Film fest brings meaning and depth to International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day: WD at the Film Fest

BY PEG CAMPBELL

The qathet international film festival has programmed two exceptional features and one short film to honour International Women’s Day, on Wednesday, March 8. These three films bring to light the resilience of women, and examine in artful and incisive ways the pressing issues of sexual, emotional and physical violence that women face from men, which are not protected enough by our government systems.

The locally-made short film 'Violet Gave Willingly' gives us insight into the art making of Texada textile artist Deborah Dumka while leading us skillfully into devastating family revelations.

Violet Gave Willingly

Depicted in 'Rosie' is the ongoing impact of the taking of Indigenous children in the ‘60’s scoop’ and the healing that can come from creating your own family.

Women in the sex industry face specific challenges, and 'Holy Spider' looks at how our patriarchal mindset causes these women further injury and danger.

Rosie

Screening at 1:30 pm are two films. The short 'Violet Gave Willingly' is by Claire Sanford, with sound design by her sister Sophia Sanford, and featuring her mother, artist Deborah Dumka. All three will be in attendance, with Claire via zoom and Deborah and Sophia in person.

Their Q&A will follow the screening of the Canadian feature film Rosie, by Cree-Métis filmmaker Gail Maurice, set in Montréal in the 1980s, about a young Indigenous girl who ends up in the care of her Aunt Fred, a woman who can barely take care of herself let alone a young child. It’s a true depiction of how the LGBTQIA+ community creates their own family within their friendships. The afternoon screenings are sponsored by The Tla’amin Nation.

Holy Spider

At 7 pm, we will open the evening with a prayer and songs by Cyndi Pallen and the Tla’amin Spirit Singers. Holy Spider, from Iran, will then screen. Based on a true story, the film follows a fictional female investigative journalist who wants to crack the long-running case of a serial killer of sex workers, where the police have been slow to take action. This evening is sponsored by the Old Courthouse Inn.

Bringing these issues to light through film connects our audience to what is going on locally and globally, and offers a way for our community to gather together to look at the challenges that face women, and celebrate their resilience in going forward to create a better world for us all.