MEDIA THAT MATTERS FILM FESTIVAL

 

Ottawa, ON – Imagine a festival of activist films traveling like a caravan, from town to town, all over North America.  Artists and speakers and the public come together for a feast of provocative ideas, anything from gay rights, to the war in Iraq, to racial issues.  Films are viewed, information shared, and a sense of community action is built.  Well that is exactly what happens in the Media That Matters Festival out of New York City.  And this year's crop of winning films is coming to Ottawa's SAW Gallery on September 17.  The only Canadian entry is (Hate) Machine by local director and writer, Phil Caron.

 

"As the sole Canadian winner, it's an honour," said Mr. Caron, who also won the Media Literacy Prize.   Produced in reaction to media inspired xenophobia, (Hate) Machine explores the boundaries of manipulating harmless raw footage, and challenges the notion that media can ever portray truth. "I want the audience to consider elements of media that often go unnoticed and unquestioned, like direction and editing -- the things left out. I want to create a dialogue between the consumers of media and the creators of media. Ultimately, with society's growing reliance on mediated second-hand experience, this dialogue is more important than ever."

 

Members of the festival's jury included famed activist Frances Moore Lappé, The New Yorker's deputy fiction editor Cressida Leyshon, and Reporters Without Borders' Todd Lester. The festival was launched in New York in June, and the 16 award winning short films will be on tour for one year.  Ottawa is the only Canadian stop booked.

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For More Information: 

 

Monique Fuller (613) 325-7935 email: ispy@ispyproductions.ca

Phil Caron, (613) 565-2355, email: philcar@sympatico.ca

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