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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 14, 2016 | 44 John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Excitement builds ahead of third annual Willson Oakville Film Festival opening Pre-release passes available now, single tickets after May 13 by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" The opening of the Willson Oakville Film Festival may be months away, but excitement is already building ahead of the announcement of this year's selected films later this month. "I'm absolutely excited this year, just thrilled," said Wendy Donnan, co-founder and executive director of Oakville Festivals of Film and Art (OFFA), the non-profit organization that brings Canadian and world premieres and screenings to local cinephiles. Donnan was on hand last Friday (April 8), along with OFFA co-founder and artistic director Judah Hernandez, at Film.Ca Cinemas for the official kickoff to the local film festival -- now entering its third year. Hernandez said it wasn't just important a film festival of this calibre existed in Oakville, but it was crucial, especially with a town with such an active and robust arts community. "I think it's absolutely necessary," he added, "and I'm really glad that we can deliver it." Donnan said she was not only shocked at how much the festival has grown since its inception, but also over the number of submissions she received for this year. "It just blows me away," she said. "We have a good Canadian contingent, but we have films from all over the world.... We're going to have premieres from other countries, like South Africa... and some of the short films too. It's just absolutely amazing." Donnan said, in total, she will have gone through about 800 features and documentaries and 1,500 short films before the final selections will be released to the public in the coming weeks. "I'm thrilled about the selection this year," she explained. Oakville Festivals of Film and Art (OFFA) co-founder and artistic director Judah Hernandez enjoys some popcorn as OFFA co-founder and executive director Wendy Donnan and Peter Willson, president and CEO of official film festival sponsor Willson International, look on during the kickoff to the third annual Willson Oakville Film Festival at Film.Ca Cinemas last Friday (April 8) morning. The showcase runs June 24-26. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) "We have a great social-issues based festival. We have some really great films. We have one on bipolar disorder... but I can't really say much yet. I'm so excited though, bursting to tell everyone." This year, the number of feature films will be bumped up to 18 and another gala premiere night will be added. "There's been nothing like it this year. People are more see Pre-release on p.45 Big Movies... small mall Prices! 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville General: $8.50 Children (3-13): $6.50 seniors (65+): $6.50 tuesdays: $5.00 905-338-6397 www.film.ca facebook.com/filmca @FilmCaCinemas the Boss (14A) April 8th the JunGle Book (pG) April 15th the huntsmAn: Winter's WAr (pG) April 21st mother's DAy (stC) April 28th rAtChet AnD ClAnk nk (stC) April 28th