Film Festival

11:00am  &  9:00pm, Saturday, January 26
LA MONTAÑA (Spanish with English subtitles) – Vancouver Premiere
Narrative based on a true story (Colombia, 114 minutes)
CPC
Produced by: Lisa Stendal, Fernando Alarcon, Alethia Stendal, Alexander Ramirez – in attendance
Written & Directed by: Lisa & Alethia Stendal – in attendance
Director of Photography Elijah Parker
Starring: Samuel Hernandez, Alexander Ramirez, Russell M. Stendal Jr., Pilar Martinez
Talkback Guest: Russell Stendal, Colombia Para Cristo Society
http://www.facebook.com/lamontanacolombia

On a mountain in Colombia, paramilitary forces have Marxist rebels cornered against a high ridge without food. In search of a way out, the guerrillas ask an old friend (a missionary they had held hostage and released some 20 years ago) for the number of a humanitarian priest in hopes of finding someone to bring food to the mountain. The missionary mistakes the priest’s name for the head paramilitary leader and inadvertently gives the guerrilla commanders the wrong number. Through a humorous confusion two sworn enemies end up face to face in an emotional encounter that unveils the very core of Colombia’s conflict and the journey each one must take to finally find peace in a lifetime of war.

The film contains some violent scenes and colourful language. Viewer discretion is advised.

1:30pm, Saturday, January 26
IN THE FIELD: A SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
Documentary Shorts
(Canada / Central America / Europe / Africa, 80 minutes)
Filmmakers: Garnet Campbell, Chris Coffyn, Rachel Kuyvenhoven, Adam Wormald, Phil Hood, and Daniel Kooman – in attendance
http://redantdc.com  | http://www.studio.wycliffe.ca |  http://www.rachelkuyvenhoven.com  |  http://www.cassiar-mw.com |  http://www.iamfilmmaker.ca  |  http://searchforrevival.com

This program contains five short documentary films featuring local filmmakers who went on journeys and video recorded some of their experiences. Garnet Campbell visited Guatemala’s maximum security prison known as “Little Hell”. Rachel Kuyvenhoven also went to Guatemala as part of a documentary workshop/mission trip called Studio Wycliffe. Adam Wormald travelled to Mexico with a group and documented their work under the Children of Hope banner. Phil Hood took his I Am Filmmaker training program to Kenya and, Daniel Kooman’s quest to find revival led him to Tanzania, Europe, Colombia and South Africa. In the process, he interviewed David Youngren, Ricardo Rodriguez, Ruth Ruibal, Enrique Gomez and Jimmy Crompton.

3:15pm, Saturday, January 26
THE FALLEN FEATHER: Indian Residential Schools & Canadian Confederation
Documentary (Canada, 94 minutes)
Vision Productions / Fallen Feather Productions
Produced, Directed, Filmed, Photographed, Researched, Written & Edited by Randy N Bezeau
Hosted, Co Produced, Co Researched, Photographed and Filmed by Jannica R Hoskins
Talkback Guests: Pastor Jodi Spargur, God’s House of Many Faces, and Brander McDonald, Indigenous Relations Coordinator, Mennonite Church BC
http://www.fallenfeatherproductions.com

Follow host Jannica Hoskins on her journey to find her lost heritage and explore the root causes behind the creation of the Indian Industrial Residential Schools in Canada. The film sensitively presents a complete, balanced view of the history and politics of the residential school experience. The Chiefs, Elders and officials interviewed are knowledgeable on many levels and they are portrayed with compassion and respect. It answers any questions Canadians may have about residential schools and their impact on the First Nations.

On June 11, 2008, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government of Canada, delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons to former students, their families, and communities for Canada’s role in the operation of the  residential schools. With the support of the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit organizations, former residential school students took the federal government and the churches to court. Their cases led to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history. The agreement sought to begin repairing the harm caused by residential schools. Aside from providing compensation to former students, the agreement called for the establishment of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada with a budget of $60-million over five years. Four of the seven National TRC events have taken place. The sixth event is being held September 18-21, 2013 in Vancouver – http://www.trc-cvr.ca.

