Get your popcorn! Three film and television pros share their Vancouver International Film Festival memories, viewing strategies and picks for the 2013 edition.
GILLIAN HORVATH (Writer/Producer)
For filmmakers in conflict-plagued regions, making movies often means putting their lives on the line — and the sacrifices of two such directors are of keen interest to Gillian Horvath.
The veteran writer and producer placed Manuscripts Don't Burn and Closed Curtain — both by Iranian directors, one of whom made his movie while under house arrest — right at the top of her VIFF viewing list.
"It's hard to get your work out there, but the effort we have to go through in our version of development hell compares not at all to being arrested for your work, and forbidden from making it, and yet making it anyway," says Horvath, whose long list of writing credits includes Sanctuary, Baywatch, Beverly Hills 90210, and Quantum Leap. "That kind of commitment really impresses me."
She's already got her tickets for a screening of the Canadian-made riff on Don Quixote, The Right Kind of Wrong. "Sara Canning is in that and I'll see anything that she's in," says Horvath, who developed and wrote for Primeval: New World, which showcased Canning as an ass-kicking dinosaur wrangler. "What draws me into VIFF are the films that are being made by the people I know and have worked with," says Horvath. "Some of them don't get distribution so it's the only chance to see them."
ALEKS PAUNOVIC (Actor)
Its hard to top Aleks Paunovic's first taste of VIFF.
The year was 2004, and the champion boxer turned actor had made his VIFF debut in Gary Yates Seven Times Lucky. The film starred Kevin Pollack as a small-time grifter, and was a hit with the VIFF crowd. "We won for best Canadian feature and I got to accept the award with [co-star] Babz Chula on behalf of the director," says Paunovic. "I cherish that memory."
For VIFF 2013, the busy actor (who recurs as Jim McAllister on Arctic Air) will enjoy the fest as a spectator. His number-one pick is Leap 4 Your Life. The edgy mockumentary (starring April Telek and directed by Gary Hawes) delves into adolescent angst via the highly competitive and messy world of teen dance troupes. "The trailer is hilarious and I've been hearing nothing but great things about it," says Paunovic.
And this is how Paunovic typically curates his festival-viewing schedule. "I go with buzz from people that I respect, who actually do more homework than I do," says Paunovic, laughing.
Paunovic's work takes him all over the map (he recently wrapped a family-friendly film in Duncan, directed by Peter DeLuise), but VIFF anchors the native Winnipegger to his adopted city. "I have a sense of home when I come to VIFF. It just feels comfortable."
ALYSON DRYSDALE (Producer/Educator)
Alyson Drysdales first glimpse of VIFF was a little different than Aleks Paunovic's. "I remember coming around the corner [at the Ridge] and seeing this huge line snaking around the block and being like, 'Whoa! What happened here?!'"
The reason for her bewilderment? Drysdale's first VIFF was the first VIFF ever. Back in 1982, the producer and educator was a recent film school grad who had never before experienced the creative chaos of an urban film festival. "I can't remember what I saw that night, but I remember being excited about this big new thing that was happening," she recalls.
Since then, Drysdale has employed an arsenal of strategies to get to as many VIFF screenings as possible — like the incredibly satisfying year she only attended afternoon showings at venues near her place of work.
For the 2013 edition, Drysdale's limited herself to films in the Cinema of our Time category. "I love contemporary fiction, no matter where it originates," she enthuses. First on her list is Ali, a coming-of-age tale by Spanish filmmaker Paco R. Baños that's advertised as Juno without the pop cultural exhibitionism.
This is followed by The Bag of Flour in which filmmaker Kadija Leclere paints a portrait of abduction in the Arab world. "I enjoy that mix of different cultures, intrigue, and harrowing experiences," says Drysdale.
