Get ready to witness one of the Victoria arts scene’s greatest collaborations at the eighth annual Reel-to-Reel music and film challenge, Sept. 8 at the Vic Theatre.
Film and music makers from across Victoria are teaming up to produce short films, up to 10 minutes long, inspired by a selection of diverse local music. Genres range from celtic punk and heavy metal to experimental, electronic and pop. Even a spoken word piece, We Are it Stopped, by Victoria’s Poet Laureate Janet Marie Rogers made the cut this year, a first for this competition.
Musical artists involved in this year’s competition include Psychic Pollution, Kaya Martin, Secondhand Habit, Empire Monday, Kristy Farkas, The McGillicuddys and Solipsis.
Eight songs were chosen by judges from a long list of entries. Then filmmakers had the chance to vote for their favourites. In the end, each filmmaker was assigned a song to base their short movie around.
The final product is being screened in front of an audience at the recently resurrected Vic Theatre (808 Douglas) for the first time.
“The filmmakers are excited to present their work on a big screen in a proper theatrical environment,” says Bryan Skinner, executive director of CineVic Society of Independent Filmmakers, which hosts the event. “I’ve had the chance to see a couple of films that have already come in and they’re fabulous. I’m really excited about some of the work.”
Having professional quality music to work with gives the independent filmmakers a chance to focus on the visual aspect of storytelling, says Skinner. And events like this one give members of each community a chance to meet and mingle.
“We’ve seen some really great stuff come out of the exposure of filmmakers and musicians meeting each other at this event,” says Skinner. Sibling filmmakers Victoria and Jen Wescott were introduced to the music of Chris Ho at Reel-to-Reel. After that introduction, they decided to use one of his tunes in their feature Locked in a Garage Band, which screened at Cannes in May.
Reel-to-Reel music and film challenge is a 19+ event. Driftwood Brewery will be on hand to serve up some suds. Doors at 7 p.m., screening at 7:30 p.m.