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Second Central Alberta Film Festival a hit

Filmmakers and film lovers from across the country were in Red Deer this weekend for the second Central Alberta Film Festival.
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More than 60 feature-length films and short films were screened at the second annual Central Alberta Film Festival at Carnival Cinemas and the Scott Block Theatre in Red Deer last weekend. (Photo contributed by CENTRAL ALBERTA FILM FESTIVAL Facebook)

Filmmakers and film lovers from across the country were in Red Deer this weekend for the second Central Alberta Film Festival.

Nearly 70 feature-length and short films were screened at the festival at Carnival Cinemas and the Scott Block Theatre over the weekend.

The festival went really well, said Tanya Mullakady, CAFF communications director.

“It isn’t Hollywood stuff – we had real, heartfelt stories,” said Mullakady. One attendee “told me she couldn’t believe all the amazing film we had at the festival.”

READ MORE: Second Central Alberta Film Festival doubles in size

It was hard to gauge how many people came to CAFF because the film screenings were more spaced out than last year – to leave time for filmmaker Q&A sessions – and held in two theatres, Mullakady said.

The films at the event were very well received and some are already planning to come next year, Mullakady added.

“There were lots of attendees who came from outside of town,” she said. “We just need to let more locals know we’re going to be here every year.”

The weekend wrapped up with an awards gala Sunday night at the Scott Block Theatre, where there was singing, a hula champion and a Bollywood dance troupe.

Mullakady said there was a bit of a scare when she saw street cleaning was being done the night of the gala.

“I looked down the road and there was a tow truck coming. So I pulled him over and asked what was going to happen … and he said if the cars aren’t moved by 7, they’ll get towed.

“It was a little inconvenient, but it’s good we didn’t go out at 7:30 and saw everyone had tickets or there was no vehicles on the street,” she said.

The organizers told attendees and they were able to find nearby off-road parking, Mullakady said.

Next year’s festival will be held in October so it doesn’t coincide with the 2019 Canada Winter Games.



sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com

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Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
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