FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2022

Lunenburg Doc Fest announces winner of The Launch $20,000 Pitch Contest
for emerging Nova Scotia media creators

Lunenburg, NS — Lunenburg Doc Fest (LDF), the premier festival dedicated to the art and business of documentary film in Atlantic Canada, is thrilled to announce The Launch: Documentary Development and Pitch Contest winner.

Five emerging Nova Scotia media creators from diverse and underrepresented communities competed for a $20,000 prize package including cash and in-kind filmmaking rentals and services, as well as one-on-one mentorship with an acclaimed Canadian documentarian for the duration of the development of a short documentary.

LDF’s The Launch initiative helps advance and support emerging diverse and underrepresented talent in Nova Scotia for market success. The participants took part in sessions on story development and pitch preparation consultations with an international pitch expert to hone their pitch materials ahead of the contest. The participants also connected with regional and international industry experts and decision makers including distributors, broadcasters, producers, and other key stakeholders during LDF’s ninth edition, September 22-28, 2022.

The jury selected media creator Anna Quon as the 2022 winner of Lunenburg Doc Fest’s 2022 The Launch Pitch Contest. Poet and novelist Anna Quon creates paintings and short animated films of her original poetry. Quon is also a writing workshop facilitator, and host of an arts and culture guest speaker series for a local mental health organization. Her chapbook, Body Parts was published in 2021 by Gaspereau Press. Quon has released three novels with Invisible Publishing: Migration Songs (2009), Low (2013) and Where the Silver River Ends (2022). Anna lives in Kjipuktuk (Halifax).

Quon’s documentary concept Me & My Teeth is about a woman with ‘psychiatric experience’ who tumbles from a childhood illusion of perfection to embrace her own imperfect humanity, and a plead for the systems we create to embrace every one of us — madness, poverty, teeth, and all.

“I was dazed to win The Launch Pitch Contest after working so hard for months to wrestle my film to the ground so I could talk about it clearly. Winning feels bittersweet in some ways because I know how hard my competitors also worked, and only one of us could win — but I’m excited about the next eight months when I actually make the film!” said Quon.

“The Launch program helped me connect with experts and learn what a pitch even is. I got some valuable advice,” stated Quon. Quon will be paired with an acclaimed Canadian documentarian for one-on-one mentorship throughout the creation of the documentary. Me & My Teeth will have its world premiere at the tenth edition of Lunenburg Doc Fest, September 21-27, 2023.

The free-admission pitch contest took place at the Halifax Central Library on November 14, 2022 before a live audience and jury of screen industry professionals. Jury members included Halifax-based Stephanie Joline (Night Blooms, Play Your Gender); filmmaker and speaker, Tyler Simmonds; and actress, journalist, playwright, and film and theatre director Juanita Peters (I Made a Vow, Hannah’s Story, Africville Can’t Stop Now, 8:37 REBIRTH).

“Lunenburg Doc Fest is delighted to support professional development, industry visibility, and a generous prize to help bring new and underrepresented voices, and Nova Scotian stories, to the screen.” said Pamela Segger, executive director of Lunenburg Doc Fest. “We are grateful to the partners who joined us in supporting the initiative. We hope this year’s The Launch becomes an annual pitch contest that continues to help break down barriers for diverse emerging media creators.”

The Launch: Documentary Development and Pitch Contest is funded through the Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage ‘Creative Industries Fund’ and co-presenters RBC and Bell Fund. Program partners providing in-kind filmmaking rentals and services include William F. White, Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative, OutPost East, Centre for Art Tapes, Halifax Central Library, and 2 Crows Brewing Co.

Lunenburg Doc Fest ran in a hybrid format September 22-28, 2022 offering the film festival and The Dock Market conference programming in-person and online. Next year, Lunenburg Doc Fest will be held September 21-27, 2023. For more information about LDF please visit www.lunenburgdocfest.com

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Lunenburg Doc Fest recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

ABOUT US:

Lunenburg Doc Fest is a charitable organization with a mission to entertain, educate, and inspire by showcasing the documentary art form and creating a cultural connection between audiences and artists in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. 

Media Contact

To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:

Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator

info@lunenburgdocfest.com

902-523-3456

Mail: Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 Canada

Website: www.LunenburgDocFest.com

Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest

Twitter: @LunenburgDocs

Instagram: @LunenburgDocFest

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For immediate release: 
September 29, 2022

Lunenburg Doc Fest announces awards and online viewing extension post-Hurricane Fiona

Lunenburg, N.S.  —  The ninth Lunenburg Doc Fest showcased over 80 Canadian and international documentaries, the largest film program to date. This year’s edition took place in person, September 22 to 28, and online. Online viewing is now extended through Friday, September 30.

The festival opened with Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On, a new documentary and retrospective on Buffy Sainte-Marie’s impactful career and life, and an exploration of what it is like to be ahead of the times as an artist and a person. The Black & White Gala to follow, co-presented by RBC, was a lively kick off to celebrate the return of on-site programming and reconnecting with film enthusiasts in person.

