Vancouver’s first Indian Summer Festival is an international festival of arts and ideas. Presented by Teamwork Productions and SFU Woodward’s, it will showcase “top talent from India – across music, dance, literature, film, cuisine, yoga and wellness – in conversation with Canadian counterparts.”
The idea is to celebrate “India in Canada” and fold these events and activities into Vancouver’s year-long 125th anniversary celebrations.
It all kicks off with a gala reception tomorrow, hosted by one of the world’s top Indian cuisine chefs (and local Vancouverite) Vikram Vij, and is quickly followed by multiple daily events throughout the festival. This includes the Indian Summer Film Festival (July 8 – 14), the Well-Being Experience (July 9 – 10) with Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Flow and Kundalini, Words on Water and A Literary Afternoon Tea on the Terrace, Bollywood Dance Classes (free), and cooking with Vikram Vij.
Tickets range from free, to $30 – $100 and there are still some available for the opening gala.
The Indian Summer Arts Society is a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to foster cultural collaborations and dialogue between Canada and India, and within communities in Canada. The festival will run July 7, 2011 until July 17, 2011. Follow Indian Summer on Twitter or Facebook for more updates.
July 5th, 1959 was the opening day of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver and a few weeks later Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II personally gave it her name. The venue accommodates 2,781 patrons and over the years it has hosted some of the world’s greatest plays, musicals, operas, ballets and concerts.
1957, excavation for the theatre. VPL Accession Number: 40590.
Photo credit: Province Newspaper; Jennings, Byron Charles.
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When the Celebration of Light fireworks schedule collides with Bard on the Beach there’s no reason to miss one or the other. Two of the most-loved summertime activities in Vancouver combine at Vanier Park as Bard on the Beach presents its special “Bard-B-Q” event. On July 30th, August 3rd, and August 6th you can enjoy Shakespeare under the tents, a salmon barbecue during an extended intermission, and following the production you’ll move to a private seating area for the fireworks in English Bay.
This event always sells out and is a joint fundraiser for Bard on the Beach and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (a $25 tax receipt is issued for your ticket purchase). This season Bard on the Beach presents As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice under the main tent.
If you would like to enjoy this one-of-a-kind event on a simmering summer evening by the water, I have a pair of tickets to give away. The winner and a guest will receive tickets for the August 3rd event and the performance of As You Like It. This also includes dessert and coffee after the show and front row seats for the fireworks. Total value is $210.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post with any Shakespeare line (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm July 20, 2011. Follow @BardontheBeach on Twitter throughout the season for updates and specials.
Update The winner is Treena!
Outdoor movies are quickly becoming a summer tradition, in communities from the North Shore to the Fraser Valley, and Surrey is once again presenting free outdoor movie nights in Holland Park this August.
Last year’s lineup as advertised at the Surrey Fusion Festival
August 6, 2011: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2
August 13, 2011: Ramona & Beezus (with Selena Gomez)
August 20, 2011: Tangled
August 27, 2011: Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
All movies are free and suitable for all ages. You can bring your own picnic or enjoy refreshments courtesy of the North Surrey Lions Club. More pre-movie activities will be announced closer to each date. Follow the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association on Twitter for additional updates and information.
Fresh from winning a Leo Award for Best Lead Performance a Female in a Feature film for her work in Amazon Falls, Vancouver-based actor April Telek is at the dawn of her career.
In Amazon Falls, directed by Katrin Bowen (a powerhouse of a woman who I will profile very soon), Telek plays the role of Jana, a B-movie actress who refuses to let go of her dream of being a star. Despite her best efforts to expand her skills and live a healthy life, Jana is ultimately overcome by the burden of a dream in a business that punishes women who are aging and losing their youthful looks.
Photo by: Jamie Campbell
“It’s kind of an ironic break out role,” she says the 36-year-old actor. “At the time I booked the role, I was a new mom and wondered if I was past my prime as an actor.”
But when the cameras started to roll, she knew that this film was going to be very special and do wonders for not only her career, but everyone else’s on set.
“It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” she says. “I’ve never been on set where there was this amazing, supportive energy.”
“The head of every department was a veteran and everyone underneath them was so eager to learn. And everyone on set was a true artist in their own right. And of course, Katrin is a genius and a wonderful woman.”
Though Telek has worked consistently as an actor in town for years, her work in Amazon Falls has given her new legs. Today she is busier than ever and is currently shooting AMC’s new show, Hell on Wheels, in Calgary. She credits her new-found success to Amazon Falls as well as what she believes in a shift in film for telling stories of women who are actually, well, women.
“A decade ago, women in their 30s and 40s were given a good shot in the good roles,” she says. “But if you look at the actress who have won Oscars in the past five years say, very few have been under the age 40.”
Telek has a few ideas as to why this shift is happening, including more women directing and writing, but she also points to the increasing popularity of reality television.
“The irony of the situation is that reality television is so unrealistic and that we watch it for entertainment so now we watch films to see real characters and real lives.”
“I’m not quite sure what exactly is happening but it’s definitely interesting and for the better. Finally doors are being open.”
And it makes sense that more and more leading females roles would go to actresses with more years under their belt, she says.
“Five years ago, I didn’t have my daughter,” she says, “Every year of life experience makes me a better actor and a richer person.”
You can check out the Amazon Falls Facebook page for updates and screening event information across Canada.
This feature was written exclusively for Miss604 by actor, writer, and producer, Michelle Kim. Read all posts contributed by Michelle for Miss604.com and follow her on Twitter @miju.
