Real to Reel returns for eighth year

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This article was published 12/01/2018 (2835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Real to Reel Film Festival is back again with a packed program of films from local, national, and international filmmakers.

The annual festival, now in its eighth year, will take place Feb. 20 to 25 at the North Kildonan MB Church (1315 Gateway Rd.).

“Every year we have dozens of new films,” said festival organizer Paul Boge. “I love them all. To me, these are the kinds of films, if this were a festival somewhere else, it’s the kind of event I’d take holidays for.”

According to Boge, the festival’s theme of presenting “cool, clean, compelling” allows Real to Reel “to tackle compelling topics, but it also allows a broad range of people to attend.”

One of the feature-length documentaries screening at Real to Reel this year comes from former MLA and MP Joy Smith, whose foundation produced Human Trafficking: Canada’s Secret Shame.

“Education is our greatest weapon against this crime,” said Smith, who retired from politics in 2015 to dedicate more time to advocate against human trafficking. “It is born and bred Canadians who are trafficked in our country every day. This crime affects Winnipeg and Manitoba. It affects real people across Canada.”

“People are only just beginning to see how widespread the problem is in Canada,” added Boge, who is currently writing a book with Smith on the subject of human trafficking.

Since the film debuted in September 2017, the 90-minute documentary has aired nationally on CBC, and will soon be released for free online.

“In this documentary, you see people coming forward to tell the story of human trafficking,” Smith said. “It features testimonies from parents of children who have been trafficked, testimony from a former trafficker, testimony from survivors and from police officers.”

Smith’s film is one of seven feature length documentaries screening at Real to Reel, including Winnipegger Andrew Wall’s The Fantasy Makers, about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. The festival is also presenting 14 feature films, 13 short films, and four short documentaries. In every timeslot, there is a film screening that is suitable for children.

“Families will come, but they don’t always want to see the same thing,” Boge explained. “It’s important for us that all ages can enjoy the festival.”

The Real to Reel Film Festival runs from Feb. 20 to 25. Human Trafficking: Canada’s Secret Shame will be shown on Fri., Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m., Sat., Feb. 24 at 4 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 25 at 3:30 p.m.

Visit www.winnipegfilmfestival.com for more information on all of the films showing at Real to Reel or to view a schedule of screenings.

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