Given anticipated disruption by Hurricane Fiona the festival halted programming midday Friday, September 23 through Saturday, September 24, and resumed programming Sunday, September 25.

Filmmakers who joined the festival in-person or virtually engaged in question and answer sessions with audience members, sharing inside stories and insight into the their works. The festival presented ten free-admission shorts programs for the community. Throughout the festival, films delved into the important topics, challenging realities of our time, and remarkable stories of triumph and changemaking.

Cash prizes go to the winners of the Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Best International Feature Documentary, Best Short Film, and Best Atlantic Filmmaker awards as chosen by a jury.

The 2022 Best Atlantic Filmmaker Award recipient is Jackie Torrens, director of Bernie Langille Wants to Know What Happened to Bernie Langille. Torrens’ film also received a special mention from the Best Canadian Feature Film jury for, “Painstakingly and imaginatively crafted re-creations, unexpected humour and a layered narrative … generating powerful insight into family, memory and truth.”

The jury for Best Canadian Feature Documentary gave special mention to Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love, “The filmmaker’s triumph is her ability to skillfully weave together the explosive footage of volcanic eruptions with the personal love story of the volcanologists – the impact of which is both poetic and mesmerizing.”

The jury’s top choice for the Best Canadian Feature Documentary award is Eternal Spring. “The jury was impressed by the creative approach in the film, most especially by the visually stunning animation so deftly interwoven with actuality, conversation, and archival footage to tell a powerful story that sheds light on larger issues around religious and minority persecution in an authoritarian society …. Eternal Spring expands the possibilities of what a documentary can be while raising important and timely questions about spiritual freedom and the perils of resistance.”

Eternal Spring producer-director, Jason Loftus, stated, “Given the impressive lineup of documentaries that Lunenburg Doc Fest consistently programs, this is a very humbling honour. Thank you to the festival organizers and to the jury!” Eternal Spring is also Canada’s best international feature film entry for the 95^th Academy Awards in March 2023.

The award for Lunenburg Doc Fest’s Best International Feature Documentary award went to A House Made of Splinters directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont, “for beautifully crafting a compelling story that, in a poetic and intimate way, provides a different angle to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict through children’s experiences of abandonment in the middle of a distressing scenario.” Online viewing for A House Made of Splinters and most of the 80 films presented during the festival is available at https://lunenburgdocfest.eventive.org/films through 11:45pm, Friday, September 30.

Wilmont stated: “I am so proud and happy A House Made of Splinters won … especially considering all that has happened since February 24th. This award is for Eva, Sasha, Alina, Kolya, Margarita and Olga! Thank you for letting me get to know you and share your story. Also a very special thanks to my amazing team in Ukraine … Azad Safarov, Lena Rozvadovska, Darya Bassel, and Vika Khomenko.”

The jury also extended special mention to A Bunch of Amateurs by Kim Hopkins, “an hommage to working-class resilience and a celebration of the elderly — for its poignant portrayal of true cinephilia and the creative way in which it included the unexpected obstacle of the Covid-19 pandemic to the story”.

The 2022 Lunenburg Doc Fest awards jury included Ricardo Acosta, Max Borg, Rachel Bower, Andrew Johnson, Lalita Krishna, Jamie Miller, Ariel Nasr, Becky Parsons, and Zaira Zarza. The Audience Award and Best Short Documentary award will be announced Monday, October 3.

The Dock Market took place fully online, September 22-28. The festival’s seventh conference and market for industry stakeholders hosted a range of professional development sessions including 1-to-1 meetings, On Deck round tables, workshops, spotlight conversations, and panels.

In affiliation with the DOC Atlantic chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), DOC Institute, Telefilm Canada, and Canada Media Fund, Lunenburg Doc Fest led the inaugural DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program for emerging talent from the Black, Indigenous and/or People of Colour communities. The Program offers valuable support that helps each artist to develop and pitch their documentary project through mentorship, training, and introductions to peers and key decision makers in the media industry. The program will culminate at Forum RIDM, November 19 to 23, 2022.

The Launch: Documentary Development & Pitch Contest features five emerging Nova Scotian media artists from underrepresented communities competing for a $20,000 prize package. The live pitch event was postponed and will be relaunched as soon as possible. The initiative is funded by Nova Scotia’s Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, and co-presented by Bell Fund and RBC.

The festival closed on a high note with documentary Roots Of Fire and a rousing performance by Cajun musician, Jourdan Thibodeaux, a featured artist from the film. Thibodeaux joined the festival from Cypress Island, Louisiana, thanks to support from Lafayette, Louisiana and Lafayette Travel. Directed by Abby Berendt Lavoi and Jeremey Lavoi, the film documents award-winning musicians’ pursuits to keep Cajun music and culture alive. Roots Of Fire remains viewable through Friday, September 30 at https://lunenburgdocfest.eventive.org/films.

“Thank you to our community for the support, and to our Board, staff and volunteers who ensured the successful presentation of this year’s remarkable lineup of films,” said executive director Pamela Segger.

The full festival program guide can be found at https://lunenburgdocfest.com/2022-2/program-guide/. Dates for the 10th edition will soon be announced.

