On Screen Manitoba

Presented by Cogeco, the 2012 Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF) will take place March 1-4, at the Empire Theatre, Screening Room and other venues in downtown Kingston. Eighteen feature-length films and 30+ short films, including locally produced short films, will screen at the festival.

This year’s event features a number of critically acclaimed films. Edwin Boyd, a stylish biopic about 1940s and ‘50s bank robber Edwin Boyd opens the festival on Thursday, March 1. Monsieur Lazhar, nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign language category, will play twice at the festival and KCFF is extremely pleased to be presenting the Canadian premiere of The Samaritan, a film starring Samuel L Jackson.

A special presentation at the Grand Theatre on Sunday, March 4. KCFF will present On a Grand Scale: Nell Shipman, an event celebrating the career of Canadian silent film actress, director, producer and screenwriter Nell Shipman.

A reception, exhibit about her career and special screening of her film Back to God’s Country presented with live musical accompaniment will take place beginning at 2:30 p.m. (screening starts at 4 p.m.). Back to God’s Country was one of Canada’s most commercially successful films during the silent period. This special event will recreate the film-going experience of the past.

Each year industry professionals gather in Kingston to celebrate and support Canadian cinema during the Kingston Canadian Film Festival.

A number of Canadian film industry guests who will be participating in special events and screenings include: Jason Anderson, Kay Armatage, Manfred Becker, Daniel Bekerman, Philip Carli, Dane Clarke, Brad Fox, Jordan Gross, Rachel Kalpana James, Alex Jansen, Jason Lapeyre, Lev Lewis. Michael Patrick Lilly, Elan Mastai, Joel McConvey, Tim Merkel, Adam Nayman, Kathy Schultz, Sam Shalabi, Calvin Thomas, Ingrid Veninger, Thomas Wallner and David Weaver.

The full list of confirmed industry guests, including guest biographies and associated events, is available on the festival’s official website www.kingcanfilmfest.com.