can share her life with. She has a daughter who lives far from her, but still thinks of her mother, and keeps coming to visit her. I`ll See You in My Dreams is enchanting, touching, an honest film about aged people; their desires, dreams and daily routine life, which those who have not yet reached their age may not understand at all. But what this film does is use a special technique combined with depth of feeling, right moments, and people, who are willing to go far from their ordinary lifestyle and experience something new.

Brett Haley`s film touches upon an interesting subject where the viewer finds himself fascinated by its beautiful and amazing story revolved around old people, who believe that they deserve to have a

full life, even though they are forgotten by the rest of the world. Blythe Danner is truly amazing as Carol and makes us even more amazed by her ability to portray such a rich character, whose life was never boring at all. Martin Starr, who plays Lloyd, makes this film even more interesting to watch, as his presence in Carol`s life makes us believe that sometimes you don`t need to dream to see what I`ll See You in My Dreams has offered you to see.

Screening info: June 20 | 9:30 PM | Landmark Cinemas June 21 | 4 PM | Landmark Cinemas

Movie Moves Meďź?June24, 2015ďź?NIFF 2015 Review: The Lost Aviator (2014) http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/24/thelost-aviator/comment-page-1/

Back in the 1930s, the world knew only a few big names from aviation world. Only one person managed to get people to look at him from a different perspective; some of them admired him for his achievement while some judged him for the choices he made. But in the end, he is remembered not as a pioneer British aviator, who flew all the way from London to Australia, but rather as the lost

aviator. Set in the Golden Age of Aviation, Andrew Lancaster follows the fascinating, filled with drama, life and times of his great uncle, Captain Bill Lancaster. During his journey Andrew finds a remarkable part of Bill’s life that stunned the people back in 1930`s and made them talk about it even years later… This is the story of the Lost Aviator…

It’s almost impossible to describe the impression Andrew Lancaster’s film leaves after watching The Lost Aviator. The use of archived footage, a dramatic song that accompanies throughout the film makes you feel as if you were right there, in 1930s, to witness the absorbing journey traversed by Captain Bill Lancaster. When The Lost Aviator begins, we come to know that Bill Lancaster is Andrew Lancaster’s great uncle. So now imagine how much feeling, effort and hard work the filmmaker must have put into his project to make it worth watching…

Andrew Lancaster transports the viewer to the Golden Age of Aviation, showing us Bill Lancaster’s love of airplanes, his obsession and love for Chubbie Miller that compells him to leave his wife and two children behind. But the biggest surprise is yet to come when we reach to the climax of the story. We get close to finding out one of the greatest love triangles ever, where one party ends up dead – Haden Clarke. As the film progresses, Andrew, with countless interviews and rare archive footages investigates the cause of death of Haden Clarke, while we find Bill Lancaster on the bench of the accused as the main suspect of a possible murder.

In conclusion, The Lost Aviator is not an easy documentary film to review, as it’s really hard to keep all the delicious parts of this film from being covered here. However, you as a viewer must see it yourself in order to experience that unforgettable journey I had throughout film. And maybe after that you will realize what experiences and feelings Bill Lancaster had… But unfortunately, in the end Bill Lancaster meets what is not expected, which this film is all about… being lost in timeline, absorbed in despair and anticipation of something that will never happen…

Niagara Film Festival 2015 Press Breaks(Mentions)

June10,2015－Fanciful http://www.toronto.mfa.gov.pl/en/news/fanciful;jsessionid=9BAFC8077E926729F22D0 E26DFC79F6E.cmsap5p a Polish film screening during the Niagara integrated Film Festival. A delightful film by Katarzyna Jungowska set in modern-day Poland, but a timeless life story.

Roma is 15 years old. She lives with her father. The two main characters live separate lives next to each other—he in the reality of science, its rules and emotional coldness, and she in the world of dance, teenage rebellion and longing for parental interest. The girl’s life changes at the same moment, when a homeless man appears in the neighborhood. The teenage girl shows symptoms of a disease worryingly similar to the one her Mom developed before she died. In Roma’s life, the difference between reality and unreality blurs. The fates of the homeless man and Roma seem to be interdependent. The girl becomes convinced that the homeless man is her injured Guardian Angel trapped in a human body.

June18,2015ďź?It's film festival weekend in Niagara http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/index.php?p=Sections&id=4821

It's an exciting time in Niagara, with lots to see and do in the next few days - in all categories of entertainment. Here’s a list of just some of the events happening in Niagara this weekend, June 19 through June 21.

June 18-21 Corpse! A Whodunnit Comedy at Roselawn June 18, 2 p.m.; June 19, 8 p.m.; June 20, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; June 21, 2 p.m. Showboat Festival Theatre at the Roselawn Centre. Whodunnit Comedy by Gerald Moon Think of Sleuth crossed with Deathtrap crossed with a farce and you'll have an idea of the unpredictable hijinks in this hit Broadway play. Corpse! is set in London in 1936, and tells the story of twin brothers, one of whom plots to murder the other in the most unusual circumstances. As with most foolproof plans, things do not go as they should and people are not what they seem. Corpse! is not so much a whodunnit as a whodunnit to whom! For tickets, call our box office at 905-834-0833 or visit us at the Roselawn Centre in Port Colborne.

June 18-21 Niagara Integrated Film Festival Opening night June 18, 7 p.m. at Peller Estates Winery, 290 John St. E., NOTL. Afterparty at Oast House Brewers, 2017 Niagara Stone Rd. from 11:30 p.m. with performance by the Cocksure Lads. For a full list of films, venues, special events or to purchase tickets, visit the website https://niagarafilmfest.com.

June 19 Sing Across the World concert Laura Secord Secondary School, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Hear the world premiere of the song "Touch the Sky," a collaborative project featuring producer, performer, songwriter James Bryan (Philosopher Kings, Prozzak, Nelly Furtado, Sunshine State), Krystaal, and the Laura Secord S.S. Choir.

Concert will feature jazz sensation Barbra Lica, James Bryan, Krystaal, and the Laura Secord Music Department. All proceeds going toward World Vision Canada Child Sponsorship.

June 19 The Caverners in Concert See The Caverners perform in a free concert series Friday, June 19 on Merritt Island, at the Merritt Park Amphitheatre.

The concert, sponsored by Seaway Mall as part of the Downtown Music Festival series, begins at 7:30 p.m. and also features special guest Jessica Wilson. Doors open at 7 p.m. The Merritt Park Amphitheatre is a 750-seat, natural amphitheatre cut into the east bank of the Welland Recreational Waterway to serve as permanent seating for local musical and theatrical events. It is located near Division and King streets.

June 19 Friday Night Flicks at Old Fort Erie 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 350 Lakeshore Rd., Fort Erie. Films begin at 7 p.m.; admission $5. June’s lineup: Smoke Signals June 19; Last of the Mohicans June 26.