Lunenburg Doc Fest acknowledges the generous support of Canada Council for the Arts; Heritage Canada; Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage; Telefilm Canada; Canada Media Fund; Bell Fund; Digital NS; Tourism NS; Bell Fund; RBC; Atlantic Lottery; Cultural Service of the Consulate in Moncton and Halifax; The Embassy of France in Canada; The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg; and the Town of Lunenburg.

Media Contact
To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:
Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator, info@lunenburgdocfest.com | 902-523-3456
Mail:                          Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website:                    www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:                 facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:                     @LunenburgDocs
Instagram:                @LunenburgDocFest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2022
Lunenburg Doc Fest announces full festival program for hybrid event, September 22-28
Passes and single tickets on sale now

Lunenburg, N.S.  —  Lunenburg Doc Fest, Atlantic Canada’s leading documentary festival and forum, is proud to announce seven days of on-site and online events. The ninth edition will showcase more than 80 Canadian and international documentaries. Film professionals from across Canada and overseas will join local film fans for events that celebrate some of the newest and best documentaries. The diverse program showcases films and events for all ages and interests.

Film enthusiasts can wade into Lunenburg Doc Fest with the free-admission Docs on the Dock film screenings taking place on Lunenburg’s harbour at Zwicker Wharf, 8pm, September 12 and 19.

The festival will open with a new documentary about innovator, musician, disruptor, activist, philanthropist, educator and Academy Award-winning Cree singer-songwriter, Buffy Sainte-Marie. Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On presents a retrospective on Buffy Sainte-Marie’s impactful career and extraordinary life, and examines what it is like to be ahead of the times as an artist and a person.

The Black & White Gala to follow will be a lively and unique event with experiences inside the reception hall and outside under the starlit sky, featuring celebratory spirits , hors d’oeuvres and surprise experiences. RBC joins Lunenburg Doc Fest in connecting film enthusiasts for this celebratory kick off.

Opening night also launches the festival’s country-wide film program, Canadian Change Makers, funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. Curated by guest programmer and filmmaker-writer-educator, Chanda Chevannes, the Canadian Change Makers collection spotlights short, mid-length and feature documentaries from each province and territory, offering a glimpse into what it means to make change. The collection also serves as  “something of a cinematographical map of the people, places, and issues that form our nation”.

Other select feature documentaries in the Canadian Change Makers program include the following.

Geographies of Solitude (Nova Scotia), by filmmaker Jacquelyn Mills, is an immersion into the rich ecosystem of Sable Island and life of Zoe Lucas, a naturalist and environmentalist who has lived over 40 years. Shot on 16mm and using a scope of innovative eco-friendly filmmaking techniques, this feature-length experimental documentary is a playful and reverent collaboration with an island and its caretaker.

Dave Rodden-Shortt’s The Empress of Vancouver (British Columbia) is a cinematic and intimate collision of drag, queer history, and performance art, a musical and genre bending irreverent documentary that follows trans icon Oliv Howe as she prepares for the 40th anniversary of her coronation.

The Ice Walk (Prince Edward Island), directed by Eliza Knockwood, exposes the story of the treacherous journey across the ice from mainland Prince Edward Island, Canada to Lennox Island reserve where the Mi’kmaq people were forced to settle. In 2021 the Lennox Island first nation and ally settlers hosted a reconciliation event, yet as community Elders shared their stories and traumatic memories they question whether The Ice Walk is just another performative reconciliation event or if the settler community is really ready to commit to change.

Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children (Ontario) by director Barri Cohen uncovers the truth about Cohen’s long-dead half-brothers who were institutionalized at the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia in the 1950s. The film raises the question: how do we allow ourselves to dehumanize the most vulnerable people in our care?

Rounding out the program, additional full-length films in the program include Insanity (Alberta), Dear Jackie (Quebec), First We Eat (Yukon), and Ever Deadly (Northwest Territories). Mid-length and short film selections from each region are paired and presented throughout the full festival.

Among the stand-alone feature documentary highlights, Bernie Langille Wants to Know What Happened To Bernie Langille by Nova Scotia director Jackie Torrens, is a story about a man trying to find out what happened to his grandfather and namesake, a military corporal who died in 1968 under mysterious circumstances. Through the use of miniature sets, the film travels back to 1968 as Bernie pieces together fragments of the bizarre tale.

Fire of Love, a festival favourite directed by Sara Dosa, tells a story of primordial creation and destruction, following two bold explorers as they venture into the unknown, all for the sake of love. Daring French volcanologist couple, Katia and Maurice Krafft, roamed the planet, chasing eruptions and documenting their discoveries, leaving a legacy that forever enriched our knowledge of the natural world.

Ice-Breaker: The ’72 Summit Series, by director Robbie Hart, gives a unique voice to Canadians who were directly impacted by the Summit Series. The remarkable on-ice battles of those iconic hockey games led to September 28, 1972 in Moscow for game eight, which was watched by 150 million Russians and 16 million Canadians, the largest audience in Canadian broadcast history.

