The warm summer months are behind us, but you need not despair. There remains plenty of entertainment for Miltonians in the winter months! Most notably, the Milton Film Festival, which takes place in January each year. The 2018 Festival spans January 26-28 at the First Ontario Arts Centre Milton.

Since 2014, the Milton Film Festival has presented a reputable series of films, with a focus on both Canadian and locally developed works, as well as the best of the international scene. On November 29 of last year, the 2018 line-up was announced during a pre-launch event at the Sixteen Mile Arts Photography Gallery in Downtown Milton. Snacks from La Rose Bakery were being gobbled up, and there was a distinct feeling of excitement in the air as guests waited for the announcement by MFF Director and Committee Chair Jennifer Smith.

The venue, formerly The Princess theatre in 1912, and later The Roxy theatre, was chosen specifically in ode to many years of film watching in Milton. The lighting in the space was low, and chairs from the Milton Historical Society were lined up in anticipation of the showing to follow – a screening of the film Eadweard. Eadweard is a Canadian drama based about the eccentric life and pioneering work of Victorian photographer Eadweard Muybridge.

That movie was only a hint of the exceptional content to be found at this year’s Festival. The Opening Night Gala Feature is Breathe, starring The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield and The Crown’s Claire Foy. The movie depicts the true-life story of Robin Cavendish, who contracted polio at age 28.

The remainder of the list includes a number of other notable films. Lucky is the final performance of beloved actor Harry Dean Stanton, on a spiritual journey as a ninetyone-year-old atheist. Loving Vincent, the first animated oil painted film, studies the mystery surrounding the death of infamous painter Vincent Van Gogh. Peterborough native Michelle McLeod will be attending the screening of Don’t Talk to Irene, where she plays the title role as an overweight teenager with dreams of becoming a cheerleader. Fans of the prickly but hilarious the intouchables will look forward to a new film from French directing duo Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano entitled “C’est La Vie.”

Milton resident, director Jawad Mir, will be presenting the Ontario premiere of his feature documentary, Only 78, about a small Nova Scotia village struggling to survive.

The takeaway is this – if you didn’t previously know about the Milton Film Festival and the amazing shows it is bringing to Milton, consider yourself enlightened and book your tickets now! miltonfilmfest.com
Photos by: Denis Portelance

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