June 19 Taste of Tai Chi 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 222 Bunting Rd., St. Catharines. Learn how Taoist Tai Chi can improve your health and help you reduce stress. 905-935-7583 or Taoist.org/Niagara.

June 19 Women in Business Awards 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5685 Falls Ave., Niagara Falls. PenFinancial Credit Union is the proud presenting sponsor of this year's Women in Business Awards, hosted by the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce and Women in Niagara. Since 2000, the Women in Business Awards have been honouring enterprising women whose businesses and community contributions have made a significant difference in the region, and in the lives of Niagarans. The awards are a symbol of achievement for those women who are an inspirations for others, exemplifying excellence, commitment and vision. There will be four awards this year: Community Spirit Award, Business Leadership Award, Science, Innovation and Technology Award and Emerging Business Award.

Debbie Slade from the Centre for the Arts - Brock University will be awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

June 19 Au Chocolat Ladies’ Night at Heartland Forest 7 p.m. at 8215 Heartland Forest Rd. (Kalar Rd.) Learn about chocolate truffles and chocolate dipped strawberries from Swiss Master Chocolatier Bernhard Sauter. Try your hand at wine toss, the DIY Bath Salt Bar or win an amazing prize from the penny raffle! Dancing, photo booth, summer dresses and flip flops! Prebook your tickets $30 now! Only 140 available! Gather your friends and bid on the VIP Lounge (seating for 8).

June 19, 20 Free, live music at Casino Niagara Red Velvet performs Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for live entertainment on the third-floor stage near the Market restaurant.

June 19, 20 Music at Doc Magilligan’s

Friday (Flat Broke) and Saturday (Savvy), 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Doc Magilligan's 6400 Lundy's Lane.

Great food, drink and entertainment. Sunday, treat your father – it’s Father’s Day. June 19, 20, 21 Niagara Falls USA Music and Art Festival Old Falls St., Niagara Falls, N.Y., a free event. The Niagara Falls Music & Art Festival takes place on Old Falls Street in the downtown district of Niagara Falls, New York. Thousands of music and arts enthusiasts visit the festival to enjoy the beauty of the June weather in Niagara Falls just footsteps from the State Park and beauty of the waterfalls. This year's festival features free admission and approximately 100 art exhibitors, food vendors, wine tastings, street entertainers and the best selection of 37 regional bands. June 19-21; Friday 4-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

June 19, 20, 21 Dine Her at Dad’s Diner 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 4138 Bridge St., Niagara Falls. After playing to sold-out audiences in Toronto and Kitchener/Waterloo, RealSpace Theatre's DINE HER - a frighteningly funny story of love gone horribly awry - invades Niagara Falls for an apocalyptic four weeks. Written and performed by Second City alumnae and featuring local performers, DINE HER runs Friday and Saturday, through June 27. Dinner is 7 p.m. Showtime at 8 p.m. Will love conquer all, even an invading horde of zombies? Enjoy genuine diner hospitality and be in the middle of the action as the story unfolds all around you. Tickets are $60 and include dinner & show. Available online at http://niagarafallszombie.eventbrite.ca/or purchase in-person at Dad’s Diner (905-354-1888) and save the online service charge. Large groups & Niagara region residents please email realspacetheatre@gmail.com for information on available discounts. Note: Adult content and language. Not suitable for children. Go beyond Dinner Theatre to experience Diner Theatre with RealSpace Theatre's hilarious hit zombie comedy, DINE HER. June 19, 20, 21 Niagara Parks Commission What can you do at the Niagara Parks this weekend? Visit the Butterfly Conservatory; take in the Geranium display and Clive, the Titan Arum about to flower at the Floral Showhouse. Visit Queen Victoria Park; hang out near the falls to view nature’s display and don’t forget about the heritage exhibit at Table Rock. NPC attractions are now open; take a free tour of the Niagara Glen or book a ride on Hornblower Cruises. Go for a hike on the Bruce Trail from the Queenston Heights area.

Surprise the family with brunch at one of the NPC restaurants, or with afternoon tea at McFarland House (make reservations). In the evening, visit Queen Victoria Park for the Coca-Cola Concert Series and Fireworks, Friday and Sunday. For more information about NPC events and restaurants, visit www.niagaraparks.com.

June 20 Laura Secord Day This Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Friends of Laura Secord and NPC will be hosting a free day at the Homestead to celebrate Laura Secord and her contribution to Canada and Niagara.

Events will include tours of the Homestead and discussions on Laura, her family’s history and legacy as a heroine of the War of 1812. WEGO shuttles provide service to the Laura Secord Homestead and into the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Shuttles depart NPC’s Floral Clock every 60 minutes, starting at 10:30 a.m. and returning from Fort George every 60 minutes starting at 11 a.m. Parking is free at the Homestead, which is located at 29 Queenston Street. For more information on all Laura Secord activities, please visit: http://friendsoflaurasecord.com or call the Homestead at 905-262-4851.

June 20 Pan Am Games torch relay celebration The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President’s Choice and OLG, is coming to Niagara Falls Saturday, June 20 and will provide an opportunity for the community to cheer on the torchbearers and participate in a ceremony and celebration activities. The flame will arrive at Centennial Square, 4310 Queen St., about 5:05 p.m., but ceremonies will begin about 4:45 p.m. with a performance by the St. Michael Catholic High School Drum Line; an address by master of ceremonies City Coun. Mike Strange, who will introduce the event and acknowledge past Pan Am Games athletes in attendance. Following the Pan Am flame’s arrival with torchbearer Michelle MacKinnon, photos with athletes and an OLG cheque presentation to the city, closing ceremonies will take place, about 5:20 p.m. Immediately following the ceremony, the torch relay will continue along the Niagara Parkway, finishing at Queen Victoria Park, where the celebration will continue until 8 p.m.

June 20 Jace Wars fundraiser Jace Wars, a fundraiser to raise awareness about McMaster Hospital and benefit Ronald McDonald House, Hamilton, takes place Saturday, June 20 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Colborne, on Clarence Street. It is a family friendly event with costumes, raffles, prizes and an opportunity to raise awareness about the work of McMaster Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Jace is one of three students at his school in Port Colborne, Ecole St. Joseph, affected by childhood cancer.

Admission to this Saturday's event is free. Funds will be raised through raffles, games and the sale of Jace Wars merchandise at the event, which Jace’s father Aaron Russell says has grown each year.

The event takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at 67 Clarence St., Port Colborne.

June 20 Children’s summer art workshop at The Pumphouse Arts Centre Runs four Saturdays this summer: June 20; July 4; Aug. 8 and Aug. 29. All workshops run 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Afternoon art workshops are a great way to incorporate some creative fun into your child's summer schedule. Our artist-educator will introduce students to professional art supplies and tools to create finished artworks in our studio. Each workshop will focus on a specific theme or project.