Director Stacey Tannenbaum’s Scrap is a discovery of the vast and strangely beautiful places where things go to die and the people who collect, restore, and recycle the world’s scrap. Scrap scratches beneath flaking paint and rusting metal to reveal the beauty and pathos in the ugliness we leave behind.

Roots of Fire by directors Abby Berendt Lavoi and Jeremey Lavoi profiles five Grammy award-winning musicians pushing against stereotypes of the American South and moving the music of their ancestors forward. But their fans are getting older, the language is fading away, and the artists wonder if their efforts will be enough. An Acadian/Cajun musical performance will follow the film for the audience at Lunenburg Opera House.

We Can Be Heroes goes back to Spring 2020 in Bordeaux, France where the population is confined and the head of an enterprise recruits 250 seamstresses to make the masks that will liberate his region, if they can overcome the many challenges. The screening event and attendance of director Florent Lacaze is supported by the French Embassy in Canada.

Each of the films above will be followed by a Filmmaker Q&A. Filmmakers from across Canada, the United States, and Europe will join audiences in person to share inside stories and in-depth insight into the filmmaker’s work following select on-site film screenings.

Two surprise screenings will take place on the final day of the festival, Wednesday, September 28, including a Lunchbox Shorts program and the closing night film, screening at 12:00pm and 7:00pm respectively.

The festival will present a dozen free-admission community events such as nine short film programs: CBC Shorts: What Is In A Name; Atlantic Canadian Shorts; International Shorts: Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained; and others. Short Films From Around The World for local Grade 7-9 students and community members will screen at Lunenburg Opera House, Tuesday, September 27, 9:00am.

Throughout the week, films will delve into the important topics and challenging realities of our time. The diverse lineup includes choices for entertainment, edification, fascinations and, overall, illuminates the united desire to create a better world.

Cash prizes go to the winners of the Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Best International Feature Documentary, Best Short Film, and Best Atlantic Filmmaker awards. Awards are chosen by a jury with the exception of the Audience Award.

All films will screen on-site — select films are exclusively viewable in a theatre venue. Feature documentaries will be presented in the renovated Lunenburg Opera House.

A hybrid Festival Pass, Film Pass, and Industry Pass offers both in-person and online access. Online viewing options are available according to “Viewing Region”: Atlantic Canada, Canada, or Canada & USA. Passes and tickets are available for purchase online or at the Festival Box Office, 11 King Street, Lunenburg. Details can be found at www.lunenburgdocfest.com and https://lunenburgdocfest.eventive.org/welcome.

Lunenburg Doc Fest is proud to host a 5-day industry conference and market for filmmakers and other industry stakeholders. Over 30 international industry decision makers will take part in LDF’s The Dock Market, Atlantic Canada’s largest documentary conference and forum, September 22-26. Registered filmmakers with an Industry Pass will have access to a range of in person and online professional development sessions. The Dock Market schedule and program can be found under the Industry tab on the festival website. All sessions are for filmmakers and require an Industry Pass and pre-registration to participate.

The seventh Dock Market offers 1-to-1 pitch meetings, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, plus a $20,000 live pitch contest for emerging BIPOC Atlantic Canadian media artists.

Peter Raymont, President, White Pine Pictures, will host an ‘At the Helm’ round table and share his experience in using the ‘Fair Use’ provisions of U.S. copyright law to incorporate footage from feature films, TV shows and commercials in several productions.

Raymont will also join Ina Fichman, Producer and President, Intuitive Pictures, for The Art of Co-Production Panel exploring international co-production.

Additional highlights consist of the online Navigating Cultural Communities and Identities Panel, an on-site Crafting A Sizzle Reel: Unlocking Financing For Your Next Documentary workshop, twenty On Deck round tables, and a variety of networking events including filmmakers’ favourite, the Industry Sunset Harbour Cruise with lobster rolls and local brews.

In affiliation with the DOC Atlantic chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), DOC Institute, Telefilm Canada, and Canada Media Fund, Lunenburg Doc Fest is proud to lead the inaugural DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program for emerging talent from the Black, Indigenous and/or People of Colour communities. The Program offers valuable support that helps each artist to develop and pitch their documentary project through mentorship, training, and introductions to peers and key decision makers in the media industry.

The Launch: Documentary Development & Pitch Contest features five pre-selected emerging Nova Scotian media artists from underrepresented communities competing for a $20,000 prize package. Each filmmaker has five minutes to pitch a jury of industry professionals. The free-admission event includes an audience vote for the audience to choose their favourite pitch. The program is funded by Nova Scotia’s Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, and co-presented by Bell Fund and RBC.

All festival audience and guests are invited to the DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program Reception and RBC’s The Launch winner announcement at Lightship Brewing, Saturday, September 24, 9pm.

“There is no better place to be than Lunenburg in late September if you make or enjoy documentary films. After a year of planning, it is great to be celebrating in person again,” says Pamela Segger, Executive Director. “Lunenburg Doc Fest is grateful to our sponsors, partners, and especially our loyal audience for helping to ensure the festival has remained sustainable during a tumultuous time and is now anchored as a landmark event on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. The biggest and most ambitious event to date offers an incredible slate of documentaries and celebrations — something for everyone.”

