More than 700 school-aged kids from the French Catholic School Board got to trot along the red carpet on opening day of the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF).
The enthusiastic students packed into the Chrysler Theatre Thursday morning for a screening of 'Butterfly Tale' as part of an education screening sponsored by St. Clair College, making them the first of tens-of-thousands of movie-goers who will enjoy films over the next 11 days at this year's festival, the 20th anniversary of WIFF.
"WIFF is successful because it's built by Windsor, it's built by the community," said Vincent Georgie, the Executive Director and Chief Programmer at WIFF. "There's a palpable sense of local pride in this festival."
While WIFF's opening day is typically marked by a red-carpet celebration and an after-party, the education sessions featuring thousands of local students truly kicks off the festival.
More students from the French Catholic School Board, as well as English Catholic School Board and Public School Board are attending screenings of 'The Last French Canadian,' 'Red Fever,' and 'Food and Country' over the next few days.
Georgie said it's a way of providing educational content but also exposing today's youth to a medium and venue with which they likely don't have lots of experience: a movie theatre.
"They fall in love with the venues because they're not used to watching movies with such a beautiful presentation and atmosphere," Georgie said, speaking to the Chrysler Theatre at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, as well as the Capitol Theatre and the theatre at The University of Windsor's Armouries.
"That's something that's really, really important, that gives them a love of movies and also gives them a feeling of being part of a big winning, popular event."
Over the course of the festival, 213 feature length movies from 42 countries will be projected, as well as 40 short films, all of which are produced by locals.
St. Clair College is heavily involved in WIFF, providing The Chrysler Theatre as a venue, hosting the opening night party, and sponsoring the education screenings.
"I echo many of my Presidential predecessors over the years by emphasizing that the first descriptive phrase in the school's official title identifies St. Clair as a College of applied arts," observed College President Michael Silvaggi. "Hands-on technology and trades may be what springs to mind when people think about us. But we also take great pride in our decades-long role in fostering education in all facets of the media; artistic expression in disciplines like graphic, interior and landscape design; the creativity of animation and fashion; the imagination of the culinary arts; and the song-and-dance of music theatre performance."
"And all of that explains why both the College and our Alumni Association are so pleased to be acting as major sponsors and a venue-host of the Windsor International Film Festival during its 20th anniversary," Silvaggi said.
College staff, students and alumni also appear in acting roles, including Mike Poirier, whose first feature-length film 'Thundersnake' will screen opening night at 9 p.m. at the Chrysler Theatre. Poirier wrote, directed, edited, and starred in the film.
Georgie calls this a fitting example of Saints Nation being everywhere.
"The relationship with St. Clair College is one of the most long-standing and fulsome partnerships we have, which we're really, really proud of, because it's not just about one part of a festival," said Georgie. "The partnership with St. Clair College is on so many levels, and something we're sincerely very proud of. It's very strong pillar."
"St. Clair has always taught the arts, and will always teach the arts, because it believes that they provide the fullest enjoyment of life to our community," said President Silvaggi. "Business and industry constitute the economic head and hands of Windsor-Essex, but the artistic endeavours – WIFF included – constitute its heart and soul."
Georgie points out WIFF is considered Canada's largest volunteer-run festival, with some visitors even flying to Windsor to take in the experience as a "WIFF-cation," noting the average pass-holder attends 45 movies during the festival.
"That is extraordinary, and it tells you the level of engagement and success and sort of excitement around it," said Georgie.
WIFF is more than just an 11-day festival, with a year-round presence to ignite movie-lovers' passions.
WIFF also annually presents 50 to 60 nights at the Capitol Theatre throughout the year, select special screenings, and another St. Clair College sponsored event, WIFF Under the Stars.
Georgie said the festival wouldn't be possible without the army of volunteers who give their time, efforts, and talents to ensure the festival goes off without a hitch.
"When you believe in something and you know the community is into it, and you work with people that are honestly passionate and quite dedicated, it's a pleasure to do it," Georgie said.
"We encourage the entire community to join St. Clair staff, students and alumni – popcorn in hand – as we settle into our seats to enjoy the screenings of the 20th season of the Windsor International Film Festival," Silvaggi concluded.
"And the College looks forward to continuing to partner with this tremendous organization for many years to come, in its mission to entertain, inform and engage the community."
