Mascot of the Taiwanese Film Festival. Photo by Wayroan Li
Vancouver is a city of many facets. It is made up of different communities, ethnicities, identities and sexual orientations. While it may be dark and rainy at times, the sun always manages to show up for the summer. Warm weather means it’s time for festivals and community celebrations. Here’s a snapshot of what our summer will look like this year.
Taiwanese Film Festival
A group of UBC students from the UBC Literature, Etc. Club started the Taiwanese Film Festival in 2007. Because this is a student-run event, the organizers involved are always changing.
“It really astounds me how incredibly driven the team is every year,” PR Director Wayroan Lin says.
This year’s theme is metamorphosis because it symbolizes the changes happening within the club. This will be its 10th anniversary and a pivotal point in its existence. The movies to be screened also deal with characters coming to terms with the changes in their lives.
In Goodbye May, a young and frustrated electronic music composer, Zheng Shen, awakens to new changes when his grandmother dies and Chinese opera talent, Miao Xian, suddenly enters his life.
In Starry Starry Night, 12-year-old Mei has to simultaneously deal with migration, death, divorcing parents and a possible new friendship.
Six films will be shown in total. The festival is happening from June 29–July 1. See the website for details and schedule: www.twff.ca. Films are unrated in Canada. Anyone under 18 years old will not be admitted.
Your Kontinent: Richmond International Film and Media Arts Festival
Cinevolution is the main organizer of this event. It was re-branded from the New Asia Film Festival to the Your Kontinent Festival last year.
The Your Kontinet Festival ombines film and media art. Photo courtesy of Your Kontinent Festival
“Our films are not just about Asian cultures and Asian peoples, but also this idea of building a new community,” says Yun Jou Chang, the event’s media and public relations officer.
What’s unique about this festival is its combination of film and media art. There will be mini events called “Arts in Containers,” where photographers, cinematographers and the youth media squad will curate their own displays in shipping containers. There will also be a digital carnival – a multimedia party where DJs play while light and video projections are shone in the background.
And because they aim to focus on local artists, they will be featuring a retrospective display of Margaret Dragu’s work. Dragu, who won the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts, will also be performing for the festival.
The festival is happening from July 20–22 at the Richmond Cultural Centre.
Queer Arts Festival
The Queer Arts Festival evolved from a small community visual arts show into a multi-disciplinary arts festival.
Joel Klein, Queer Arts Festival direcor. Photo courtesy of Queer Arts Festival
“I hope to be able to give a lot of people really interesting art-related experiences,” says Joel Klein, the festival’s president.
Klein says their definition of ‘queer’ includes all kinds of gender diversity, and ‘queer art’ is art made by queer people. The art works don’t necessarily center on sexual orientation or identity. Klein adds that he’s open to the idea that straight people can produce queer art.
“I can’t see why not,” he says. “I can’t see why straight people can’t be a little queer.”
This year’s theme is Random Acts of Queerness, in honour of experimental queer artist John Cage. Highlights at this year’s events include: Thank You, You’re Not Welcome – an autobiographical show by Noam Gagnon, Boulez Contra Cage – for people who like new music and interesting theatre –When the Sun Comes Out – a workshop performance of Canada’s first lesbian opera.
The festival will be happening from July 31–August 18 at the Roundhouse Community Centre. See the website for details and schedule: www.queerartsfestival.com
Latin Summer Festival
Latin Summer Fest was first organized by Latinos in Action, a group formed to aid quake victims in El Salvador in 2000. People from as far away as Europe and Latin America have come to celebrate with the local community.
Co-ordinator Ana David says the main message they want to express this year is that the festival will go on despite failing to receive city funding.
Latin daner at Latin Summer Festival. Photo by Gerry Fuoco, www.gerryfuoco.com
“Si, se puede – yes, we can do it,” she says. The festival’s purpose is the same every year: world peace, which starts in the immediate community.
This year’s fiesta will be a pueblo – a small town fair. There will be a drumming circle featuring performer Navarro Franco. Curtis Andrews, a musician from the west side, will also be performing. They’re also hoping to do a Puerto Rican folkloric music workshop and a mask-making workshop.
The festival is happening on August 19 at Trout Lake Park.