The full festival lineup and schedule can be found at https://lunenburgdocfest.eventive.org and at https://lunenburgdocfest.com/.

Lunenburg Doc Fest acknowledges the generous support of Canada Council for the Arts; Heritage Canada; the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage; Telefilm Canada; Canada Media Fund; Digital NS, Tourism NS, Bell Fund, RBC, Atlantic Lottery, The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg; and the Town of Lunenburg.

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ABOUT US:

Lunenburg Doc Fest’s mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire by showcasing the documentary art form and creating a cultural connection between audiences and artists in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Media Contact

To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:
Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator

info@lunenburgdocfest.com

902-523-3456

Mail:                 Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website:           www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:        facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:             @LunenburgDocs
Instagram:        @LunenburgDocFest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2022

 
Lunenburg Doc Fest announces $10,000 live pitch contest finalists  

[Lunenburg, N.S.] — Lunenburg Doc Fest is thrilled to announce the five filmmakers selected to participate in The Launch: Documentary Development and Pitch Contest, a new program for emerging, underrepresented media creators.

The Launch: Documentary Development and Pitch Contest will support five individuals who identify as diverse or from an underrepresented community (BIPOC, 2SLGBTQiA+, persons with a disability, or individuals belonging to other underrepresented communities) in developing their documentary pitch in preparation for a live-pitch event to take place during Lunenburg Doc Fest’s annual festival, which will take place September 22-28 this year.

The program will help advance and support emerging BIPOC talent in Nova Scotia for market success by offering access to professional development sessions, consultations with an international pitch expert, plus connections with regional and international industry experts and decision makers including distributors, broadcasters, producers, and other key stakeholders.

A $10,000 prize package including cash and in-kind filmmaking services will be awarded to the winning participant to support the making of a short documentary. In addition, the selected filmmaker will receive one-on-one mentorship from an acclaimed Canadian documentarian for the duration of the development of their short documentary. The completed film will premiere at the tenth edition of Lunenburg Doc Fest in September 2023.

“Lunenburg Doc Fest is excited to ‘launch’ this initiative with hopes of reoffering the live pitch contest on an annual basis,” states executive director Pamela Segger. “The program objective is to elevate visibility and industry access for new and diverse voices in our province. We hope the pitch preparation training, mentorship, and expanded professional network created through The Launch will result in more inclusive representation from Nova Scotia behind the scenes and on our screens.”

The five filmmakers selected for The Launch are: Israel Ekanem, Clinton Ray Howard, Juliet Mawusi, Anna Quon and Gee Stewart.

Israel Ekanem is an award-winning storyteller. At a young age, he was introduced to the art of storytelling by his grandmother, and it quickly became his passion. He has over twenty writing and directing credits, including the award-winning, Drown the Lovers and Dearg. Israel believes that a story properly told can change the world, one person at a time.

Clinton Ray Howard lives in the community of Glooscap First nations, near Hanstport, NS. After the birth of his daughters, Clinton returned to school to complete a degree in horticulture operations with a specialization in therapeutic horticulture, as well as cannabis cultivation. Clinton’s plan is to combine his passion for growing and his Aboriginal culture to create his own farm market within his community. He plans to create a film that communicates his journey with the healing power of plants.

Juliet Mawusi immigrated from Ghana in West Africa to Canada in 2017 for studies. Juliet attended Nova Scotia Community College where she studied Broadcast Journalism. She is the creator of the short film Being Black in the Nova Scotian Music Industry, which was featured on Eastlink Community TV, FIN Atlantic Film Festival, CBC East Coast, The Nova Scotian Advocate and other outlets and has additional film projects currently in production.

Poet and novelist Anna Quon likes to create paintings and short animated films of her original poetry. Anna is also a writing workshop facilitator and Zoom host of an arts and culture guest speaker series for a local mental health organization. Anna’s chapbook, Body Parts was published in 2021 by Gaspereau Press. She has released three novels with Invisible Publishing — Migration Songs (2009), Low (2013) and Where the Silver River Ends (2022). Anna lives in Kjipuktuk (Halifax).

Gee Stewart is a filmmaker from Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Over the course of her filmmaking career, Stewart has created and released eight short films. Outside of her own projects, Gee is a Junior Videographer and Editor at NovaStream, a digital agency with a focus on media production and web technologies. She is also a co-host of the Hail to the Deadites podcast.

The live competition will take place Saturday, September 24 before a diverse jury of industry decision makers and as an open and free-admission event for the live public audience in Lunenburg.

Lunenburg Doc Fest recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

For more information visit https://lunenburgdocfest.com/industry/the-launch/

ABOUT US:

Lunenburg Doc Fest’s mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire by showcasing the documentary art form and creating a cultural connection between audiences and artists in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

Media Contact

To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:

Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator

info@lunenburgdocfest.com

902-523-3456

Mail: Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada

Website: www.LunenburgDocFest.com

Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest

Twitter: @LunenburgDocs

Instagram: @LunenburgDocFest

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/lunenburg-doc-fest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2022
DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program participants announced

[Lunenburg, N.S.] — The DOC Atlantic chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada, in association with Lunenburg Doc Fest, is proud to announce the filmmakers selected for the first DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program

“As this program begins its inaugural year, it is very exciting to see what real effect it will have in changing the landscape of documentary filmmaking on the East Coast through its contributions towards raising the voices and visions of BIPOC-identifying emerging filmmakers,” states Millefiore Clarkes, Secretary of DOC Atlantic.

The DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program will help advance and support emerging BIPOC talent in Atlantic Canada for market success through professional development sessions led by industry experts plus introductions to key decision makers including distributors, broadcasters, producers, and other stakeholders.

The Program will train four media creators from the Atlantic provinces who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour (BIPOC) to hone, market and pitch their documentary project at Lunenburg Doc Fest, September 22-28, 2022, and at Montreal International Documentary Festival’s Forum RIDM, November 19-23, 2022.

Led by Lunenburg Doc Fest, the Program begins with a six-week online workshop series commencing June 30, 2022; one-to-one pitch mentorship sessions with an internationally renowned pitch coach; and group mentorship from an acclaimed Canadian documentarian.

“We are proud to collaborate with DOC Atlantic and industry stakeholders to nurture new and underrepresented voices. The education, insights, and mentorship will aid participants in developing project pitch materials and presenting their concepts with confidence,” said Lunenburg Doc Fest’s Executive Director, Pamela Segger.

Each participant will also receive a free one-year membership to DOC Atlantic, an all-access Industry Pass to Lunenburg Doc Fest and The Dock Market conference, plus a Forum RIDM pass with travel support and stipend to participate on-site at the Forum during Montreal International Documentary Festival.

The four filmmakers participating in the 2022 DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program are: Jessica Brown, James B. Elloso, Eliza Knockwood and Anna Quon.

Jessica Brown is an arts worker and emerging Inuk filmmaker. Hailing from Labrador, she has always felt a strong connection to the land and her culture. She currently lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador with her two children where she is working on a new Indigenous artist collective at First Light. Through her work, she wants to support the revitalization of traditional Indigenous arts practices, as well as the celebration of contemporary practices. She also sits on the Board of Directors at Riddle Fence, A Journal of Arts and Culture. Jessica recently shifted her practice to documentary filmmaking with a focus on stories that explore identity, language, belonging and roots. Jessica is the Assistant Director of Framed Spirit Song which is a short documentary premiering this fall at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival.

James B. Elloso is a writer and filmmaker from the Philippines, living in St. John’s, Ktaqmkuk, colonially known as Newfoundland, where he is writing his play titled Children of Tomorrow. He studied environmental science at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland and recently received a diploma in stage and screen techniques from Memorial University. Through his work, he hopes to inspire wonder and mindfulness for nature, including the human condition, because that too is part of nature.

Eliza Knockwood is a Two Spirit Mi’kmaq filmmaker living and working out of Epekwitk, also known as Prince Edward Island. She become the production coordinator on a television series and held that role for three years. In 2006 Eliza began her journey with documentary film and has directed several self-produced shorts and community productions. In 2021 Eliza directed her first longer form project called The Ice Walk which was initially created in partnership will Bell Fibe TV1 and then repackaged into a feature film. She will be filming another short form series for Bell Fibe TV1 called Time of Learning in the summer of 2022 and is currently developing a feature film titled The Rite of Passage.

Poet and novelist Anna Quon likes to create paintings and short animated films of her original poetry. Anna is also a writing workshop facilitator and Zoom host of an arts and culture guest speaker series for a local mental health organization. Anna’s chapbook, Body Parts was published in 2021 by Gaspereau Press. She has released three novels with Invisible Publishing—Migration Songs (2009), Low (2013) and Where the Silver River Ends (2022). Anna lives in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) with her dad.

The DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program is presented with support from DOC Institute, the Documentary Organization of Canada, Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund and Lunenburg Doc Fest.

For more information visit https://lunenburgdocfest.com/industry/docatlanticbreakthrough

ABOUT US:

Lunenburg Doc Fest’s mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire by showcasing the documentary art form and creating a cultural connection between audiences and artists in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

Media Contact

To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:
Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator
info@lunenburgdocfest.com
902-523-3456

Mail: Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website: www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter: @LunenburgDocs
Instagram: @LunenburgDocFest
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/lunenburg-doc-fest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 18, 2022

Lunenburg Doc Fest to launch $10,000 live pitch contest for emerging Nova Scotia filmmakers

[Lunenburg, N.S.] — Lunenburg Doc Fest is now accepting applications from Nova Scotians for The Launch: Documentary Development & Pitch Contest.

The initiative, funded by the Nova Scotia Creative Industries Fund, offers diverse emerging Nova Scotia filmmakers a chance to win mentorship and a prize package to make a short documentary over the next year. Five selected participants will pitch their documentary project live at the 2022 Lunenburg Doc Fest in competition for $10,000 in cash and in-kind filmmaking services.

