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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 13, 2016 | 22 John Bkila Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Lineup announced for Willson Oakville Film Fest by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" The Willson Oakville Film Festival has come a long way since its beginnings three years ago. Screening only three films its inaugural year, the festival's third annual rendition, kicking off next month, will feature 18 Canadian and international films and documentaries, many of them Canadian premieres -- that's no small feat. Wendy Donnan, chair of the Willson Oakville Film Festival, said she is absolutely thrilled with this year's lineup during yesterday's (Thursday) announcement at Film.Ca Cinemas, where most of the films will be screened. "We had close to 2,000 submissions... but that includes feature films, documentaries and shorts. Just going through them and seeing the calibre of films, it made it a very difficult choice," said Donnan, who is the 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. "I had to focus on what we were trying to do with the festival," Donnan continued on the difficult job of film selection. "It's very social issues based, and so that's where I was able to decide. Canadian premieres are always a bonus.... I looked at them all from different standpoints for different reasons. But all of them are excellent films in their own right. The filmmakers are amazing." Kicking of Friday, June 24, this year's film festival will screen 14 feature films and four documentaries (among them seven Canadian premieres) and about 30 shorts, many of them world premieres from Sheridan College students. "We're so excited to roll out the red carpet on this year's festival," said Judah Hernandez, OFFA co-founder and artistic director. "In our first year, Wendy and I got together Media partners were invited to attend the lineup announcement of the third annual Willson Oakville Film Festival Thursday (May 11) at Film.Ca Cinemas. From left: Rhonda-Marie Avery is the focus of Lisa Lightbourn-Lay's documentary 8% No Limit; Allan Tong is the co-director/writer/producer of documentary The Flying Stars; while Maninder Chana is the director/writer of Scratch with Michael Dragnea (producer). The festival kicks off with a gala premiere on June 24. Single tickets go on sale Monday (May 16). | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) with a passion for film. We wanted to show Oakville another side of the film industry, show this culture behind films where at times you'd have to leave to get (it). But by putting this together, we have it here in our home. "It is absolutely immense," he continued. "I can't portray how wonderful it is to have this calibre of quality films in our town and have premieres, no less." The OFFA announced earlier this year its three-year title sponsorship partnership with customs brokerage Willson International. Peter Willson, the company's president and CEO, has said he felt it was important to support the Oakville film festival. The host for the local showcase of films for the second time is Toronto Star TV critic and columnist Rob Salem, who was on hand Thursday to announce what he called the "incredible" lineup of films for this year's festival. "I was honoured and delighted to be asked back to host for the second year," said Salem. "We had such a fabulous time last summer, with such an impressive selection of films. Looking at this year's excellent and eclectic line-up, I eagerly anticipate an even better time for all." It all begins with two gala premieres at 8 p.m. at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. On Friday, June 24, director Brian DeCubellis' see Single on p.23 Open your senses to what others have experienced. Plum'S food ShoP iS now oPen! We serve fresh breakfast & lunches daily Take-out only until 2:30, Monday - Friday We offer full service corporate catering 447 Speers Rd, unit 9 · 905-844-7110 www.plumcatering.ca