WINNIPEG — Making a film can seem like an impossible undertaking. But for 40 years the Winnipeg Film Group (WFG) has helped bring local filmmakers’ stories to life on the big screen.
Over the years the WFG has not only offered guidance and a place to network with other budding filmmakers, it has been a place where the sheer idea of making a film has been nurtured.
“Just believing in yourself,” says Cecilia Araneda, Executive Director of WFG and Cinemateque. “That notion that you’ll come here and you’ll find people who will say it’s totally possible.”
In the early 1970’s a group of aspiring filmmakers created the organization. At the time there were only 10-20 people involved. By 1980, almost 20 productions made their way through the WFG.
To date there are over 800 films catalogued by the WFG.
The addition of the Cinematheque theatre in the early years and then a distribution centre in the 1980’s helped enhance the organization’s support.
“We were suddenly able to help widen our capacity and our reach in terms of how we were able to help filmmakers. Not just by making the films but by putting them into the Toronto Film Festival or even screening them here so local audiences could come get to know the local filmmakers,” said Araneda.
After film school at the University of Manitoba, Stephane Oystryk turned to the WFG to help kick-start his future in filmmaking and this year, completed his first feature film, FM Youth — inspired by his life growing up as a Francophone in St. Boniface.
“Being exposed to so many Winnipeg filmmakers, learning about the culture of film in Winnipeg and just the strong tradition we have of making films about ourselves in this city in a unique way, absolutely inspired me,” explains Oystryk.
Today, there are more than 800 Manitoba-made films catalogued at the WFG.
A lot of changes have taken place in the industry during recent years, with increased access to affordable equipment for independent filmmakers. There’s also a move to see how the WFG could or should evolve to respond to changing needs.
A number of filmmakers and industry experts from across the country are coming to Winnipeg to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Winnipeg Film Group May 6-9th. The event will include a series of forums and film screenings. Find out more at reflectinglight.ca
Better Winnipeg is a weekly feature that focuses on people and events that make Winnipeg better. If you have suggestions for stories, send them to betterwinnipeg@globalnews.ca.
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