5:03pm, Saturday, January 26
HOME & AWAY: A SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
Documentary Shorts (Canada / Africa / Asia, 54 minutes)
Filmmakers: David Stewart, Darryl Augustine, Lorne Epp, Tim Hall, Chris Hartnell, Adam Wormald and Joshua Dool – in attendance
Talkback Guest: Nigel Paul, Move In
http://www.davidstewartmedia.com  | http://www.socialimpactmedia.ca  |  http://www.ca.iofc.org/programs/intercultural  |  http://www.cassiar-mw.com  |  http://www.liveonmission.com

This program contains six short documentary films featuring filmmakers who have captured God at work locally and globally. The world is on our doorstep. The multi-cultural nature of Canadian cities is presenting opportunities for Christians to love their neighbours. David Stewart has documented the work of Nigel Paul’s Toronto based Move In. The Vancouver based More Than A Roof is captured by Darryl Augustine as they open doors and change lives for the homeless at-risk population.  Tim Hall and Chris Hartnell capture peace. Adam Wormald’s PULSE series documents Fraser Valley folk who are blessing people locally and in other parts of the world. And, Vancouver based filmmaker Joshua Dool’s Live on Mission takes him overseas to interview Christians who are hard at work shining God’s light into the dark places of human trafficking in Asia.

While no graphic content is shown in this program, the subject matter in some films is challenging and is not recommended for younger viewers.

6:15pm, Saturday, January 26  (This film is shown together with THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY below)
THE JESUS AGENDA: THE PROMISE
Documentary Study Series (UK / USA, 33 minutes)
Christian Aid, Compassion and Micah Challenge
Hosted by Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards, Director of Micah Challenge International
Produced & Directed by Iwan Russell-Jones – in attendance
Filmed and Edited by Trevor Burgess
Music by Andy Davies
http://www.thejesusagenda.org

The Jesus Agenda is a nine week film-based course that follows Joel Edwards on a journey across four continents – through Lima, Lagos, Washington, New York and London.

Through interviews and case studies it explores how Luke 4, sometimes known as the Nazareth Manifesto, is shaping and challenging individuals, churches and organizations today. The 3rd segment, THE PROMISE, focuses on biblical advocacy with a focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In Washington DC, Joel interviews Holly Burkhalter, Vice President of International Justice Mission, David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World and New York based Rev. Gabriel Sanguero, Pentecostal Pastor and President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition. In New York he meets with Stephen Hanmer of UNICEF and Scott Todd of Compassion. In the UK, Loretta Minghella, Director of Christian Aid and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair are interviewed.

6:15pm, Saturday, January 26  (This film is shown together with THE JESUS AGENDA, above)
THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY – Vancouver Premiere
Documentary (Africa / South Africa, 61 minutes)
Marie-Vérité Films
Producer / Director / Cinematographer Ryley Grunenwald
Editor Nick Costaras
Featuring: Dr. Tertius Venter
Talkback Guest: Tim Maloney, National Director, Mercy Ships Canada and THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY Crew Member David Gariepy
http://www.thedawnofanewday.co.za

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY has won numerous awards at film festivals. It deals with access to health care issues through the eyes of three West Africans in need of specialized surgery. Meanwhile one South African plastic surgeon, Dr. Tertius Venter, is searching for meaning as he leaves his successful private practice to volunteer on a hospitable ship – but at the risk of losing the woman he has always loved.

12:30pm, Sunday, January 27
LEVEL GROUND
Live Concert Documentary (Canada, 125 minutes)
Integrity Media Inc.
Executive Producer Michael Coleman
Hosted by and Featuring Brian Doerksen - in attendance
Produced & Directed by Colin Murdock – in attendance
Director of Photography Andre Fernandes
Edited by Robert Postma
http://briandoerksen.com/#levelground

Isaiah 40 is one of the most well known passages of the scriptures – yet the reality of grace and the leveling it speaks of, continues to elude most of us in our cultures of competition.

We love elevating ‘stars’ and shaming ‘sinners’. God’s heart as Father longs to embrace us all and place us on level ground. Recorded live at The Barn on Bridge Nut Farm in Matsqui Village, Abbotsford, BC, April 15, & 16, 2010, LEVEL GROUND is a hybrid film experience created by Brian Doerksen. It’s a concert film with 14 songs, a talk show with clips of grace stories and includes documentary elements with interviews and behind the scenes footage.