At the 2008 Vancouver International Film Festival I watched as BC filmmaker Cameron Labine collected the International Film Guide Inspiration Award for Control Alt Delete. The film that takes the line “I love my computer” to a whole new level was awarded for its “unique visual style, daring content and expansive execution by an emerging filmmaker”.
Now being released in theatres, Control Alt Delete, starring Tyler Labine (Reaper) is screening April 21st at Tinseltown and I have ten double passes to give away along with a cheeky prize pack. You can preview the trailer although be advised, it contains explicit adult language and content.
To enter to win one of ten passes, leave a comment on this post stating why you love your computer (don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be the same way that Labine’s character loves his). You can also enter by posting the following on Twitter:
I’ll leave this open until 5:00pm tonight. Passes (along with the prize packs) will be couriered to the winners so please enter a valid email address and check your inbox for your prize notification.
Update The winners have been drawn and they include: Chaminda, Stefan, Jenn, Jeremy, alickle (Twitter), avon78 (Twitter), Carries, Kelly, Robyn, and annavancouver (Twitter). Thanks everyone!
To celebrate Earth Month Starbucks Canada is offering free coffee to those who bring in their reusable travel mugs on April 15th.
I had a poll up in 2008 asking how many people used travel mugs but I’m curious to see if there has been an increase over the last two years.
Tomorrow’s offer is limited to participating stores so be sure to ask when you arrive for your caffeine pit stop. The offer is valid for brewed or iced coffee.
Since 1985 Starbucks has been offering 10 cent discounts on travel mug fill-ups. They have made it a goal to ensure 100% of their cups are reusable or recyclable by 2015.
This is the fifth year that they have Free Coffee Day and hopefully locations across Vancouver will be taking part.
This weekend is the 20th annual Women in Film & Television Festival. Each year there are screenings, workshops, and plenty of social opportunities to mingle with movers and shakers from the West Coast.
As proven by Kathryn Bigelow’s Academy Award for Best Director on March 7th, women thrive in front of and behind the camera.
The festival features a weekend of short films from 35 first time and veteran female filmmakers produced in countries such as New Zealand, Egypt, USA, Saudi Arabia and Canada. This stellar line-up of short documentaries, animation, drama, and a feature film also includes the presentation of two major filmmaker awards, pitching sessions, free filmmaker industry panels, and exhibitor showcase with networking lunch presentations from local industry companies.
Things kick off Saturday April 17th at 7:00pm with Opening Night at the Vancity Theatre. Earlier in the day there will be an exhibitor showcase from 9:30am – 4:30pm and then again on Sunday from 9:30am until 3:00pm. There will also be panels from 4:00pm – 5:30pm on Saturday and again on Sunday April 18th from 10:00am until 11:30am.
Let’s not forget the actual film screenings as well, which will take place both Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the festival is open to the general public all weekend and the exhibitor showcase is free to the public (register at the door).
Ticketed events include the screenings, the panels, the opening reception and the awards ceremony. You can purchase tickets for these events online or pick up a full festival pass.
I have two Festival Passes to give away which will get you and a friend into all of the film screenings this weekend. If you would like to enter to win the passes, please leave a comment or re-tweet the following:
This will be a quick contest and the passes are getting printed up for this weekend as we speak. I’ll run this until tomorrow morning at 9:00am.
Update The winner of the passes is Brenda, congratulations! Unfortunately I didn’t have a working email address for the 1st winner drawn.
Fine print: Approximate value of each pass is $45.
Today is the 3rd annual Pink Shirt Day in BC. In conjunction with Anti-Bullying Day which was created a few years ago by local radio host Christy Clark, it is a time to stand up and speak out against bullying. The pink shirts symbolize the story of a boy who was bullied for wearing a pink t-shirt to school one day. In solidarity, and to raise awareness about all forms of bullying, this has become a campaign symbol.
One in four children in Canada fall prey to one of these forms of bullying: Physical Bullying, Cyber Bullying, Social Bullying and Verbal Bullying.
On a personal note, I left school a long time ago but in every office or industry I have ever worked there has been some form of bullying — especially in the online realm. Passive aggressive blog posts or Tweets may sound like a joke but if you’re the target, it’s no laughing matter. People spread lies, hate, and mock others daily online, making cyber bullying seem as though it’s a natural part of the social space. They taunt and tease until the victim reaches a breaking point, like in Megan Meier‘s case.
Whether it’s schoolyard name-calling, teasing in the hallway, or posting defamatory content online, bullying is a serious issue and we need campaigns like this so that one day it will stop. This morning on Global Christy Clark said her personal message this year is “don’t be an audience” as may bullies are looking for that. She mentioned the dangers of being a “just a bystander”.
The online store has sold out of merchandise for today, which is a great sign as $5 from each shirt went to the Boys and Girls Club. London Drugs locations may have some stock still available and they’ll be selling some shirts on the streets of downtown Vancouver today.
You can also donate to the Boys and Girls Club, wear a pink shirt today regardless, or perform a random act of kindness (because those are nice any day).
The Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival takes over Whistler April 16th until the 25th. The festival brings with it world-class downhill events, athletes, parties and some choice concerts.
Kokanee Freeride Club Series
The Club Series hosts free apres concerts all week long.
Friday April 16th – Breakestra @ GLC
Sunday April 18th – Kellar Williams @ GLC
Tuesday April 20th – Five Alarm Funk @ Longhorn Saloon
Thursday April 22nd – Classified @ Moe Joes
Friday April 23rd – Silent Disco featuring J-Boogie @ Merlins
Sunday April 25th – Arrested Development @ Buffalo Bills
Chevrolet Stage
The Chevrolet Stage offers a series of free concerts from Village Square.
Saturday, April 17th
DJ Dakota, Katie Rox, Stars of Boulevard
Sunday, April 18th
Katie Rox, City of Glass, Stars of Boulevard
Monday, April 19th
Hollis, DJ Rosco, City of Glass
Tuesday, April 20th
DJ Dakota, The Release Jamband, Colin Bullock
Wednesday, April 21st
Right Hand Barber, The Jocelyn Pettit Band, The Release Jamband
Thursday, April 22nd
DJ Rosco, DJ Canosis, DJ Dakota
Friday, April 23rd
DJ Canosis, Kate Morgan Band, DJ Rosco
Saturday, April 24th
Henry & the Nightcrawlers, Kate Morgan Band, Spotlight Carnival
Sunday, April 25th
Spotlight Carnival, Sardis Secondary School Drumline, Henry & the Nightcrawlers
Outdoor Concert Series
The Main Stage is located in Skier’s Plaza. Free concerts are from 2:30pm – 5:30pm daily.
Breakestra (Friday April 16th), March Fourth Marching Band (Saturday April 17th), Keller Williams (Sunday April 18th), Red Eye Empire & Brother Twang (Monday April 19th), Five Alarm Funk & Jah Cutta (Tuesday April 20th), Wassabi Collective (Wednesday April 21st), Classified & Elias (Thursday April 22nd), Big Sugar (Friday April 23rd), We Are The City (Saturday April 24th), Arrested Development (Sunday April 25th).
You can follow @WSSF on Twitter for all the latest updates.
