Sundar Prize and Moving Images host film screenings in North Delta
As a part of BC Culture Days, the event will also include networking opportunities, a free workshop, and preview of a new youth program
Balasubramanian's short film, Velvet Secrets, will be among the ones screened at the event on Sept. 29. (Submitted)
The Sundar Prize Film Festival and the Moving Images Distribution non-profit are presenting film screenings on Sept. 29 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the North Delta Centre for the Arts.
The event is a part of the annual BC Culture Days events campaign. This marks the first time the Sundar Prize Film Festival — an initiative of 2SLGBTQIA+ charity, Sher Vancouver — has taken part in Culture Days programming, says Susan Ruzic, manager of volunteers, youth, and students at the Sundar Prize.
Moving Images Distribution is based in Vancouver and aims to advance Canadian artists, filmmakers, and their work.
“I had never heard of BC Culture Days before,” Ruzic says, adding Moving Images Executive Director Karen Wong told her the non-profit has been involved with it for a few years.
“When she described what it was all about, I thought it would be a good fit for us being in our third year.”
The event will provide an exclusive preview of the new Sundar Prize Luminaires Youth and Student Storytellers Competition, which offers youth aged 16 and older to join a community of filmmakers and work on projects that reflect “care, justice, and creative impact,” the program’s website reads.
“Being involved with the new Luminaries program is a valuable avenue for youth to get involved in the film industry,” Ruzic says.
The program allows youth to volunteer during the film festival, work with a mentor in the industry, apply for the storytelling competition, and more.
Interested youth can submit their film or project outline for the storytellers contest until Oct. 28. Attendees at the event can also apply and get feedback at the free storytelling workshop.
The contest, which is only open to B.C. residents, aims to support emerging storytellers in addressing social justice topics through their projects. Prizes include filmmaker mentorships, $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place. The winners will be announced on Nov. 10.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity, not only to launch the Luminaries program, but to make ourselves available for anybody submitting films to the storytellers contest,” Ruzic says. “[They can] drop by and find out what we think of their idea, have us look at their treatment, and help them out.”
Among the films that will be screened at the event is Velvet Secrets, a short by Surrey-based writer and director Shanthini Balasubramanian. The Tamil dramedy delves into themes of self-discovery, cultural identity, and empathy.
Balasubramanian was awarded the KDocsFF Emerging Filmmaker Residency Award at this year’s Sundar Prize Film Festival and is also a mentee with the Luminaries program.
As for screenings, Wong’s film, King Covid, will be featured at the event. Alex Sangha and Vinay Giridhar, co-founders of the Sundar Prize Film Festival, will present a trailer of their film, Emergence: Out of the Shadows. Giridhar’s short, Loves Age, will be part of the event as well. Moving Images Creative Director Caid Dow will also screen her film, It’s a Boy.
The event will also include a Q-and-A panel discussion to interact and network with filmmakers, industry professionals, and other students. The panel will be moderated by Sidartha Murjani, executive director, senior programmer, and filmmaker for the Sundar Prize.
Murjani will screen his film, Chaturanga. Directors Tina Nowarre and Shireen Dalbey will also present their film, Warmest Regards, E.
For more information about the event, visit www.bit.ly/deltascreening.