Lessons will be supported by visual examples from art history or artworks in our gallery. Sign up for one, two or more workshops! $25 each/per child. Materials are included. Pre-registration is required.

June 20 Loyalist Flag Raising, Niagara-on-the-Lake 10:30 a.m. at cenotaph/clock tower, Queen Street, Old Town NOTL. Niagara on the Lake Lord Mayor Patrick Darte will assist members of the Col. John Butler Niagara branch of UELAC to raise the Loyalist flag to honour United Empire Loyalist Flag Day, which is officially proclaimed June 19 every year in Ontario.

June 20 Century 21 Today Realty Ltd. charity garage sale

8 a.m. to noon at 8123 Lundy’s Lane. Charity garage sale benefits Hospice Niagara, The Stabler Centre. There will also be a draw for a 40-inch TV. June 20 Garrison Road Church yard and bake sale 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, at 1351 Garrison Rd., Fort Erie (at Garrison and Daytona). Lots of items outside, such as furniture, tools and electronics. Basement holds houseware items, glassware, dishes, toys, books, clothes shoes and purses. Visit the baked goods table, where the ladies are offering up many sweet treats. All proceeds benefit church Mission funds.

June 20 Coronation Centre annual garage sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5925 Summer St., Niagara Falls. Rain or shine, takes place inside! Something for everyone. Also barbecue hamburgers and hotdogs.

June 20 Motorcycle Ride for Dad for Prostate Cancer 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Royal Canadian Legion Lodge No. 124, 410 King St., NOTL. The TELUS Ride For Dad is an organization that raises funds for the fight against prostate cancer through research and awareness with Canada's biggest annual power-sports events of its kind. The first Ride for Dad took place in Ottawa in 2000 with about 80 riders, raising more than $20,000 for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre. The event gets bigger and more exciting each year as new chapters and committed Canadians join the fight against prostate cancer across the country. The TELUS Ride for Dad has grown to include more than 40 cities in every province in the country and has expanded to snowmobiles, ATV and watercraft rides! Today, more than 250,000 men, women and children have been involved, raising more than $15 million to fight prostate cancer.

June 20 32nd annual Strawberry Festival 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Simcoe and Gage streets, NOTL. All things strawberry, something for everyone! There will be strawberry shortcakes, crepes, pies, milkshakes and ice-cream cones, barbecue and corn on the cob, strawberry jam being made, fresh strawberries for sale, silent auction, accessories, used books, bake table, plants, along with a children's area, tours of our historic church c. 1831,and entertainment all day long. Come and join us for a fun day.

This is a major fundraiser for our church. Please support us and also have a day of enjoyment and fellowship.

June 20-21 Garden Days at Squirrel House Gardens Begins Saturday, 10 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m. both days. Gardens are located at 1819 Fifth St., Louth, St. Catharines. Celebrate Canada's Garden Days with a rare opportunity to view this spectacular property of gardens and forest, just off the beaten path in St. Catharines, Ontario. Stroll the pathways of this breathtaking English-style garden with mature trees, water features, and unusual specimens, all meticulously maintained. Admire the lovingly restored house and barn dating from 1850 and discover the history of the property. Enjoy an Art Walk to view the work of Suzi Dwor, Kathy Eggart, Floyd Elzinga, Elizabeth Hayden, Tracey Lafitte, Stuart Macpherson, Ann Raymondo, Theresa Solomon and Marcey Walker-Brown. Participate in a morning yoga class with Elaine Beane, Yogi and Karate Black Belt. (10:15 a.m.) Learn about our friends the bees with Beekeeper Vic Unger. (noon). Get informed with an afternoon seminar presented by Gardener Carol Dromey. (1 p.m.)

Listen to the evocative sounds of the Kotamo, a unique new instrument, as performed by Angela Duntsch, Expressive Arts Therapist. Wear your most fabulous hat for free admission. Admission

donation is $8, second person half price. May we suggest you wear comfortable shoes, bring water and perhaps a chair or blanket to sit on during the seminar.

June 20, 27; July 4, 11 Cinderella Confidential at Cork’s Playhouse Theatre Doors open 1:30 p.m.; show begins 2 p.m. Seating general. Cost $12 per child; $15 per adult; $45 family pass with two adults, two children. The prince has the shoe. He's ready to wed. But who's the woman behind the foot? Two investigative reporters Deb Jabber from Action News Day Now and Sonny Glamour from Glitter Kingdom Today compete for the scoop of the century, interviewing everybody from a fairy godmother in desperate need of a day-planner to mice in the witness protection program. Look for cameos from Pinocchio, Jack and his cow and other celebrities in this no-holds-barred expose of the timeless love story and what it means to find and tell the truth.

June 21 Historical Walking Tour with Sherman Zavitz Join Sherman Zavitz, the city’s official historian, for an historical walking tour lasting approximately 90 minutes, around Victoria Avenue, Simcoe Street and Epworth Circle.

This tour will highlight the area’s religious and educational history. Tour begins at 1:30 p.m. at Simcoe Street and Victoria Avenue, and will conclude at Epworth Circle. To register for the tour, visit www.niagarafalls.ca/walking-tour-registration or call Beth Angle at 905-356-7521, ext. 3336. Email bangle@niagarafalls.ca.

June 21 Run for the Docks & Box Run Chippawa Public Docks committee event, taking place 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. beginning at 8089 Portage Rd., Chippawa. 1 Mile Walk begins 9:30 a.m., and 5K race begins 10 a.m. Register www.runningroom.com Entry forms at Boat House Restaurant, 3807 Macklem, Chippawa.

Registration and check-in begins 8 a.m. in tent on Front Street beside Tim Hortons. Early entry $30. includes Tshirt & post-race barbecue; additional info 289-271-0641, www.chippawapdc.ca.

June 26 Concerts on the Canal Series A new, free concert series replaces IlluminAqua, cancelled this year as the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation diverted funds to support the Welland International Flatwater Centre, which this summer is the venue for the 2015 Pan American Games Canoe Kayak Sprint competition. In the upcoming Concerts on the Canal free series hosted by the City of Welland with partners North Welland BIA and Downtown Welland BIA, the following performances are scheduled for the Merritt Park Amphitheatre venue: * June 26: Country night with the Elton Lammie Band, with Jesse Cobb; * July 10: Nostalgia night, with The Sands Trio, a tribute to the Rat Pack; * July 24: Made in Welland night, featuring Street Pharmacy and The Mandevilles; * Aug. 7: World Beat music night featuring the Music of Bob Marley Celebration and The Imbayakunas; * Aug. 21: Classic rock night, featuring the Fleetwood Nicks and Practically Petty, and * Sept. 4: Legends night, featuring Tim E. Hendry and his 12-member orchestra, the Yes Men. In the amphitheatre, the lower grass area will be available to blankets only. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis. As well, the upper area around the bowl will be available for lawn chairs if you want to bring your own chair. Again, this is on a first-come, first-served basis. The Merritt Park Amphitheatre is a 750-seat, natural amphitheatre cut into the east bank of the Welland Recreational Waterway to serve as permanent seating for local musical and theatrical events. It is located near Division and King streets. For more information

about the concert series, visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ConcertsontheCanal?fref=ts.

