One World Film Festival 2009

And that's a wrap!

2009-11-10T06:29:00.000-08:00

The 20th anniversary of the One World Film Festival has come to a close. This year's event was a fantastic success, and we'd like to thank everyone for making this year one to remember. A special thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers, and to each and every attendee. Also, many thanks to the organizations and businesses who setup kiosks and brought a diverse and unique appeal to this year's festival. And let's not forget our fabulous musical performers and Umi Cafe for the delicious snacks and coffee!

While this year's festival is over, WIAM events have not come to a halt. If you would like to receive email updates about upcoming events, please send your contact information (email address) to the WIAM office.

Take care and we hope to see you again at the festival in 2010.

Last chance to bid on the South African Safari

2009-10-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

On an overcast day such as today, a South African Safari sounds pretty good! Tonight, the final evening of the One World Film Festival, is your last chance to bid on the Safari for Two package we're giving to the highest bidder.

How can you bid?

Come down to Library and Archives Canada at 395 Wellington Street and make your bid in-person before 9:30 p.m. While you're down, stay for the four films we're screening this evening!

Can't make it in time? Email Andrew at: astrutty@gmail.com and he'll give you more info on your bidding options.

The bid is currently at $950!! If you're willing to bid a little more for this chance of a lifetime, make us an offer!

The winner to be announced tonight at the festival.

More than just films

2009-10-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

One of the great things festival goers are raving about this year's event is that it's more than just compelling international films. Going to the One World Film Festival really is an all-encompassing experience. Not only can you see some great documentaries that touch on global and social issues worth contemplating, but you can catch some toe-tapping live musical performances, grab a bite to eat or some fair trade coffee from Umi Cafe, and engage in some interesting and thought-provoking discussions after the films.

Another fantastic part of the One World Film Festival is the wide assortment of kiosks we have. At the kiosks, you can find fair trade businesses and other organizations that have representatives who are more than happy to discuss where they come from and what they do. This year we have a lot of great merchandise for sale as well, including jabu bags that come from Swaziland and help generate revenue for the women in the region who make the bags.

Be sure to stop by our Safari kiosk and ask our volunteers about how you can bid on an Africa Safari trip for two. There's still plenty of time to bid—the highest bidder and "winner" of the trip will be announced October 30—the last night of the festival.

And that's not all! But to get the full experience, you can't just read about what the One World Film Festival offers. You have to be there! Your next chance is coming up this Friday, October 23, when the film selections will focus significantly on women's rights in Afghanistan and Iran. For more information about the films this Friday, please visit our website!

The Festival begins tomorrow!

2009-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

We're very excited for opening night of the One World Film Festival tomorrow. Besides seeing three great films, you can also visit the many kiosks we have setup, pick up some great fair trade products, and listen to some wonderful music by live performers.

Tomorrow is just the beginning! There are still three other days to the festival, happening October 23, 29 and 30, plus some bonus screenings at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

Here's the film lineup for tomorrow:

Us Now
6:00 pm

The Fair Trade
7:45 pm

Milking the Rhino
9:30 pm

And keep your eyes peeled for our collection of posters from past years of the festival. This year, as a special treat, you can take home your own 20th anniversary poster for $5!

See you tomorrow for the festival kick-off! That's at the Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St.

Africa Week Specialty Screenings

2009-10-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

In celebration of our 20th anniversary and Africa Week—October 19th to 23rd—we're proud to partner with the new Institute of African Studies at Carleton University to bring you two specialty screenings this October.

Buud Yam
Wednesday, October 21 @ 7 pm
Theatre B, Southam Hall, Carleton University

and

Zan Boko
Thursday, October 22 @ 7 pm
210 Tory Building, Carleton University
Hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

About the films

Buud Yam
Burkina Faso filmmaker Gaston Kabore brings us a story about Wend-Kuuni, the son of a sorceress, who embarks on a quest after his sister falls ill. His long and eventful journey to find a healer for his sister ultimately becomes a journey of self-discovery.

Zan Boko
Another film by Burkina Faso filmmaker Gaston Kabore, Zan Boko portrays the effects of urbanization on traditional village life through the story of a single farmer, Tinga.

For more information about Africa Week, please visit Carleton University's website.

Has God Forsaken Africa? on October 26

Don't forget to join us for our special benefit screening at the University of Ottawa on October 26. We'll be screening Has God Forsaken Africa?, in partnership with the university's Masters of Globalization and Internation Development Student Association. Suggested donation: $5 at the door.

