Upd8tes!

Busy few weeks for the OTS8. So time to catch up on past and upcoming news.

First, we had a fantastic screening at the Pacific Cinematheque on January 19th. So great to showcase super 8 to new audiences. An enthusiastic crowd was on hand, fostered I'm sure by the ongoing Project8 participants keeping the format alive and thriving on the west coast. It was a fast trip out west with projector and films in hand, and will be nice to return in the future and have a bit more time to see the small gauge work being made there. (will have to write a future blog about the joys of travelling through airport security with our ELMO projector and reels of film. Causes a few interesting looks and responses from people used to seeing laptops).

Speaking of project 8, a program of films curated by project director Julie Saragosa was screened at the second annual 8fest in Toronto this past weekend. An ecclectic batch of films, many made by first time filmmakers. Some great imagery with filmmakers adding hand painted colour to b/w work. The 8fest has committed to showing work on the original format (a festival after OTS8's heart), and Sam's Last Stand, a film made for the filmpop 2007 program in Montreal, was fortunate to be included in the Bagaroo, two! program. The highlight of the festival and the strongest argument for the legitimacy of super 8 as a unique artistic medium was a performance of White Calligraphy by Takahiko Iimura. Trash Palace was the perfect venue, with an intimate audience experience of this stunning exploration of projection, motion, language, light, and mythology. An unforgetable afternoon that can't help but make one feel that the possibilities with super 8 have yet to be fully explored.

Here's hoping that the new batch of films about to go into production for the 3rd annual Syracuse One Take Super 8 Event continue to push boundaries and build upon the success of the past two years. Plans are well under way with fillmakers signed up, and Funk 'n Waffles booked for April 4th. I'm already tasting a brownie waffle sunday.

But before we get to that screening (and the start of spring!), we're heading out west to Winnipeg to showcase a selection of work made for past OTS8's at the Winnipeg Cinematheque on February 13, at 7:00pm. Admission is free, so all the more reason to come out (as a nice Valentine's eve date), and see super 8 work never before screened in Winnipeg, as well as some films made for past WNDX OTS8 events! Later this week we'll be releasing the program details for the screening.