To June 28 Daniel Pigeon Exhibition at Niagara Pumphouse, NOTL Exhibition opens June 5; opening reception Sunday June 7 at 2 p.m. 247 Ricardo St., NOTL. July 3, Aug. 14 Ghost Tour at Old Fort Erie 9 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at the fort, 350 Lakeshore Rd., Fort Erie. Tours cost $5 per person.

April through October Shaw Festival Reach the box office at 905-468-2172 or 1-800-511-7429.

May through September Live entertainment at Kelsey’s Kelsey’s restaurant on Clifton features free entertainment May 1 through Labour Day. Talented musicians perform on the patio or inside, Monday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 2 a.m. and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

June19, 2015－Stepchild Needs Help, Sasso Loves Canada,DGC Nominates」 http://hnmag.ca/todays-top-stories/stepchild-needs-help-sasso-loves-canadadgc-nomi nates/ Testament of Youth, the centrepiece of the opening night gala at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival, opens in Toronto,

Also Opening: Orson Welles and Paul Newman docs with a wine, food gala http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/film-reviews/also-opening-orson-welles-a nd-paul-newman-docs-with-a-wine-food-gala/article25027020/ NIAGARA INTEGRATED FILM FESTIVAL Which wine goes best with Milk Duds? The brainchild of TIFF co-founder Bill Marshall, this wine-food-and-film fandango hosts gala screenings and Canadian premieres such as James Kent’s Testament of Youth at wineries across the Niagara region. (June 18 to 21)

June18, 2015－NIFF - Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.gobeweekly.com/niff---niagara-integrated-film-festival-/event/295/9

The Niagara Integrated Film Festival is the brainchild of Bill Marshall founder of the Toronto International Film Festival. For four days over 60 films will be showcased throughout Niagara at various locations. Local wineries have organized delicious wine and movie pairings and local theatres will show movies for a pay one price for all!!

For more information visit

www.niagarafilmfest.com

June11, 2015－NIFF - Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.20valley.ca/events/1253/niff_-_niagara_integrated_film_festival FILM FEAST (20 VALLEY TOUR) Viewing of short films selected from Canada’s Not Short on Talent June 20-21, 2015

June13, 2015－June culture busting out all over in and around Toronto http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2015/06/12/june-culture-busting-out-allover-in-and-around-toronto.html NIFF, which runs from June 18 to 21 at various places in the Niagara region, combines movie-watching with wine-sipping, gourmet food and scenic wonders.

A less recent brainchild is TIFF, which Marshall co-founded in 1976.

June15, 2015－Niagara Integrated Film Festival http://www.dailypublic.com/events/06152015/niagara-integrated-film-festival

by M. Faust [FILM] A good way to evaluate a film festival is to look backward, to see how many of its previous presentations went on to national distribution. (There are too many festivals that exist only to make money by charging entrance fees to filmmakers whose work thereafter disappears forever.) Last year’s inaugural edition of the Niagara Integrated Film Festival was small, but a substantial proportion of its offerings went on to greater success, including The 100-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, Love Is Strange, Frank, and God Help the Girl. This weekend brings the second edition of the festival started by Toronto International Film Festival founder Bill Marshall to showcase the Ontario wine region that’s right over the Rainbow Bridge.

NIFF’s splashiest events will be the eight “Filmalicious” presentations, combining a special dinner at one of the area’s wineries with a new film. And there are four days of screenings of new films at theaters in St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake. For full details on venues visit niagarafilmfest.com.

Niagara Escarpment Views - June 15, 2015 - Niagara Integrated Film Festival LINK UNABAILABLE

GrandToronto - June 16, 2015 – Eventments LINK UNABAILABLE

Niagara Film Festival 2015 Press Breaks(Interviews)

January20, 2015－NIFF 2015

June9, 2015－THE FESTIVAL IS NOT JUST ABOUT SEEING A MOVIE, IT IS AN EXPERIENCE http://www.today-magazine.com/culture/festival-just-seeing-movie-experience/ Kate Yorga, the Programming Director for NIFF, says the festival is not just about seeing a movie, it is an experience.

“We all remember the first non-typical film we saw,” said Yorga. “Because it does take a while to get your palette adjusted to something that doesn’t have the typical story structure or a different style of storytelling. This is a great chance to explore those kinds of films.”

Yorga says veteran programmer Tony Watts has been globe-trotting and attending film festivals for months now, chasing over 100 films for 40 slots and scouting critically acclaimed features in

preparation for making his best picks for what to be showcased at NIFF. “There are thousands of films around the world and it is a complicated process but mainly we are looking for premieres: world premieres, international premieres, or national and Canadian films,” said Yorga. “We are always asking ourselves: is it a great film? Is there something entertaining or informative about it in the sense of a documentary? What is their plan for the film? Distributors make a plan for each particular film that they choose and they set up which festivals all over the world to release it to audiences. If it has already played in Canada, we probably won’t take it, because again, we are looking for premieres.”

This year’s festival will present three Canadian premieres over the course of three days: the documentary The Lost Aviator and comedies People, Places, Things and Unexpected. They will also showcase a vast variety of genres and styles in order to appeal to a greater audience. Featuring a smattering of sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, spotlight films, dramas, shorts and everything in between; ensuring every genre is properly represented and that there is something to appeal to the vast demographic audience present in Niagara.

“Festival audiences are a special breed of people,” said Yorga. “These are people that are adventurous and are willing to see something that is not showing at the regular multiplex theatre. We are lucky to have a vast audience in Niagara and we choose films that suit a wide range, from dramas to comedies, to family films and documentaries. Some thrillers and darker fare. Maybe some foodie films and anime.”

Set in the golden age of Aviation, The Lost Aviator director Andrew Lancaster follows the life and times of his great uncle, Captain Bill Lancaster and uncovers a fascinating tale of high adventures, obsession, a love triangle and a sensational murder trial.

People, Places, Things directed by James C. Strouse stars comedian Jemaine Clement and will have audiences in stitches. Follow Will Henry, a newly single graphic novelist, balancing parenting his young twin daughters and a classroom full of students while exploring and navigating the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.

