Women in Film and Television Vancouver (“WIFTV”) presents the 15th annual Vancouver International Women In Film Festival March 3-8, 2020. The festival celebrates the best of cinema created by women as well as offering film panels, seminars, special guests, artist talks, pitch sessions, a screenplay competition, receptions, and an awards gala.
Vancouver International Women in Film Festival
Where: VIFF Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St, Vancouver) When: March 3-8, 2020 Tickets: Available online now
Opening night presents Red Snow, directed by Marie Clements, the intriguing tale of a Gwich’in soldier from the Canadian Arctic who is caught in an ambush in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Opening Night Gala features the launch of two singles from the Red Snow soundtrack, Dirt Walkers and We Are Still the People performed live by a band of Afghan and Canadian Indigenous musicians including: Mozhdah Jamalzadah, Wayne Lavallee, Marina Hasselberg, Jon Deck and Diga.
Unceded Chiefs, directed by Doreen Manuel, will have its Canadian premiere at the festival followed by a panel discussion with the director and special guests to further explore the issues raised in the film.
Other Canadian premieres are two films set in Taiwan: Heavy Craving (Taiwan), directed byPei-ju Hsieh; and Closing Time (Switzerland), directed by: Nicole Vögele. There’s also the Canadian premiere of a film from India: Seeing (India), directed by Sumitra Bhave.
Four Canadian premiere documentaries are: Parkland Rising (USA), directed by: Cheryl Horner McDonough, who will be attending the festival; Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War (USA), directed by: Kerry David, who will be attending the festival; Lost Reactor (Germany), directed by Alexandra Westmeier; Away From Meaning (Mexico), directed by Olivia Luengas, a special presentation with Good Pitch.
Screening at the festival are also: A First Farewell (China), directed by Wang Lina; Murmur (Canada), directed by Heather Young; Black Conflux (Canada), directed by Nicole Dorsey; Be Natural (USA) Directed by: Pamela B. Green; Take Me Somewhere Nice (Netherlands), directed by Ena Sendijarević; Riot Girls (Canada), directed by Jovanka Vuckovic, a special presentation with WIFTV’s From Our Dark Side program.
Along with 26 international and Canadian shorts!
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to Murmur on March 4th (Canada) directed by Heather Young: Convicted of driving while impaired, Donna is ordered to perform community service at the local animal shelter. When an elderly dog is scheduled to be euthanized, Donna decides to take the dog home and quickly realizes his companionship can ease her loneliness. In a futile attempt to fill the emptiness she feels, Donna begins to take home more and more animals and she is soon in over her head.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
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Follow Women in Film and Television on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the film festival and other events throughout the year.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Sunday, March 1, 2020. UPDATE The winner is Megan!
We get an extra day this month (this year) so we should really make the most of it, and what better way than in a spectacular location with culture, relaxation, good food and of course, a party. Here’s how you can celebrate Leap Day at the Four Seasons Whistler:
Sunrise Yoga at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
On Leap Day, take time to reconnect surrounded by local First Nation art and history with an exclusive Four Seasons Resort Whistler sunrise yoga class held at Whistler’s Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. I first visited in 2009 when this landmark first opened ahead of the 2020 Winter Olympics, and it’s conveniently located adjacent to the Resort.
The SLCC celebrates the joint history of Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, past and present, by showcasing their histories, creative works and cultures in an interactive format. Guests can prepare for the coming day while enjoying the stunning views of the northerly mountain ranges and Lost Lake Woods.
Subtle Thyme Stories at SIDECUT Bar, Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Introducing 1908, a cocktail taking us back to a leap year that saw the first-ever ball-drop in Times Square. SIDECUT Bar’s 1908 combines the unique flavour of 1908 Empress gin with a house-made syrup of honey, vanilla and the subtle reference of thyme. Balance is added with a touch of citrus, changing the hue to a delicate purple.
Enjoy a luxurious journey up the Sea to Sky with a Signature Treatment from The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Whistler. The experience begins with a Canadian maple syrup and brown sugar scrub followed by a warm clay and algae nourishing body wrap. While wrapped, hair and scalp are treated to a Moroccanoil massage and conditioning treatment. The journey is completed with a deep moisturising, full-body massage using organic detoxifying body butter. Signature Treatments booked on Leap Day will receive a complimentary 10 minutes of additional massage.
Celebratory Sunset Party at the Vintage Patio Camper
Seize the final hours of Leap Day while watching the winter sun fall behind a snow covered peak while dancing to smooth tunes by local Whistler legend, DJ Foxy Moron at the ever-Instagrammable Vintage Patio Camper. Of which, I did indeed share a photo of on Instagramwhen I visited during summer BBQ season. Snack on time-themed nibbles, Canadiana s’mores and Tipsy Snowman signature hot chocolates.
Mountain of memories this Leap Day. All #FSTakeYourTime activities are exclusive to guests staying at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler on February 29, 2020. Follow Four Seasons Whistler on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and offers.
