Canadian Sport Film festival begins
Some films to be shown outdoors on a screen made of snow
The sixth annual Canadian Sport Film Festival (CSFF), sponsored by the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and the Film Worlds research cluster of the Institute for the Humanities, returns to Winnipeg from Feb.7-8 with 10 films from around the world.
Headlining the CSFF: The Crash Reel, a profile of snowboarder Kevin Pearce and his attempted comeback from brain injury – a film named one of the best documentaries of 2012 by the Tribeca Film Festival; and Tailwind: Prairie Harvest, the theatrical premiere of Steve Langston and friends’ 1200-km bike tour of Manitoba to highlight the province’s farmers and biodiversity.
The CSFF brings together the theatre of sport and the medium of film to tell unique, provocative and passionate human stories from around the world. The Festival connects filmgoers to the story beyond the scoreboard, behind the camera and told with a critical lens.
“As always, this year’s program features a strong line-up of outstanding films,” said Russell Field, Executive Director at CSFF and an assistant professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. “But we are thrilled this year to present such a strong roster of films never before seen in Manitoba, including the award-winning The Crash Reel, and to be returning to The Forks for our innovative free event, eight short films screened outdoors on a screen made of snow. Only in Winnipeg.”
Canadian Sport Film Festival 2014 Winnipeg Program
Friday, February 7, Feature Evening (Park Theatre, 698 Osborne St., 7 p.m.)
The Crash Reel, Manitoba premiere
The rivalry between snowboarders Kevin Pearce and Shaun White in the run-up to the 2010 Olympics leaves Shaun on top of the podium and Kevin in a coma following a training accident. Kevin insists he wants to return to the sport he loves. What price will he pay to pursue his passion? How much risk is too much?
Tailwind: Prairie Harvest , Theatrical premiere
Four friends embark on a 17-day, 1200-km unsupported bike tour around Manitoba to meet local food producers and consume only food sourced within the province.
Saturday, February 8, Outdoor Screening (The Forks, “Snowscreen,” 5:30pm, with repeat screening at 7pm)
Faith’s Goal, Manitoba premiere
Eleven-year-old Faith Walker recounts her experiences playing in a previously all-boys’ hockey league, with advice from 2014 Canadian Olympian Jenn Wakefield.
The No Regretzkeys
An unlikely group of non-athletes decide to take a leap into the world of surprisingly competitive beer-league hockey.
The Basketball Game, Manitoba premiere
Nine-year-old Hart is attending Jewish summer camp for the first time, when he finds himself part of an epic basketball game between his camp and students of a notorious local Holocaust denier. What awaits him on the basketball court?
The Perfect Fit, Canadian premiere
Ballet shoes might be worn by delicate girls, but they are crafted by burly men, whose hands tell a different story. A perfectionist shoemaker pounds his soul out making each pair, as he tries to ease the burden on the dancers’ feet.
The Toilers of ‘33
The tragic story of the Winnipeg Toilers, the 1933 men’s Canadian basketball champions. After a successful trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team’s plane crashed on the way home, killing 2 players and injuring many others. Hugh Pennwarden, son of one of the survivors tells his father’s story.
Away, Canadian premiere
A look at the subculture of New York City surfing through the lens of three women that surf at Rockaway Beach.
The Oval: A Halifax Story, Manitoba premiere
A visual love letter to Halifax’s ice skating oval, the city’s new outdoor rink.
Rooting for the Home Team, Canadian premiere
Faced with displacement by World Cup 2014 construction, 22 communities in Fortaleza, Brazil, fight to remain in the homes they have occupied for generations.