www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 11, 2015 | 44 Oakville Festivals of Film and Art returns June 26 by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Sports "Connected to your Community" A star-studded lineup of Canadian and international films, documentaries and shorts are on the docket for Oakville Festivals of Film and Art's (OFFA) second annual film festival. The non-profit, Oakville-based organization, created by local photographer Judah Hernandez and longtime resident Wendy Donnan, puts on the festival to bring Canadian and world premieres and screenings to local cinephiles. "We're pleased to continue the pioneering work we started last year with our inaugural festival," said Hernandez, the festival's artistic director. "OFFA believes Oakville is the right setting and now is the right time to deliver a wonderful event. We see the growing desire people have to engage with their community in something fresh and unique and we are breaking barriers to bring it to them." The three-day festival showcases 17 feature films and documentaries, as well as several short films. It will be hosted by veteran critic and columnist Rob Salem, who says he is excited and honoured to be a part of this year's OFFA. "Personally, for me, it is a triumphant return to the town where I made my bones as a cub reporter, covering local politics for the old Oakville Journal Record," he said. "So, even then I was an entertainment critic. And now, as an entertainment critic, it is my professional pleasure to introduce (festival-goers) to this year's admirably eclectic selection of the best of international cinema." OFFA 2015 launches at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St., on Friday, June 26 with the gala premiere screening of What We Did On Our Holiday at 8 p.m. Billy Connolly (of Quartet and Brave), Oscar-nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl and Jack Reacher) and David Tennant (Broadchurch and Doctor Who) star in the tale of a quarrelsome family who gathers in the Highlands of Scotland and what happens when three children decide to take matters in their own hands. The festival continues Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 at Film.ca Cinemas, 171 Speers Rd., with screenings taking place all day. In addition to the featured films, OFFA is once again partnering with Sheridan College's Trafalgar campus to premiere Judah Hernandez and Wendy Donnan are the creators of the Oakville Festivals of Film and Art (OFFA), which boasts bringing Canadian and international films, documentaries and shorts to local residents. Hernadez and Donnan are also OFFA's artistic and programming directors, respectively. In its second year, the film festival kicks off June 26. | submitted photos animated and live action shorts by its animation and film students, such as Homefront -- a Second World War story of an American soldier sheltered by a German woman and her son. The short film is produced by Sheridan student Sarah R. Thomson and written and directed by fellow student Jamie Banks. OFFA will include the world festival premiere of A Woman's Story, a documentary shot on location in Canada, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Poland that looks at genocide, survival and physical and cultural continuity. The film, directed by Azra Rashid and funded by a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, is shown through the perspectives of three women who experienced three different genocides in the 20th century. "A Woman's Story performs the function of unsilencing women's stories from the mainstream narratives on genocide and it seeks to build coalition between women across borders," Rashid said in the media release. "We believe it is an important film and we are delighted to be screening it at (OFFA 2015)." Donnan, who is also the festival's programming director said films like A Woman's Story is exactly what the OFFA strives to bring to Oakvillians. "This festival is looking for programming that has an indelible impact on people's lives; programming that is not easy to forget," she explained. "We are so proud to feature the world premiere of a serious, social-issues documentary like A Woman's Story, which is sure to win awards and capture attention around the world." For a complete list of this year's featured films and documentaries, ticket prices and showtimes, visit offa.ca/films. Art Fête 2015 is another feature of this year's OFFA -- set for Saturday, June 27, it will include live music and performances, food, wine, and photography from selected local and international artists. The photography works are also on display for the entire month of June at Aroma Espresso Bar, 321 Lakeshore Rd. E. Special Art Mingle events at the local café are scheduled for tonight (Thursday) and Thursday, June 25. Beginning at 7 p.m., those who attend will get to meet and hear the photographers featured in the exhibits speak about their works and inspirations. All the works selected for the exhibition were curated by OFFA organizers and Karen Mayer of savvyartmarket.com. To reserve a spot for any of the art events, visit offa.ca/ art-fete. The Best of British Theatre right here in Oakville swan lake June 7 & 10 the duChess oF malFi June 21 & 24 the rise & Fall oF the City oF mahagonny July 5 & 8 titus androniCus July 19 & 22 tiCket PaCkages available 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville 905-338-6397 film.ca/signature facebook.com/filmca @FilmCaCinemas