Niagara Artists Centre (NAC)

16/11/2024

What an honour, a million thank you’s .maddin

❣️

16/11/2024

Woweee that’s what you call a Saturday!

mnff.nac.org 🎟️ 10 bucks or pwyc :)

15/11/2024

WFG at MNFF24 Class Photo!

We’ve learned so much and continue to do so. Artist-run on artist-run crushing 💓

Catch more from this epic group of Winnipeg artists this weekend..

mnff.nac.org for full program and tickets

15/11/2024

Barry Grant presents…

Phantom of the Paradise made its debut in Winnipeg on 26 December 1974. The Brian De Palma film blends elements of rock music, comedy, and horror to create a glam-rock twist on The Phantom of the Opera. The film was critically panned and considered a box office failure everywhere except Winnipeg, Manitoba and Paris, France. When it comes to passionate, aberrant fandom, nothing quite compares to the way Winnipeg embraced this rock-horror-comedy when just about every other city in North America rejected it.

While the film died an ignominious box office death in most cities within days of its release, it played continuously in Winnipeg cinemas over four months and over one year non-continuously until 1976. Fervent “Phans” would go on to organize festivals to celebrate it along with IMAX screenings. On the 50th anniversary of this phenomena, the Mighty Niagara Film Fest offers another opportunity to solve the mystery of Winnipeg’s fascination with the Phantom of the Paradise.

The film will be introduced by film author and professor emeritus Barry Grant.

mnff.nac.org

15/11/2024

MNFF 2024 How’s the popcorn? 🍿

The Mighty Niagara Film Fest (MNFF) presents films made about or in Niagara, by filmmakers with connections to the region, as well as films that are consider...

15/11/2024

Day 3 schedule

We don’t wanna question our good fortune so we’ll just say that this is BEYOND and leave it at that.

RUMOURS (2024) plays tomorrow at 7PM. Tickets still available through (sold out on mnff.nac.org)

Tidal Surges 2, 7PM screening is SOLD OUT. 9PM screening still has tix!

+ come hang at the FREE Drop In Media Lab :)

14/11/2024

Day 2 Schedule

Tomorrow is stacked!!!! What are you seeing?

mnff.nac.org — some tix may be available at door

13/11/2024

The highly anticipated, hyper-local Mighty Niagara Film Fest begins TODAY.

This showcase of wildly eclectic filmmaking trains a spotlight on both local and international stories told with moving images. This year’s festival presents unique cultural experiences that blend captivating cinema with exclusive local offerings to celebrate all that is Niagara.

See you at the fest!

mnff.nac.org

12/11/2024

Day 1 Schedule

Tomorrow we kick off MNFF24 in a big way

mnff.nac.org
some tix may be avail at door, but I wouldn’t chance it!

12/11/2024

Tomorrow!!!!!

Deep in the woods near Kinmount, Ontario, lies a movie theatre like no other in the world. Since its opening in 1979, the Highlands Cinemas has grown to become a sprawling five-screen complex full of movie memorabilia, vintage projectors collected from closed theatres all over the U.S. and Canada, and – as if that weren’t enough – dozens of cats. Its existence stands as a testament to the tenacity of its sometimes cantankerous owner Keith Stata.

Matt Finlin has had a successful career in making award-winning documentaries, music videos, and commercials. Matt makes his home in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Post-screening Q&A with Matt Finlin () in attendance.

Presented with short Tricks Are For Kiddo (2012) by Rhayne Vermette ()

In 2010, Winnipeg director, Guy Maddin exclaims: It’s impossible to collage a film!

The source material came from the found footage readily available at the Winnipeg Film Group. This film is quite simply an inquiry into various methods to excavate something from the physical assemblage of images, much like the notion of a film collage, provoked by Mr. Maddin. My selection process was mainly engrossed with textures and either building up the density of an image, or deflating it. It was also interested in the various ways to reduce an image either through cuts or tears.

Rhayne Vermette was born in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba. It was while studying architecture at the University of Manitoba, that she fell into the practices of image making and storytelling. Primarily self taught, Rhayne’s films are opulent collages of fiction, animation, documentary, reenactments and divine interruption.

mnff.nac.org

11/11/2024

The Youth Film Program showcases a diverse collection of short films created by young filmmakers from Ridley College Film Club Students and Jarico Films for Youth Program, highlighting their unique perspectives and creative storytelling.
 
Ridley Film Club + Jarico Films For Youth features works by:

Jason Zhang, Anna Zhang, Taiga Furusho, Emily Kim, Annabelle Standish, Elise Cheung, Adeline Young, Zoie Chan, Sylvia Wang, Eric Bao, Shiva Goodarzi, Luke Winterbottom, Ashton Kidd, Aiden MacPhail, Eddie Pinelli

Presented with short A Time is a Terrible Thing to Waste (2012) by Leslie Supnet (.supnet)

A squirrel ponders the essence of time.

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.

mnff.nac.org

10/11/2024

Did you know NAC has the largest and most eclectic collection of 16mm films in Niagara? Spend the afternoon with us in the studio splicing and dicing found footage. Hosted by Connor Wilkes and Sahar Saeidi.

Later on join us in the microcinema for a program of 16mm to close out the festival.