“The Launch initiative aims to help break down barriers for diverse emerging filmmakers who are trying to get their first or second documentary made. The professional development, industry visibility, and generous prize offered through this program can make a remarkable difference in bringing new voices and Nova Scotian stories to the screen,” said Pamela Segger, Executive Director of Lunenburg Doc Fest.

Contest participants will take part in professional development workshops on story development and pitch preparation to hone their pitch materials ahead of the contest. Workshop dates are Thursday evenings, August 11 & 18, 2022.

Participants will receive key introductions to regional industry decision-makers, and free all-access passes to the ninth Lunenburg Doc Fest, The Dock Market industry conference, and networking events September 22-28, 2022.

The pitch contest will take place at Lunenburg Doc Fest on September 24, 2022 before a live audience and jury of screen industry decision-makers. The winner will be announced that evening. Following the contest, the winning filmmaker will be paired with a professional mentor for one-on-one guidance as they create their documentary project to premiere at Lunenburg Doc Fest in 2023.

Nova Scotia residents who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), artists with a disability, persons who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented individuals who identify as diverse are encouraged to apply.

For more information, and to apply for free, visit https://lunenburgdocfest.com/industry/thelaunch.  The application deadline is June 8, and selected applicants will be notified on June 14, 2022.
“Lunenburg Doc Fest recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.”
ABOUT US:

Lunenburg Doc Fest’s mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire by showcasing the documentary art form and creating a cultural connection between audiences and artists in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

Media Contact
To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:
Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator
info@lunenburgdocfest.com
902-523-3456
Mail:                Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website:          www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:       facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:           @LunenburgDocs
Instagram:       @LunenburgDocFest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 11, 2022

DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program opens doors for emerging BIPOC filmmakers
[Lunenburg, N.S.] — Lunenburg Doc Fest is now accepting applications for the DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program.

The initiative, founded by the Documentary Organization of Canada, will train and guide one BIPOC, emerging media creator from each of the Atlantic provinces to promote, market and pitch their documentary project at Lunenburg Doc Fest, September 22-28, 2022, and at the Montreal International Documentary Festival’s Forum RIDM, November 19-23, 2022.

“DOC Atlantic is thrilled to be rolling out the Breakthrough Program with Lunenburg Doc Fest to serve the east coast documentary community. It’s a program that has proven its worth running for two decades in Ontario. We are excited to be a part of facilitating the powerful voices of BIPOC filmmakers in our region,” states Millefiore Clarkes, Secretary of DOC Atlantic.

The Breakthrough Program recognizes and helps fill the gap for emerging talent from the Black, Indigenous and/or People of Colour communities. Selected creators will receive mentorship, take part in an educational workshop series, and expand their network through introductions to key industry decision makers.

“Fostering opportunities for more equity and inclusivity within the Atlantic Canadian film industry is vital, and we’re happy to play a part in making that happen,” said Lunenburg Doc Fest’s Executive Director, Pamela Segger.

The program begins with online mentorship and a six-week workshop series on Wednesday nights commencing June 29, 2022.

Atlantic Canadian citizens who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour and are available and motivated to advance their documentary projects are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is June 1, 2022. Selected applicants will be notified on June 8, 2022. For more information and to apply, visit: https://lunenburgdocfest.com/industry/docatlanticbreakthrough/

As part of the DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program a part-time coordinator will be engaged to train with Lunenburg Doc Fest throughout this program with the objective to help carry DOC Breakthrough forward in the future. The selected mentee will be an Atlantic Canadian BIPOC-identifying administrator. Candidates applying for the mentee position should submit a CV, letter of interest, and references to coordinator@lunenburgdocfest.com by June 1, 2022.

The DOC Atlantic Breakthrough Program is presented in association with the Documentary Organization of Canada, Lunenburg Doc Fest, Telefilm Canada, and Canada Media Fund (CMF). 

ABOUT US:

Lunenburg Doc Fest’s mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire by showcasing the documentary art form and creating a cultural connection between audiences and artists in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

Media Contact

To arrange a media interview, direct requests and questions to:
Lauren Unsworth, Program & Events Coordinator
info@lunenburgdocfest.com

902-523-3456
Mail:                Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website:          www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:       facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:           @LunenburgDocs
Instagram:      @LunenburgDocFest

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For immediate release:
September 30, 2021

8th Lunenburg Doc Fest Wraps and Announces Award Winners

Lunenburg, NS  —  Lunenburg Doc Fest presented a seven-day hybrid program with all films available online plus select in-person events from September 23 to 29. The festival included 21 feature films, seven short documentary programs, livestream filmmaker Q&As, onsite events, and a growing industry market. 

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a longstanding champion of Canadian creatives, joined the festival as presenting partner for the 8th edition and to launch an opening night social celebration on the town’s waterfront.

The festival introduced its first-ever ‘Docs on the Dock’ open-air screening on the harbour at Lunenburg’s Zwicker Wharf. A range of interactive and in-person screening events showcasing short documentaries by Atlantic Canadian filmmakers as well as non-English content were offered as free community events in the heart of UNESCO Lunenburg. 

