VIFF TRAILER: Vancouver International Film Festival executive director Jacqueline Dupuis rolled out the red carpet to reveal this year’s movies to be played at the 33rd running of festival Sept. 25 to Oct. 10. Wild, directed by Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club) and starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, will kick off the screening of 353 films from 65 countries. For the first time in the history of the cinematic celebrations, no film will actually be unspooled as all titles have gone digital. Also new this year is VIFF’s Style in Film series, showcasing movies covering the themes of art and fashion. In partnership with Eco-fashion week, the presentations will be followed by special Q&A events at Holt Renfrew. Building on the success of the B.C. Spotlight program, which Dupuis founded in 2013, another baker’s dozen of films by homegrown talent were introduced at the festival sneak peak staged at the Vancouver International Film Centre.
BACK FROM THE FRINGES: This year’s 2014 edition of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, B.C.’s largest independent theatre festival, saw hundreds converge at Performance Works on Granville Island for the 30th birthday bash. Executive director David Jordan welcomed Fringe lovers and Fringe artists past and present to the opening festivities and fundraiser to support the 700 performances over 11 days. This year’s line up featured many prominent alumni whose careers were launched at the festival. They included Jay Brazeau, Suzanne Ristic, Susinn McFarlen and Beverley Elliot. Also returning was Jacques Lalonde, the most senior Fringe alumni. The Studio 58 grad had participated for 27 consecutive years until a stroke last year sidelined the playwright. Turning his recovery into a one-man show, he premiered Stroke of Luck at this year’s festival.
ISLAND COOKING: Cooking was a passion for Milton Wong. The businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist believed the kitchen was the heart of the home and was known to host large family dinners at his vacation property. Meals were typically prepared for 20 people with eight to ten different family-style dishes on the table. It was always Wong’s dream to have a cooking school. Sadly, Wong passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2011. Honouring Wong’s dream, his wife Fei and daughters Sarah and Elizabeth opened Taku Cookery at the family’s three-decade old oceanside home on Quadra Island. Providing hands-on culinary experiences with renowned B.C. chefs, the cookery recently hosted David Robertson. Proprietor of his very own culinary playground, the Dirty Apron Cooking School, Robertson shared with aspiring chefs a few recipes from his soon-to-be-released Dirty Apron Cookbook.
