Northumberland Film Sundays

Northumberland Film Sundays News

Sixth Annual Festival Sold-out

January 31, 2011

The Sixth Annual Winter Film Festival screened by Northumberland Film Sundays on the last weekend in January had 250 weekend passes for sale. These were all sold well before the opening night and then 250 individual single tickets were made available and these were also sold. This was a vote of confidence in the programme even though the final film was marked "to be confirmed". Instead of The King's Speech, the final film was The Social Network - both have been recipients or nominated for many awards.

The full program was:

Barney's Version - Friday Jan 28 6:30 pm
Force of Nature - The David Suzuki Movie - Saturday January 29 1:30pm
Made in Dagenham - Saturday January 29 6:00pm - followed by a Reception in Victoria Hall at 8:00pm.
Never Let Me Go - Sunday January 30 1:00pm
The Social Network - Sunday January 30 4:00pm

A highlight of the sixth annual Northumberland Film Festival was an audience-engaging appearance Saturday by filmmaker Sturla Gunnarsson, director of Force of Nature - The David Suzuki Movie.

Gunnarsson spoke of the spiritual side of self-proclaimed atheist and Canadian science/media/environmental icon David Suzuki. In response to an audience question about where Suzuki stood on matters of Faith, Gunnarsson quoted Suzuki from the film: "the Universe is held together by evanescent tendrils of attraction that some people call Love." Not the stuff of your average bio-doc. Gunnarsson, President of the Director's Guild of Canada and an avid fisherman made a whirlwind tour to Rice Lake with his family during his short visit to Northumberland and was overheard asking if there was any good fishing in the region. Also in response to an audience question, "what is your next film about?" he said "I'm not sure, but I am fascinated by the courage and heroism of the few remaining natives of the Haida Gwaii," (aboriginals who inhabit BC's Queen Charlotte Islands.)

On Saturday night, most people came to the reception at Cobourg's historic Victoria hall where they were entertained by the North Side Gang. After enjoying the buffet, the draws were made for the prizes including the grand prize of the Via Rail roundtrip for four from Cobourg to Quebec City. The winner, Felicia Sutherland, was not at the reception but was at the Sunday screenings and made a thank-you speech that warmed the crowd:

" I first met my husband, Malcolm, while travelling on the train from Vancouver to Toronto in 1970. I was a new immigrant to Canada then, and he was just returning home from a trip to Asia after university. After we moved to Cobourg in 2003, we both commuted on VIA everyday to work in Toronto, until his retirement in 2007. So in a sense, VIA has always played a very important role in our lives, and how very fitting it is now, that my husband and I will be able to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary on VIA Rail to beautiful Quebec City!!"

See also our gallery of photos of the event including the reception.

NFS thanks these Generous Sponsors:

Winners of Draw prizes at 2011 Festival

Jan 30, 2011

Northumberland Mall Theatre Tickets
Trish Whitney
Irene Cavanagh
Ron Planche

Mall Gift Certificate
Isaac Cormier
Austin Thomas

Casey's Grill Bar Gift Certificate
Sheila Sodan

METRO Gift Certificate
John Belton

2 Film Sundays Spring Packages
Barbara Lewis
Sandie Mackie

Arthur's Restaurant Sunday Brunch for 2
Heather Anderson

Lady Bug Massage Therapy Gift Certificate
Hazel Bates

VIA RAIL
Felicia Sutherland

News Release

May 8, 2010

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

With thanks to NFS filmgoers, Sponsors RBC Dominion Securities, Cobourg and VIA Rail Canada, Northumberland Film Sundays is pleased to announce that $2,800+ in donations has now been distributed to local organizations.

Since its inception in 2003 NFS has now contributed over $17,000 to support local not-for-profit groups. A listing of all recipients can be found on the Northumberland Film Sunday's website. www.northumberlandfilm.ca

NFS, founded in 2003 by Ken Prue, is in partnership with The Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG). "The Film Circuit provides filmgoers in under-served communities, transformative experiences through access to Canadian and international independent films they would otherwise not have the opportunity to see." (www.filmcircuit.ca)

NFS would also like to thank its filmgoers and supporters, whose participation ensures NFS has the ability to support local organizations.

This year the following organizations have received support.

Vintage Film Festival, $500
Northumberland Services for Women, $500
Friends of Music, $500
First Stages Theatre Company, $500*
Cobourg Public Library, 2 seasons of DVD's (approx. value $800.00+/-)

*Robert Latimer-Cornell, Artistic Director~Producer of First Stages has offered NFS filmgoers a 50% discount on regular priced tickets for TEA AT FIVE. The performance is on Sunday, May 16 at 3 PM in The Capitol Theatre, Port Hope.

Northumberland Film Sundays will be "dark" for the summer, returning in the Fall.

Ken Prue, Founder - Programmer

With Thanks to our Sponsors

Northumberland Film Sundays
Thanks these Generous Sponsors:

Third Annual Film Festival a success

For the 2008 Festival, the Films were:

Friday Jan 25 - Into the Wild - a spellbinding film adaptation of the book about a man who leaves civilization for Alaska
Saturday Jan 26 - Eastern Promises - David Cronenburg's latest (and acclaimed) masterpiece
Saturday Jan 26 - Lars and the Real Girl - A man's unusual attempt to solve his loneliness
Sunday Jan 27 - Brick Lane - An immigrant family finds a way to cope with their new life in England
Sunday Jan 27 - No Country for Old Men - Acclaimed modern western by the Coen brothers

The Reception was on Saturday night at 8:45 p.m. in Historic Victoria Hall and featured the Ancient Music Trio and traditional Reception fare! The winner of the Via Rail trip was Martin Partridge.

Next year's Festival will be January 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th, 2009.

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