Unexpected, a comedy by director Kris Swanberg, features a large cast including academy award nominee Elizabeth McGovern and How I Met Your Mother alum Cobie Smulders. An inner-city high school teacher discovers she is pregnant at the same time as one of her most promising students and the two develop an unlikely friendship while struggling to navigate their unexpected pregnancies.

Other movies to screen at NIFF include I’ll See You in My Dreams; a soon to be favourite directed by Brett Haley starring Blythe Danner, Sam Elliott and Martin Starr.

Yorga said that though their team travels around the globe to try and choose films that are unique and different from the norm, it is impossible to reach every international film festival. Online screening processes and the internet have made it easier for festivals like NIFF to capture a broad scope of films and uncover cinematic masterpieces from around the globe.

“It is a great process now with online screeners,” said Yorga. “In the old times you had to get film teams to send the hard copy [of the film] to you. Even with DVDs it wasn’t the easiest. But now you can send them to us online and everything is protected by watermark so we can watch them and see what we think without fear of it getting into the wrong hands.”

Along with the feature length films, The World’s Smallest Film Festival competition is back featuring one to three minute shorts shot entirely on any smartphone or tablet. This year’s theme for the films is water, staying true to Niagara’s defining characteristic, and must be shot entirely on either a smart phone or tablet.

Niagara Rises will also return for a second year. The program exclusively showcases homegrown

features made by Niagara Region’s resident film makers, writers, directors and producers.

Other events returning include food and film events Filmalicious and Film Fest. Filmalicious will pair local wineries and world renowned cuisine with original feature-length films for a night of world class dining and film outside in the vineyard; with Film Feast, wineries will once again host an evening of food, wine and short films.

“There is so much to do in the Niagara Region so the fact that you can combine seeing a great vineyard with having a wonderful dinner and enjoying a film is a special thing,” said Yorga. “It’s about making magical memories.”

Ticket prices start at $25 dollars for individual films and move upwards depending on the event.

Yorga said she encourages movie goers to choose at least one foreign film to view throughout the course of the festival.

“I always advise people to check out the foreign films in particular because those especially will not be coming to a theatre near you and this is probably your only chance to see amazing cinema from around the world,” said Yorga. “It is a special opportunity.”

NIFF was brought to reality by the legendary Bill Marshall, one of the original founders and chair emeritus of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Widely known as the world’s most successful public film festival, TIFF, originally known as “The Festival of Festivals,” was first brought to life in 1976 as an outlet for international producers and film makers to showcase their films and original productions to a broader audience. Showcasing an average 350 films from over 70 countries annually, the festival is widely known for jumpstarting the careers of many actors and directors and placing Canada on the map for film excellence and appreciation.

For more information on the festival schedule, events and purchasing tickets, visit niagarafilmfest.com.

Movie moves me－June28, 2015－NIFF Interview: Curtis Duffy and Kevin Pang Discuss FOR GRACE http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/28/niff-interview-curtis-duffy-and-kevin-pang-discu ss-for-grace/ There is always someone who keeps fighting for his dream to come true. Never gives up and devotes himself for something he believes that one day all sacrifices he made on his way to success will worth it. Curtis Duffy, one of the country`s most renowned chefs, is building his dream restaurant at the worst time of his personal life.

During Niagara Integrated Film Festival, I had great opportunity to sit down with Curtis Duffy and Kevin Pang, a Chicago Tribune dining reporter/co-director of For Grace to discuss their four years journey of making For Grace.

MOVIEMOVESME: You had a dream to own a restaurant. So how did you manage to hold on to it despite being under pressure all the time to stop chasing your dream?

Curtis Duffy: I think for me it’s always been about being laser beam focused on whatever I set my mind to. So it’s been a dream of mine for some time to have me build a restaurant, so I wasn’t letting or gonna let anything step in my way. I just pushed forward until the opening day and then pushed even further once we’d opened.

MOVIEMOVESME: In one of your earlier interviews you said you didn’t want to lose anything.

However, while you were on your way to reach your goal, you had to separate from your wife and your two kids. So was this a sacrifice you made?

Curtis Duffy: I think part of the story or the unknown story is that we were already separated and we were already making those steps to go through divorce before we actually started this restaurant anyway. So I wouldn’t say that building the restaurant was the cause of the separation. I think the long hours and the total overall dedication to the craft is what ultimately separated us. So there’s a lot of sacrifice on many levels in order to try and do something on a very high level. So I guess at the end of it, it just caught up with me.

MOVIEMOVESME: Did you ever regret the sacrifices you had to make in order to get there?

Curtis Duffy: No, I try to live life with no regrets. I think everything in life happens for a reason. I just try to be better every day with my personal life, that’s all I can do now is make sure that I’m making the steps to being in my daughters’ life every single day.

Kevin Pang: To add to that, I think one of the things that Curtis says at the end of the movie is he talks about the hardest part about everything is the balance in trying to find that middle point where you can fulfil professional ambitions, but at the same time maintain those relationships with the family. It’s almost like the old tale of Sisyphus rolling a boulder uphill and once he gets to the top, see it roll back down. It’s Sisyphean in the fact that it’s impossible to ever achieve that balance.

Curtis Duffy: I agree, that’s the problem with the industry, there is no balance. You can find enough balance to make it work to some degree but I think in the end, to do what you wanna do, you can’t have both.

Kevin Pang: He wouldn’t have three Michelin stars if he didn’t be a little selfish. You take away one part of your life and put it in the other, it’s a balancing act you can never win it seems.

MOVIEMOVESME: How did you find about the characters?

Kevin Pang: I write about food for The Chicago Tribune, I’m a newspaper reporter. So I’ve known Curtis just from covering him. I wanted to do a short video for the newspaper about Curtis creating a dish. We went out for lunch and over lunch he told me he was leaving the restaurant to open his own restaurant, I thought it was a really interesting idea and concept, so I told him I’d like to document that. He agreed to it and we thought it was gonna take several months and it only took four years from beginning to end! In fact I think it was exactly four years ago this week we met for the first time. It is crazy when you think about it.

MOVIEMOVESME: What motivated you to keep going in the hardest moments of your life?

Curtis Duffy: I think realising that my dream was starting to come true. It’s not in my DNA to stop something I started. We were pushing forward no matter what. I think just digging deep within you internally and just moving forward with it.

MOVIEMOVESME: You love to cook for people. What does it mean to you to make someone’s life you don’t even know tasteful?

Curtis Duffy: It’s about creating memories for people. It’s being able to give them something to remember their experience by. If you’re on a date with your wife or someone that you love, maybe it’s your parents, I want them to walk away with having those memories that they’re gona talk about in fifteen years from now. That’s always been important to me and cooking is about making people happy with what I do because I can see that instant graification the moment they eat something, and that always gives me pleasure.

MOVIEMOVESME: Was there any moment or scene when it became very challenging to film? – I asked Kevin Pang.