The 13th annual Coastal Dance Festival is on now, celebrating Canadian and global Indigenous stories, song, and dance. Until March 1st, Dancers of Damelahamid are presenting a lineup of events at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster and at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (“MOA”), where school performances will be performed in the Great Hall.
Coastal Dance Festival. Photos by Carlos Castillo.
Coastal Dance Festival 2020
When: February 25 to March 1, 2020 Tickets: Available online now from $25
Program highlights in 2020 include the festival debut of Tooma Laisa and Leanna Wilson (Inuit), a musician duo from Canada’s Arctic, and youth workshops between the New Zealand-based Tuakana and Teina Leadership Academy Group, and two BC-based groups Ewk Hyaha Hozdii (Wet’suwet’en) and Yisya’winuxw (Kwakwaka’wakw).
This year’s festival welcomes 14 Indigenous performance groups from throughout British Columbia, Alaska, the Yukon, and Nunavut as well as international guest artists from as far away as New Zealand.
New and not-to-be-missed this year: the emerging talents of Tooma Laisa and Leanna Wilson, who revitalize Inuit drum songs through pairings with contemporary dance; and the Vancouver debut of New Zealand’s Tuakana and Teina Leadership Academy Group, a talented company of artists aged 5 to 18, who focus on cultivating leadership abilities through shared learnings. TNT will participate in workshops alongside Ewk Hyaha Hozdii and Yisya’winuxw from Alert Bay, BC.
School Group Performances
Museum of Anthropology at UBC (6393 NW Marine Drive, UBC) Tuesday, February 25 at 10:30am and 1:00pm Chesha7 iy lha mens – Squamish Tuakana and Teina Leadership Academy Group – Māori Dancers of Damelahamid
Anvil Centre Wednesday, February 26 at 10:30am Ewk Hyaha Hozdii – Wet’suwet’en Tuakana and Teina Leadership Academy Group – Māori Dancers of Damelahamid Thursday, February 27 at 1:00pm Ewk Hyaha Hozdii – Wet’suwet’en Tuakana and Teina Leadership Academy Group – Māori Dancers of Damelahamid
Signature Evening Performance
Anvil Centre Friday, February 28 at 7:30pm Spakwus Slolem – Squamish Dancers of Damelahamid Tooma Laisa and Leanna Wilson – Inuit Rainbow Creek – Haida
Festival Stage Performances
Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St, New Westminster) Saturday, February 29, 2020
Program 1 at 1:00pm: Xwelmexw Shxwexwo:s – Coast Salish Dakhká Khwáan – Inland Tlingit
Program 2 at 2:00pm: Yisya’winuxw – Kwakwaka’wakw Tuakana and Teina Leadership Academy Group – Māori
Program 3 at 3:00pm: Git Hoan – Tsimshian
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Program 1 at 1:00pm: Kwhlii Gibaykw – Nisga’a Dakhká Khwáan – Inland Tlingit
Program 2 at 2:00pm: Tooma Laisa and Leanna Wilson – Inuit Git Hayetsk – Nisga’a/Tsimshian
Program 3 at 3:00pm: Chinook Song Catchers – Squamish
Dancers of Damelahamid proudly acknowledge the festival takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Qayqayt and Musqueam peoples.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Published in partnership with ZenSeekers Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
An Iconic Canadian TV segment in the 90s used the slogan, “keep fit and have fun” and that ran through my head as I was onto my third winter activity of the day in Vernon: Snowshoeing at Predator Ridge.
Earlier that morning I was visiting North America’s largest ski club at Sovereign Lake and before that, on the slopes at SilverStar. I call it a Vernon Winter Activity Hat Trick, but you can find out what SilverStar Mountain Host Bob Vedan calls his perfect “Vernon Trifecta” in my ZenSeekers post here »
A Vernon Winter Activity Hat Trick
1. Where:Sovereign Lake What You Can Do: Rent Nordic skis or snowshoes, take lessons, or even go tobogganing. This is a pristine and lush mountain environment in an idyllic setting (and a lodge with hot chocolate as-needed)!
Nordic at Sovereign Lake
2. Where:SilverStar Mountain Resort What You Can Do: What can’t you do?! Ski, snowboard, head out with a Mountain Host (complimentary), snow cat tours, horse-drawn sleigh rides, tubing, ice skating, and fun village activities and restaurants. There’s also snow bike tours, hockey, yoga and bowling.
3. Where:Predator Ridge What You Can Do: Snowshoe on the golf course! 1,200 acres of hills, valleys, and panoramic lookouts above Okanagan Lake. Photo op tip: Head up to the Longspoon Loop above Ellison Provincial Park (you’ll find it on a free map from the Fitness Centre) to snap a pic or get a shot like this from the Sparkling Loop:
Snowshoeing at Predator Ridge
I’ve been to Vernon now in the winter, in the summer, and at harvest time. I suppose I should plan my next trip in the spring but not before I get a few more snowy laps in around the lake or up the mountain. Be sure to make Downtown Vernon your home base, where you can get to all of these activities within 30 minutes!
Uncover more about the Okanagan’s offers for adventure. Check out ZenSeekers #OkanaganExploring Expedition page to see how you can have an adventure like this.
