Traveling World Community Film Festival En Route to Prince George

The fourth annual Traveling World Community Film Festival lands in Prince George on Thursday, March 18th. The eleven-day Festival will feature thirty-three documentaries that will take audiences across the world, from Senegal to Ecuador with stops in more than 20 other countries along the way!

“Get ready for an incredible journey”, says Jovanka Djordjevich, one of the organizers of the Prince George Festival. “We have a great line-up of films; many of the documentaries have won prestigious awards at Film Festivals all over the world and two “Burma VJ” and “Garbage Dreams” are currently on the short list for best documentary for the 2010 Academy Awards.” The Festival has something for everyone, from films that focus on challenging issues such as the impacts of oil and mineral exploration to others that are heartwarming and inspiring stories of people who make a positive difference in the world. Topics include environmental and labour issues, food security and water issues, music, arts, and social justice for people with disabilities.

“The Festival is an opportunity for us to learn more about issues of the world community and to connect to local organizations who are focused on addressing these issues, both locally and globally. It provides a forum to share and experience these amazing stories from around the world. These stories will make us more appreciative of our own lives, they may change us, and may move us to action”, says Djordjevich. “The Festival is a good example of the collaboration we need to make change: each of us coming together, taking on a little, for a greater good. This Festival depends on our community coming together to make it happen.” There are twenty-two local groups who have made the commitment to host and sponsor the films this year.

This is truly a traveling festival—it won’t stay put on just one screen during its eleven-day stopover. Shows will appear at various venues throughout the City, including UNBC, Artspace, Raven Haven, Zoe’s Java House, and Two Rivers Gallery. For those searching for something to do during their lunch break, the Brown Bag Cinema, begins at 12:10 p.m. from March 22nd to March 26th at Raven Haven at 421 George Street. Evening films begin at 7 p.m. at various venues, and both weekends offer matinees, with the Festival wrapping up on the last afternoon at the Prince George Public Library, a new venue for this year.

Ticket prices for the Festival are a great deal. A Festival Pass (all 33 films) is $30; Day Pass (2-4 films) is $5; and a Brown Bag Cinema Pass (7 lunchtime films over 5 days) is $10. Passes are available at Books and Company and Sassafras Savouries.

The film schedule and descriptions can be accessed on-line at www.booksandcompany.ca or at '2010 TRAVELING WORLD COMMUNITY FILM FESTIVAL' ON FACEBOOK.