Kevin Pang: Yeah, the scene when he read the letter from his father. What’s interesting was that moment was the first time we realized about his family. It was eight months into the filming, he never told us about anything, we found out at the same time as the viewer does watching the movie. So for us it was especially emotional because that day began at three thirty in the morning, there’s a scene where he’s working out at the gym and it wasn’t until eight or nine at night that we found out about his family. It was a very long, challenging day I remember driving home with my co-director and we just didn’t say a word to each other, we were so shocked. It was challenging in the sense that it was a surprise but at that point we also knew that we have a movie, not just a twenty minute documentary on a website. We had an actual movie, a film we had to see through to the end.

MOVIEMOVESME: If you had the chance to travel back in time, what would you like to change?

Curtis Duffy: I would have my parents at my restaurant, that’s for sure. For them to sit down and enjoy a meal I created, they never got the opportunity to do that. I cooked for them one time when I started to learn how to cook, so I’d love to be able to give them something I’ve never given them, which is cooking from my heart and my soul.

Movie Moves Me－July2, 2015－NIFF 2015 Interview: Bel Powley and The Diary of a Teenage Girl http://moviemovesme.com/2015/07/02/niff-2015-interview-bel-powley-and-the-diary-of -a-teenage-girl/ Acting is not an easy job, especially, when you need to portray such difficult character as Minnie from The Diary of a Teenage Girl, played brilliantly by young, and very talented British actress, Bel Powley. Powley`s Minnie is a young girl who embarks on an enthusiastic sexual odyssey, beginning with her mother`s (Kristen Wiig) current lover, Monroe, played by Alexander Skarsgård. During Niagara Integrated Film Festival, I had the extreme pleasure of having a few minutes with Bel Powley to talk about her unforgettable journey, called The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

MOVIEMOVESME: What attracted you to play such an interesting character as Minnie?

Bel Powley: The fact I feel like it’s never been done before with a female character. I feel the female characters these days are very 2D. There’s the princess waiting for her prince charming, there’s no well-rounded characters that represent teenage girls. I think this is the first movie with an honest depiction of a teenage girl that I’d ever read and I really wanted to be a part of that. I also found that I had got the part about two months before we started shooting. Marie encouraged me to start listening to 1970s music and all the things you need to listen to. I got to know the movie based on a book and there’s always a decision to be made as an actress whether you should read

the book or not because the book is told from a point of view. Yeah I had a lot of accent training, Marie encouraged me, rather made me.

MOVIEMOVESME: It is a very interesting and very unpredictable character, and… she’s in a relationship with her mother’s boyfriend.

Bel Powley: It’s actually based on a true story, so it is sort of autobiographical. And yeah she loses her virginity to her mum’s boyfriend. For me playing the role, I tried not to think about it too much because the character, Minnie doesn’t think about the age difference. She’s in love with someone, that’s who she’s into. I couldn’t let that affect me, I couldn’t judge it as a person because I had to be involved. I respect Alex and Kristen Wiig so much as actors. They’ve done so much work that I love, it was quite surreal being with them on set. Kristen honestly like the nicest woman, is hilarious as you’d imagine.

MOVIEMOVESME: How did you prepare to play the character of Minnie, your relationship on the set with Marielle Heller and Alexander Skarsgård? Did Marie help you through the intimate scenes where you and Alex were both comfortable?

Bel Powley: Actually, it was easier for Minnie because she’s in every scene and like every other line was mine. So I prepared for it in a way I do for theater. I learnt the whole script by heart before we started. I had a lot of accent training, really got into her head before I came to set. Minnie is very unique. It shows in the beginning than when you’re a teenager your feelings are so much more visible. I definitely had to tap back into that because now that I’m an adult and more mature you keep your feelings in check. But when you’re a teenager you can’t do that. The extremity of emotion is different than what I feel now, so tapping back into that was useful. Alex (Alexander Skarsgård), me and Marie (Marielle Heller) rehearsed for two weeks before we started shooting.

Alex and I had plotted his character’s and Minnie’s relationship scene by scene so we always knew where are characters are coming from and how they need to be in that moment. I haven’t done a sex scene in a movie before, but once I got on set it was very easy. Of course we had a closed set and having a female director than a male director helps. It was a collaborative effort that way. I know it was going to be methodical so I was comfortable doing it. Also Alex has done nude scenes, he’s the king of sex scenes, so he knows exactly what he’s doing. It also was really interesting to see how he plays straight because he doesn’t do that much. Alex was great, he was such a good support, such a good friend and we really bonded during the filming process.

MOVIEMOVESME: I’m sure there were challenges on set?

Bel Powley: Yeah definitely, my relationship with the director is very close. I feel like she’s my best friend or my big sister. I feel I’m really glad that it was a female director because we could both relate to each scene in the same way, whereas if it would have been a man it maybe wouldn’t have been the case. She was really open to discussion, we had two weeks rehearsal before we started.

Whatever we said she listened to us and if she didn’t agree she contested us, so it was a very open floor for discussion.

MOVIEMOVESME: Did you improvise in your portrayal of Minnie?

Bel Powley: I mean I always tell people you don’t have to have slept with your mum’s boyfriend to relate to this movie, you just have to be a teenage girl and understand the visceral feelings you have as a teenager, so I related to it completely on that level and brought a lot of myself to the role.

Also there’s a fine line between you and the character and I made sure I treated that carefully.

June24, 2015－NIFF Interview: James Kent and Testament of Youth http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/24/niff-interview-james-kent-and-testament-of-youth/ Director James Kent poses for photographers on the red carpet as he arrives for the Premiere of “Testament of Youth” in central London on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) Can war bring satisfaction?

Can we say we have achieved a satisfactory result when we leave so many wounded and dead because of unnecessary wars we put ourselves into? A young British woman, Vera Brittain recalls coming of age during World War I – a story of young love, uselessness of war, and her sacrifice to change something that was not in her power – to make through the darkness… But how far can a woman go when she’s left alone in her fight against an unchangeable fact – no matter how hard you fight against evil, it will still take its last chance to take everything you love because it knows no other way to exist… Testament of Youth directed by James Kent is an incredible film based on true story. It something that will certainly be remembered by those, who loves period drama with strong performances.

This is why I felt so honored having an opportunity to interview director James Kent during Niagara Integrated Film Festival.

MOVIEMOVESME: Testament of Youth is probably one of the best films about war from a woman’s angle. Can you talk about what gave you the inspiration or why was it important to make this film?

James Kent: I think in a way coming from the woman’s perspective is its own answer. We have so much conflict portrayed, soldiers on the front line, a deer hunter, many many WWII films but never ever about women experiences. She experiences, in this movie, really heartfelt emotion and love and loss. I think that’s something that brings home just what happens when young men are sent to war. So that’s a very important story to tell. Also Vera Brittain is a remarkable young lady, she pioneered women’s education, she was a journalist after the war, and she earned her own income which is unusual then. I think it’s a story that inspires young and old.

