Three weeks before the annual 10-day cultural event gets underway at Empire Capitol 6, the Vic Theatre and other venues Feb. 1, the festival will roll out one of the year鈥檚 best-reviewed movies, The Imposter, at the Vic for a limited engagement.
Bart Layton鈥檚 acclaimed French film focuses on the mysterious 1994 disappearance of Nicholas Barclay, a 13-year-old blond boy in Texas, and a young man with a French accent claiming to be 鈥淣ick鈥� who surfaces in Spain three years later.
The missing boy鈥檚 tales of escaping kidnap and torture by child traffickers is told through re-enactments and encounters with players including law enforcers and clueless family members.
One of the film鈥檚 most puzzling aspects is how or why the family didn鈥檛 believe Nick was being impersonated by a con man.
Festival communications director Meg Sugrue said showing the film Jan. 10 to 13 was a way to keep the festival in the public eye.
鈥淎fter Christmas, we fall off the radar and people tend to forget about us, so we鈥檙e trying to remind people to get out, that it鈥檚 a fun thing to do.鈥�
The screening also lets them 鈥渢est the waters鈥� for programming at the Vic, which the festival currently manages.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to find out what鈥檚 going to fly at the Vic,鈥� Sugrue said. 鈥淲ill we lean more to indie fims, or first or second run?鈥�
The festival itself will certainly be back on the radar on Jan. 8, when program guides hit the street.
While most revelations are being kept under wraps until then, we鈥檝e learned that My Father and the Man in Black, Jonathan Holiff鈥檚 project documenting the tumultuous relationship between his late father, Saul Holiff, and country-music icon Johnny Cash, who Saul managed from 1960 until 1973, will be featured.
A festival highlight will be an exhibition at the Bay Centre supporting Holiff鈥檚 film, including a collection of Johnny Cash road-trip memorabilia Holiff unearthed from his father鈥檚 storage locker several years ago, when he began working on the project.
Titled I鈥檝e Been Everywhere, Man, the exhibit will include memorabilia from local bands and an open-mike opportunity.
Other festival entries include Ping Pong, Hugh Hartford鈥檚 documentary featuring octogenarian participants in an Inner Mongolia ping-pong tournament; Material Success, which chronicles the exploits of eccentric Montreal fashion designer Bruno Ierullo; and Louder Than Love, Tony D鈥橝nnunzio鈥檚 documentary about the history of the Grande Ballroom, Detroit鈥檚 iconic concert venue where B.B. King, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, The Who and Pink Floyd once played.
Film lovers can buy festival gift certificates, five- and 10-pack film vouchers and passes ranging from a $135 Film Pass that grants admission to all regular screenings to a $500 Platinum Pass, which incorporates perks including admission to the exclusive patrons鈥� reception, opening gala, SpringBoard industry event and Sips 鈥檔鈥� Cinema.
Call 250-389-0444 or go to victoriafilmfestival.com to order gift packs or advance tickets to The Imposter.
