R31 is grateful to be in production this fall as Covid-19 continues to change how we make television and all other aspects in the film and television industry. While initially all screenings of our films were put on hold, including the popular Volendam: A Refugee Story, there has now been a global shift to virtual screenings or Covid-19 friendly venues and events. In other words, things are moving forward, just differently.
This past weekend Volendam: A Refugee Story and Burning Ember: The Steve Bell Journey were both screened virtually and nominated for best documentary at the Canadian International Faith & Family Friendly Film Festival in Toronto. The music video Turn It Around (from Steve Bell’s Album Where The Good Way Lies and directed by Andrew Wall) was also nominated for Best Music Video. Congratulations to our friend Steve Bell for winning the Best New Media Award for his series The Loft Sessions.
We are honoured and delighted to announce that our Eagle & Hawk Take The Stage (directed by Vince Fontaine and Andrew Wall) will not only be airing on CBC this October 31 but screening virtually at the 45th Annual American Indian Film Festival on Nov 6-14 by the American Indian Film Institute and the 25th Red Nation International Film Festival Nov 1-30. Both are prestigious and long running festivals that focus on indigenous stories.
The film Volendam: A Refugee Story will make its European “debut” at the Refugees Welcome Film Festival in Berlin on October 29. The film, being about refugees fleeing through Berlin during the Second World War, was a natural fit.
Finally, congratulations to director Andrew Wall for his short film Grandemic which took a Gold Award at the London Worldwide Comedy Film Festival in England. The film was created by Andrew and his family for the Winnipeg Film Group’s 48 Hour Film Festival which took place this past spring. The very funny short captures the lives of three grandchildren during this pandemic and will be on the festival circuit this fall and winter.
That’s it for current screenings and such. Stay tuned for more as things move forward in the back half of 2020.
R31