MOVIEMOVESME: I love how Alicia appears so confident in every scene, especially when the film is so emotionally packed. Can you tell us how Alicia prepared for the character she played?

James Kent: Alicia did her own research. She met the daughter of Vera Brittain and spent some time with her. To be honest it’s a process that goes on inside an actor’s mind. It is a mystery to me as much as anyone else. They either inhabit those qualities or they don’t and when you miscast a film, it’s because you think they inhabit these qualities when they actually don’t quite.

I think with Alicia I’m yet to see whether she can do comedy and this kind of thing. She may well be able to but because she’s a tragedian, you know she’s a fantastic actress in terms of tragedy. So this role was perfect for her.

MOVIEMOVESME: The scene where Vera goes to Paris in order to be close to her brother in case he got injured. Her genuine goal was to save his life. That scene was incredibly done. Can you tell us about the filming process because when she goes, the camera couldn’t stop and then you show the field of the dead soldiers?

James Kent: I think that’s right. I think for me it was very important to have one moment of mass death and wounding because otherwise you can never understand Vera Brittain’s anger at the scale of loss in the war. So that was a very important shot like that scene in Gone With The Wind where there’s a famous shot of Scarlett O’Hara walking across the wounded in Atlanta. I think this is something of Scarlet O’Hara in Vera Brittain, that sort of indomitable spirit and honesty and there are times she’s not entirely likeable like Scarlet. So for me that shot which we had only forty extras on the day, we had to move them and the visual effects people create 500 or however many you say. It’s planning, these shots if you plan, everybody is in position, they know what they’re doing. We probably had four or five in depth conversations as to how to achieve that shot because time is money on the film set. All the technical guys would set up the cameras, a big long camera on a crane. They needed to know exactly what we’re done. I was really pleased with the final shot.

MOVIEMOVESME: What made this film so great to watch including the storyline, the concept but also the great chemistry between Alicia and Taron Egerton and also Alicia and Kit Harington.

So what was your vision on the selection of actors?

James Kent: Yeah they are great together, particularly Taron and Alicia as brother and sister are great. Taron is a hugely promising young actor, he’s just out of Royal Academy of Arts and I think they feel like brother and sister genuinely. Kit is not at all like he’s in Game of Thrones as a person. He’s very sensitive, soulful, and intellectual. He knew the poems already, that’s unusual, he’s a young man of twenty six and he already knew the poems. So that was pretty amazing.

MOVIEMOVSME: There was a scene where people run out to celebrate the end of the war while we find the grieving mothers in the church. The great point of that scene was there’s no winners or losers when the war ends.

James Kent: Absolutely, there are no winners. I think the First World War was particularly difficult war to remember because at least with the Second World War the defeat of Hitler was a very clear objective. Nobody could doubt, there was no choice but WWI feels just like

powerful men fighting like in a playground. But the effects of the deaths of millions of young men. Today we look back at WWI simply in a moment of grief and regret, which I wouldn’t say we look at WWII. I think with these mothers and Vera in the church, it’s all grief that we can feel about that.

MOVIEMOVESME: War never justifies the sacrifices made towards accomplishing victory. After seeing the Testament Of Youth you realise it even more. Somewhere in the world is probably a little version of Vera Brittain, who buried her loved ones every day. So do you think mankind couldn’t learn from the mistakes they made?

James Kent: I think war has always been here from the very earliest days mankind pu their feet on earth. I can’t ever imagine it not being here. Everybody has a desire for power, which is in the human mind and many people don’t have it but you only need leaders who do and then you end up in a situation where fear and desire for wealth take over. I do believe that’s a human characteristic but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

MOVIEMOVESME: The location you picked looked so innocent, untouched and very beautiful which actually reflects the time when those things happened. Can you tell us about the location?

James Kent: That was very important to me that the beginning of the film, which some people have misread as being purposefully sort of period English drama, beautiful for beauty’s sake, which is not at all. It’s because of the beauty of the knowledge of what’s to come. It was all shot in Yorkshire, which is the north of England and a week in Oxford which is an extremely beautiful, old university town. It was important to me that innocence and optimism and promise of being so young was reflected in nature around them. Then everything gets defiled and destroyed by the horrors of the what is to come. Vera Brittain loved nature. She was very attached to flowers, to walking, she lived in a great walking landscape Derbyshire and so it felt to me like capturing that free spirit at the beginning of the film was only fair to her. Then to see her ground down by the events and in the end return to the nature in order to begin her life again but a grown up woman now, not a young girl.

MOVIEMOVESME: When it comes to filmmaking, what do you think is more important among the story, performers, directing, cinematography, music or atmosphere?

James Kent: I think every director might give you the same answer which is they’re all important. Look, I think the most important thing is the performance, I’ve always felt that. You can make a film that’s not beautifully photographed, maybe where the locations aren’t quite right, but if the performances are amazing, it will be a great film. In a way sometimes the greatest films don’t require huge amounts of beauty. I would definitely say I’m an actor’s director. I also do love cinematography though, but I guess you asked me for the most important aspect and the answer to that is performance. What the audience is really looking at is the actors, the rest is helpful. For example if you’re doing a Marvel superhero movie, the performances probably aren’t as important as the look. But the films which I make are drama, and what makes the audience enter your film is the connection to the characters.

MOVIEMOVESME: I recently read an interview where Nicole Kidman talks about sexism in Hollywood. She said that after a certain age those actresses are no longer needed. In your film

the main protagonist is a woman and you tell a woman’s story, so how much do you think is that prevalent?

James Kent: Alicia is a very beautiful, young woman. A lot of those comments are made about women who are getting into their forties and not getting roles while men in their forties, fifties or sixties are getting roles. There’s an ageism there which doesn’t apply to the Testament of Youth because Vera’s in her early twenties. I think finally the filmmaking world is waking up a bit and I think there have been a lot of films about women or at least feature very strong female characters because the truth is many of the tickets are being bought by women or girls.

They actually have more appetite for cinema or as much as the boys and the film industry is desperate to hold on an audience as it’s factoring onto television. So I think they’re revisiting that issue. I think in ten, fifteen years, things will be much improved. We’re on the journey, definitely not there yet. I think the worst thing is the absence of female directors, funnily that’s a more serious issue than the absence of female actresses. It’s because a female director will create different a kind of film and they’re just not getting any opportunities, that’s really shameful.

