Picton Picturefest a film festival and cinephile retreat

A collective of film professionals and media artists from across Ontario have landed in Prince Edward County for the inaugural Picton Picturefest – a film festival and “cinephile retreat” from July 7-10. Consisting of four days of films, workshops and outdoor fun – with community and youth education the common threads throughout.

“We wanted to advance and celebrate cinema as a form of community building,” say Picturefest co-directors Peter Knegt and Jennifer MacFarlane – who grew up together in the Picton area. “And we can’t think of a more appropriate setting than Prince Edward County. Beyond giving us a picturesque backdrop for the event itself, the artistic community that has been fostered in that region in the past decade is incredible. In the past few months, the response from the community toward the event has been very inspiring. From media artists to animators to puppeteers, Prince Edward County has a cultural currency comparable to a community 20 times its size.”

The majority of screenings at the festival – a mix of Canadian and international, new and old, narrative and documentary, feature and short – will be on a first-come, first-served basis with a suggested donation of $10. You can also buy all access badges, which will get you into anything and everything Picturefest.  They cost $50 for adults and $35 for youth, students, seniors. 11am to 5pm every day of the festival to answer questions, sell badges, t-shirts, posters and buttons.

Picturefest opened Thursday night with Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday showing at The Regent Theatre.

Friday, July 8th
Friday night in Bloomfield is all about young indie filmmakers, with recent Indie Spirit Award “Someone To Watch” winner Mike Ott’s “Littlerock” and Toronto Film Festival favourite “You Are Here,” from director Daniel Cockburn, who will be in attendance at the screening and offering a Q&A afterwards. Kingston filmmaker Leigh Ann Bellamy’s fantastic short film “Peculiar Mrs. Perkins” will screen before the two features, and Bellamy will also be in attendance.
“Littlerock”
Directed by Mike Ott
USA, 2010, 84min
5:45pm – Bloomfield Town Hall

Preceded by: “Peculiar Mrs. Perkins,” directed by Leigh Ann Bellamy

“You Are Here”
Directed by Daniel Cockburn
Canada, 2010, 98min
7:45pm – Bloomfield Town Hall
co-presented by Quinte Film Alternative; Daniel Cockburn will be in attendance.

Saturday, July 9th
It’s documentary day in Picton. Five fantastic non-fiction works taking on everything from gay rights to a New Orleans madam to Canada’s national parks will descend on Picturefest, and they are not to be missed! The first four docs – “Track 2,” “Music From The Big House,” “The Arbor” and “The Canal Street Madam” – will screen at St. Andrew’s Church in downtown Picton, and then we’ll head over to Small Pond Arts for a special outdoor screening of “The National Parks Project.” Bring snacks, a blanket and/or a lawn chair (though food will be for sale at the event). The night will end off with a creepy campfire twist to end things off: A late night screening of horror flick “The Shrine.”

“Track 2”
Directed by Harry Sutherland
Canada, 1986, 90min
12:00pm – St. Andrew’s Church
co-presented by Pink Triangle Press

“Music From The Big House”
Directed by Bruce McDonald
Canada, 2010, 90min
2:30pm – St. Andrew’s Church
co-presented by Belleville International Documentary Film Festival

“The Arbor”
Directed by Clio Barnard
UK, 2010, 94 min
5:00pm – St. Andrew’s Church

“The Canal Street Madam”
Directed by Cameron Yates
USA, 2010, 91 min
7:00pm – St. Andrew’s Church
co-presented by indieWIRE; producer Basil Tsiokos will be in attendance

“The National Parks Project”
Directed by Louise Archambault
, Keith Behrman, 
Daniel Cockburn
, Hubert Davis, 
Sturla Gunnarsson
, Zacharias Kunuk, 
Stéphane Lafleur, 
Peter Lynch
, Catherine Martin, 
Kevin McMahon, 
Scott Smith, 
Jamie Travis
, John Walker
Canada, 2011, 120 min
9:00pm – Small Pond Arts (Outdoor Screening*)

“The Shrine”
Directed by Jon Knautz
Canada, 2010, 93 min
11:30pm – Small Pond Arts (Outdoor Screening*)
curated by Steven Landry

*-Outdoor screenings are weather permitting; please bring snacks, a blanket and/or a lawnchair. Alcohol permitted, but only if 19+ and within moderation. Screenings will be followed by a party on the campground.

Sunday, July 10th
Picturefest bids farewell with programs of extraordinary short films brought to us by Ouat Media, the Toronto Student Film Festival, and the Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival; a tribute to the remarkable Canadian playwright and filmmaker Daniel MacIvor; and a very secret screening of a movie near and dear to Picturefest organizers’ hearts. In between, you can see what the young filmmakers at Picturefest’s youth retreat were up to with a presentation the film they made on site! Then things will close off with a barn party organized by the folks at Small Pond Arts, cite of Camp Picturefest!

Youth and Student Shorts Films
Various countries, 2010-11, 90min
12:00pm – Bloomfield Town Hall
co-presented by the Toronto Student Film Festival and the Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival.

Award Winning Short Films From Around The World
Various countries, 2010-11, 71min
2:30pm – St. Andrew’s Church
co-presented by Ouat Media

“Wilby Wonderful”
Directed by Daniel MacIvor
Canada, 2004, 99min
4:00pm – St. Andrew’s Church
Daniel MacIvor tribute curated by Brad Horvath & preceded by collection of MacIvor’s short films.

The Picturefest Youth Retreat Movie
Directed by Picturefest’s Class of 2011
6:00pm – St. Andrew’s Church
facilitated by Stephen Dunn and Pat Mills.

Secret Sing-a-Long Extravaganza
Directed by Someone; Tell No One
6:30pm – St. Andrew’s Church
screening will be followed by a brief farewell to Picturefest onstage.

9:00PM: Closing Night Party
Join us for the grand finale of Picturefst at the Small Pond Arts farm. Calgary’s Kris Ellestad will fill the barn with his amazing tunes, then we’ll gather with old friends and new around the campfire. Entry with badge or $10 donation.