16mm Reels is presented with short film Mynarski Death Plummet (2017) by alum, Matthew Rankin ()

A completely hand-made historical micro-epic about the final minutes in the life of Winnipeg’s doomed Second World War hero, Andrew Mynarski (1916-1944). Composed of 21,000 hand-painted 35mm frames, Mynarski Death Plummet combines aviation agitprop with abstract animation to create a psychedelic photo-chemical war picture on the theme of self-sacrifice, infinity and jellyfish.

Matthew Rankin is a Canadian experimental filmmaker known for his reimagining of historical narratives. His latest film Universal Language (2024) is playing Saturday 16 Nov 7PM at the with virtual Q&A to follow.

mnff.nac.org

09/11/2024

Relive the nostalgia of classic Saturday mornings in NAC’s Microcinema. Grab your favourite bowl of cereal and cozy up on the couch for a morning filled with iconic retro cartoons on 16mm Film, VHS, and beautiful Betamax. From Kevin “Attic Daddy” Richardson and Connor Wilkes.

We’ll be serving a delicious spread of breakfast classics – waffles, pop tarts, and cereal—just like the good old days. Prepare to laugh, relax, and indulge in your favourite animated memories. Pajamas optional.

Shoutout .chau for the stellar annunciation

mnff.nac.org

08/11/2024

MNFF24: James Brown’s Picks

mnff.nac.org get yer tickets now, and get there early if you wanna join James in the best seats in the house ❣️

08/11/2024

We are 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.
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.
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.
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.

Hosted by

This event is free! Rsvp at mnff.nac.org

07/11/2024

In a mysterious and surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising and mysterious ways. Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of increasingly-befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg. Matthew quits his meaningless job in a Québecois government office and sets out upon an enigmatic journey to visit his mother. Space, time and personal identities crossfade, interweave and echo into a surreal comedy of misdirection.

Matthew Rankin is a Winnipeg-born filmmaker and experimental animator, now based in Montreal. He began his career in the early 2000s, creating short films that blend animation with live-action, drawing heavily from the influence of Guy Maddin. He gained international recognition with his debut feature, The Twentieth Century, which won three Canadian Screen Awards. His latest film, Universal Language (2023), premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Huge for experimental film champions:
Universal Language has been selected as Canada’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

Post-screening virtual Q&A with Mathew Rankin () and Anthony Kinik ()

Presented with short film Blue Christmas (2024) by Amber Williams (.art)

mnff.nac.org - dont miss it!

06/11/2024

We’re proud to present a special tribute to the late St. Catharines artist Cathy Sisler (1956-2021).

Curated by Anne Golden, The Revolutionary Pace: Considering Media Artworks by Cathy Sisler offers a deep dive into Sisler’s unique, iconoclastic body of work.

Often exploring themes of physicality, identity, and the human experience, Cathy Sisler’s work pushes the boundaries of traditional media. Her dynamic pieces, such as Aberrant Motion and The Better Me, have been celebrated for their critical voice and emotional depth. Sisler’s thematic interests often focused on the complexities of self-representation and the impact of societal constructs on individual identity. She sought to challenge perceptions of the body and mind, inviting viewers to engage with her work on a personal level. Throughout her career, Sisler made significant contributions to the Canadian art scene, showcasing her work in various exhibitions and festivals, including notable collaborations with Groupe Intervention Vidéo (GIV) to reach French-speaking audiences.

Originally showcased at Groupe Intervention Vidéo in December 2023, this collection comes to the Niagara Artists Centre (NAC) as a homecoming suggested by Cathy’s brother, Gordon Sisler, and her family, celebrating Sisler’s dynamic physicality, critical voice, and the enduring influence of her art.

This program includes a 70-minute video presentation featuring key pieces like Aberrant Motion and The Better Me. Following the presentation there will be a short, pre-recorded conversation between Cathy’s friend and advocate Karrie Porter and curator Anne Golden.

Mighty Thanks to Gordon Sisler and Groupe Intervention Vidéo for this presentation.

mnff.nac.org

05/11/2024

A rising musical-theatre star before his transition, Z () has to figure out how to sing in his new register in order to return to the thing he loves most — and, in the process, integrate his past and present selves.

J Stevens (they/them) is a Canadian director and cinematographer. They are committed to bringing dynamic, personal, boundary-pushing, and visually captivating LGBTQ2S+ content to audiences. 

Breton (he/him) is a writer, performer, and filmmaker committed to enriching and diversifying q***r and trans representation in storytelling.

Presented with Winnipeg Film Group short 5¢ a Copy
(Ed Ackerman & Greg Zbitnew, 1988)

The world’s first experimental photocopy-animated film, 5¢ a Copy, explores unique methods of creating motion images using a Minolta EP-310 photocopy machine. All effects, including fades and dissolves, were crafted directly on paper. In 1980, amid debates over how to allocate resources, Ackerman and Zbitnew responded creatively to the purchase of a photocopier, crafting this surreal three-minute animation using photocopied faces and cut-outs.

Ed Ackerman is an experimental filmmaker from Winnipeg, known for blending sound and imagery in non-linear storytelling, as seen in Pulpit (1984) and On the Road to Ubud (1986). Greg Zbitnew, also an early member of the Winnipeg Film Group, explores memory and time through his use of found footage, shaping the group’s avant-garde approach.