Movie Moves Me－June24, 2015－NIFF Interview: Andrew Lancaster talks about The Lost Aviator http://moviemovesme.com/2015/06/24/niff-interview-andrew-lancaster-talks-about-the -lost-aviator/ Back in the 1930s, the world knew only a few big names from aviation world. Only one person managed to get people to look at him from a different perspective; some of them admired him for his achievement while some judged him for the choices he made. But in the end, he is remembered not as a pioneer British aviator, who flew all the way from London to Australia, but rather as the lost aviator. Set in the Golden Age of Aviation, Andrew Lancaster follows the fascinating, filled with drama, life and times of his great uncle, Captain Bill Lancaster. During his journey Andrew finds a remarkable part of Bill’s life that stunned the people back in 1930`s and made them talk about it even years later… This is the story of the Lost Aviator… Read full review here.

During Niagara Integrated Film Festival, I had great pleasure to sit down with Andrew Lancaster to talk about his journey worth knowing about.

MOVIEMOVESME: How did you begin your journey to film the life of Bill and Chubbie?

Andrew Lancaster: The journey began when I fell in love with making documentaries out of doing a short documentary that was in 2010. I’d come from doing drama, I’d done bigger productions with big crews. With a documentary crew I loved the freedom I had, so I said to my girlfriend Noni, ‘Would you like to come on this adventure?’ and we’re going to trace Bill and Chubbie’s footsteps around the world. That was meant to be like a one year project, four years later here we are.

MOVIEMOVESME: During your researches or investigations what kind of feelings did you have when you started digging into the history?

Andrew Lancaster: The emotions I had during the research were ranging from just pure fascination into the time and era as well as Bill’s character. I found Bill’s character probably the most fascinating.

I think that he was someone who I kind of really cared for. I think he’s someone I really felt sorry for.

It is a tragic story but I also had emotions of like, ‘Oh you idiot, why’d you do that for?’, and he kind of made some bad decisions. But I think he’s a character that went from being a hero in Chubbie’s eyes or someone who she looked up to and he taught her too. He had the power in that relationship, then that power was inversed because she ended up becoming someone who looked down at him because he didn’t get the fame and exposure and she became more famous while he became the jealous lover. I think that he should have let Chubbie go to a certain extent because he kind of hung around a lot. Even when they were living together, they weren’t sleeping in the same bed. The relationship had become platonic. She kept him around and they worked together, they loved each other but the passion was gone.

MOVIEMOVESME: Do you think the jealousy happened because in 1920s and 1930s a man could have done anything? You wouldn’t be surprised if a man traveled from one part of the world to another. But for a woman, in this case Chubbie, it was very different.

Andrew Lancaster: Chubbie was the first woman to fly from London to Australia. As soon as they arrived, they missed the record but she became more famous than Bill. She arrived in America when they were really encouraged to go there by Smith and the navigator Harry. They told her you have to come there as a woman pilot as there’s very few woman pilots. She became friends with Emilia Hart. They did the Powderpuff derbies. She needed to get her license for a commercial pilot, she needed to go to Canada to do that. So she was the first woman to get a commercial pilot’s license in Canada. I think at the time there were so few women pilots that she was able to be a bit of a trailblazer. Then depression hit and it was through publishing she made her money and not flying.

MOVIEMOVESME: As you said the love Chubbie had for Bill later became platonic, did she want to just use him as Bill had shown through his diary entries that he wanted to keep impressing Chubbie?

Andrew Lancaster: Many people think she was a bit of a user but I think she truly loved Bill at the beginning and that the love faded. I think she felt sorry for him and that’s why they became kind of best friends. I think the trial brought them closer. They were able to share the horrific thing they went through. They made a story, testified in court in the same lack of detail every time. In forensics now, if people tell the same story, it generally is more reliable than a polygraph test, I think because they colluded and had a story, that brought them back together in kind of a weird pact.

MOVIEMOVESME: What have your opinions about Bill after all this fascinating discoveries and research that you’ve done and learned about him?

Andrew Lancaster: I learnt that on one hand he was an amazing pilot but also he was fairly foolish.

He was also someone who caused a lot of damage to his family, he basically left his wife and children to fly around the world. It was great for him but he left a lot of damage and heartbreak.

That’s what Nina was most upset about and people with abandonment issues identify with Nina.

MOVIEMOVESME: The archive footage really allowed the viewers to travel back in time. It’s really amazing that it enabled them to watch the documentary like a feature film.

Andrew Lancaster: That was kind of my objective to tell the story like it was a feature film unfolding.

I knew there was newsreel footage. We uncolored all the footage and we even zoomed into some footage to transfer to High Definition and we could see Bill and Chubbie in the background. We used as many photos we could find, we really tried to keep the film alive so that it’s not just a talking heads film, and it’s really immersive. I think the combination of the miniseries that is used as comic relief but also reconstruction plus the archive and also the documentary that was made in Sahara Desert. We just didn’t want it to be a documentary that was talking heads.

MOVIEMOVESME: Can you talk about your plan, the music, the editing, the entire process that enabled it to end up as such a dramatic experience?

Andrew Lancaster: We really wanted to draw all the audience in. The first five minutes of the film is all about creating intrigue and setting up a conflict, central questions, the central dramatic question is, ‘Did Bill Lancaster kill Hayden Clark?’ I think that the great thing is that you have a story that is a Noir in a way, set in the 1930s. It is kind of prohibition, it’s in Miami, got a murder mystery. But also currency in the family conflict. This is a story some people are a bit touchy about the way I’m gonna tell it. The music is paramount because it draws the audience in. It’s got a pace to it but is entwined with emotion and intrigue that transports you back in time. It was all about keeping the audience intrigued and keeping them alive.

MOVIEMOVESME: In your opinion, what do you think really happened?

Andrew Lancaster: I don’t want to give away too much for obvious reasons but I do believe in the theory of protection. I think protection is a very prevalent theme in this documentary. Bill protecting Chubbie, Chubbie protecting Bill from going to the electric chair and also the family protecting Nina from the story. Whatever happened on that fateful night I feel that it was very kind of sanitized for the court. If I was to do a drama on it, it would be hot, sweaty, alcohol fueled night with arguments and passion. Something went wrong and the story they told in court I don’t believe in.

MOVIEMOVESME: Do you think what happened to Bill in the desert was a result of bad Karma?

Andrew Lancaster: Absolutely. A lot of people have suggested it was suicide, but I don’t believe that because of the way he wrote. He wanted to live. So if it was an accident, if he did kill Hayden Clark it was definitely Karma that’d play a part. But I think it’s very bizarre that he died the day years later on the day Hayden Clark died. The Boomerang or Karma, however you put it, it’s quite ironic that it happened. Some think he engineered it to die on that day as part of the guilt. He was very foolhardy on that flight, he wasn’t prepared, and he shouldn’t be doing it. He was sleep deprived.

He could have just fallen asleep, flying at night with no lights, no markings, just a compass, you can easily lose the horizon and go into the sand.

All pictures taken by GAT during the festival are available here!

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