Creating Distinct Regional Film Culture Panel Discussion
Guest Speakers: Guy Maddin and Donna Szoke (in attendance), Leslie Supnet (joining virtually). Hosted by Anthony Kinik, Brock University.
The Mighty Niagara Film Fest is honoured to host renowned Winnipeg filmmaker Guy Maddin alongside his early collaborator and Niagara media artist Donna Szoke, for a discussion on building regional film culture. The panel will explore how distinct cinematic voices have emerged across Canada, particularly within Winnipeg’s film scene, emphasising the crucial role of collectives like the Winnipeg Film Group in nurturing filmmakers. Leslie Supnet, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Film Group, will join virtually to share insights on the evolution of the Winnipeg film community and how similar strategies could benefit the growing filmmaking scene in Niagara.
Presented in partnership with FilmSTC. Special thanks to Marilyn I Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, and Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film at Brock University
Guy Maddin is a renowned Canadian filmmaker celebrated for his experimental and surreal storytelling. He began his career in the 1980s as a self-taught artist in Winnipeg, where he became a key figure in the Winnipeg Film Group. His acclaimed films, including My Winnipeg and The Saddest Music in the World, explore themes of memory, nostalgia, and the cultural nuances of his hometown. Maddin’s influence has inspired a new generation of filmmakers, helping establish Winnipeg as a hub for innovative cinema.
Maddin’s first feature Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988) screens at MNFF Thu 14 Nov 7PM-9PM at Landmark Cinemas – Pen Centre.
His latest release, Rumours (2024) screens Friday 15 November 7PM-9:30PM at The Film House FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
The Green Fog (2017) by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, is on display at the Niagara Artists Centre Microcinema during gallery hours Wed 13 Nov – Sun 17 Nov.
Donna Szoke is a Canadian media artist and filmmaker recognized for her innovative work across various film and video formats. With a background in experimental film and visual arts, she combines cinematic techniques with her artistic practice. Originally from Winnipeg, she has also lived in Vancouver and currently resides in Niagara, where she teaches Visual Art at Brock University. Szoke collaborated in early productions of Guy Maddin’s films in costume and makeup design, including Tales From the Gimli Hospital (1988), Archangel (1990), Careful (1992), and Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1997).
Donna Szoke will also be in attendance with Guy Maddin at post Screening Q&A Tales From The Gimli Hospital Thu 14 Nov 2024 7PM-9PM at Landmark Cinemas – Pen Centre.
Leslie Supnet is an accomplished experimental filmmaker and the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Film Group. With a Master of Fine Arts in Film from York University, she has developed a unique artistic voice that combines animation, live-action, and found footage to explore themes of loss and change using both analog and digital techniques.
Leslie has also contributed to the film community as an educator, teaching both analog and digital animation at various artist-run centers and universities across Canada. She is passionate about mentoring emerging artists and has served on the Board of Directors for the Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art (MAWA). Her commitment to nurturing regional film culture is evident in her leadership at the Winnipeg Film Group, where she continues to support and champion local filmmakers.
Panel hosted by: Anthony Kinik teaches film studies at Brock University, specialising in documentary and experimental film, as well as cinema’s relationship with urban environments. Kinik also co-presents the Brock University Film Society film series at The Film House.
Address: 15 Artists' Common, St. Catharines, L2R 0B5, Canada
Phone: (905) 688-5550
Website: https://brocku.ca/miwsfpa/
RSVP closes 30 minutes before start time. Pay-what-you-choose tickets are available at the door pending capacity.