Hope to see you at all these fabulous film screenings!

The program is here

2009-10-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here it is: the official program for the 20^th Anniversary of the One World Film Festival! On Program 1, you will find information on the festival’s schedule and all of the screenings, as well as contact information. On Program 2, you will find a detailed write-up of each of the films, giving you the chance to learn more about each film and the powerful stories they tell. Click on either of the images below for an enlarged version.

Special screening: October 26

2009-10-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

The 20th anniversary of the One World Film Festival is turning out to be a very special year indeed. We're pleased to invite you to a special screening of the film Has God Forsaken Africa? followed by a panel discussion that everyone is welcome to participate in. We're also very excited to announce that the director, Musa Dieng Kala, will be in attendance for the event along with two other guest speakers! Please note that this event will be in both French and English.

EVENT INFO:

Has God Forsaken Africa?

Monday, October 26 @7 p.m.

Room UCU 205, Université Private

University of Ottawa

Suggested donation: $5

This screening is presented in partnership with the Masters of Globalization and International Development Student Association of the University of Ottawa.

About the film:

Each year, thousands of young Africans risk their lives to flee a continent scourged by war and endemic poverty. Many drown or die of cold, hunger and fatigue. Shocked by this growing phenomenon, Musa Dieng Kala returns to his country’s capital, Dakar (Senegal) to ask the question: Has God Forsaken Africa? See how this documentary is a moving call for a global ecology in which no nation or people is abandoned.

The 20th Anniversary Poster!!

2009-09-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

This is it! The 20th anniversary poster for this year's festival. Next up: the program!

Less than a month to go!

2009-09-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe that opening night of the 20th One World Film Festival is less than a month away. Over here we’ve been busy gearing up for the event and are excited to be in the final stages preparing the festival’s program and poster. Be sure to check back here for a first look at this year’s poster. We should have the design ready for your imploring eyes in the next few days.

We are pleased to announce that our webpage for this year’s festival has launched! Check it out here to find out more about the event and to see festival materials from previous years. Check back soon: this year's program with our exciting lineup of films will be posted for you over the next few days!

Bytowne Cinema Event: A Prelude To Success!

2009-09-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday, the ByTowne Cinema hosted a benefit screening for the One World Film Festival (OWFF). Through the nearly 300 tickets sold at the screening of the critically acclaimed documentary "Pray The Devil Back To Hell", we were able to raise an ample amount in funds, recruit a good number of volunteers, and create a strong sense of interest in the crowd for the upcoming festival this October. Overall, it was a great success and a hopeful sign of great things to come for this, the 20th Anniversary of the One World Film Festival.

Bidding has officially begun for the Silent Auction of a 5-star Safari trip for two, to Zululand, Africa. For more information about this great trip, please visit http://www.zulunyala.co.za. And stay tuned for the next time you can bid on this opportunity of a lifetime.

Following the night's screening, a discussion was held across the street at Don Cherry's Bar. Over 25 people attended this post-screening discussion, in order to gather any thoughts, reflections, or questions regarding the night's film. The discussion included three guest speakers, whom the OWFF thanks dearly for their hard work, time, and thoughtfulness:

Leanne Olson: Former Canadian health aid worker and current emergency room nurse at CHEO

Rink de Lange: Previously worked in Liberia with MERLIN and MSF, global medical aid agencies

Scott Walter: CODE Executive Director

Of course the main attraction of the evening was the viewing of the worldwide acclaimed documentary "Pray The Devil Back To Hell". This remarkable film has won countless awards across the globe, and is an awe-inspiring journey that takes great risks in order to reveal the importance and truth of standing up against evil, no matter what the danger or consequences may be. It is a testament to both the human spirit, and to the potential for togetherness that can be discovered within it.

Thanks again to all who attended the event, and to all the many volunteers who helped make this night a tremendous success! It was a perfect prelude to the upcoming 20th Anniversary of the One World Film Festival, which will begin in Ottawa, on October 15th, 2009.

One World's 20th Anniversary

2009-09-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this year's One World Film Festival! We're proud to be celebrating our 20th anniversary.

Join us tonight at the ByTowne Cinema for a special benefit screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a documentary about the events leading to the election of Liberia's first female president.

Tickets are only $10. Screening is at 7 p.m.

For more info on the film, check out this article that ran in the Ottawa Citizen yesterday:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/hellish+road+peace/1998333/story.html