Apenas El Sol (Nothing But The Sun) won the juried $1000 Best Feature Documentary Award. The film follows Mateo Sobode Chiqueno who has been recording stories, songs, and testimonies of his Ayoreo people since the seventies in an attempt to preserve fragments of a disappearing culture.

The jury remarked, “Firmly rooted in the moment but with a sense of both history and the future, Nothing But the Sun offers a window into the slow, seemingly inexorable assimilation of the Ayoreo people and their culture. This masterfully assembled film allows the viewer a rare inside perspective that reverberates long after the film has ended.”

Director Arami Ullón stated: “I received news of the award win while in Paraguay, during a very special time, when we are getting ready to bring the film to the Ayoreo Communities of the Paraguayan Chaco. It is a moment of encounter, a moment of celebration, a moment of tribute to the Ayoreo people. Thanks to Lunenburg Doc Fest;, thanks to the Jury. I am very humbled.” 

With Drawn Arms won the $1000 Audience Award. Directed by Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi, the feature-length documentary focuses on the 1968 Olympics and American former athlete Tommie Smith, who raised his fist during the medal ceremony — Adopted by generations of civil rights activists in the fight for social justice, the defiant gesture has reverberated ever since.

The award for Best Atlantic Filmmaker went to director Cody Westman whose feature-length documentary Hell Or Clean Water portrays what appears to be an impossible task and the Newfoundland diver, Shawn Bath, who has devoted himself to cleaning up the ocean floor one rotting tire at a time. 

The jury remarked, “Hell or Clean Water is beautiful and inspiring. The director Cody Westman takes us under the sea in a David and Goliath struggle against one of the major issues of the climate catastrophe, the pollution of the oceans. The jury is grateful for getting to know the central character Shawn Bath and is inspired by his story and the idea that by our actions we can each make a difference.” The Best Atlantic Filmmaker award is sponsored by DOC Atlantic and William F. Whites. 

Feelings of Invisibility, a short documentary by director Charmaine Kachibaia screened as part of the REFRAMED: The Ability In Disability program and won Best Short Film. Honourable mention goes to Haeberli, a German production by director Moritz Mueller-Preisser about one man’s right to self-will in his own town, his own house and his very own head. 

Feelings of Invisibility is an intimate portrait of Anne K. Abbott who was born with Cerebral Palsy and leads a life that will shake loose the assumptions and limitations we impose upon others. The jury stated, “Feelings of Invisibility is first-rate cinema storytelling. We meet Anne Abbott, a strong creative woman who defies harmful misconceptions of disability. The filmmaker Charmaine Kachibaia offers a unique vision with sophisticated imagery and narrative structure to take us on an intimate and compelling journey.” 

“I am endlessly grateful to Lunenburg Doc Fest for the opportunity to share Anne’s story with the world, and we are all so honoured to be recognized with this award!” remarked director Charmaine Kachibaia. “Thank you for continuing to prioritize film and art during this difficult time, it truly makes all the difference.”

The 2021 Lunenburg Doc Fest Awards jury included Francesco Capuano, Marcia Connolly, Caroline Christie, Bryan Glick, Leon Lee, Chris Metzler, and Darrell Varga.

With an expanded slate of industry events offered during The Dock Market, September 23-27, Doc Fest played online host to international filmmakers and thirty-five industry experts including decision-makers from Bell Media, CBC Docs, Canadian Media Fund, Corus Entertainment, Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, RBC, Sheffield Doc Fest, Sundance Film Festival, Super Channel, Taskovski Films, Telefilm, and more. 

Executive director Pamela Segger stated, “Lunenburg Doc Fest was thrilled to spotlight an international selection of documentaries from a record number of submissions this year and to share those films with audiences across North America. We thank the many talented filmmakers, generous sponsors, industry partners, and local community for making the eighth Doc Fest a great success.”

Lunenburg Doc Fest looks forward to returning for its ninth edition in September 2022.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. 

The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage, and festival partners 2K, Bluenose100, CBC, Eastlink, HB Studios, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival, Narrative Research, Outpost East, and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). 

For more information contact Nancy MacDonald at:

E-mail:        media@lunenburgdocfest.com
Phone:        902-523-3456
Mail:             Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website:      www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:   facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:       @LunenburgDocFes
Instagram: @LunenburgDocFest

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For immediate release:

September 10, 2021

Lunenburg Doc Fest Releases Largest Program To Date

September 23-29, 2021

Lunenburg, NS —  The 8^th Lunenburg Doc Fest has created an exciting online and in-person program that will bring us Together … but not too close. All films will stream online providing an accessible festival experience that reaches audiences across North America.

Lunenburg’s waterfront is bustling once again and Doc Fest is celebrating with a range of exciting in-person events including a harbourfront Opening Night Social presented in partnership with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Six free public screenings will be paired with themed displays such as an 800+ square foot domino topple art installation by Nova Scotia’s large-scale domino artist, Bill Oakley.

Lunenburg Doc Fest’s importance as a destination for documentary film continues to grow.   A record number of international producers submitted their films for consideration this year.   The themes we will explore this year are:

Making a splash!:

Festival opener “Fanny: The Right to Rock” reveals the untold story of a self-formed, California garage band — that included queer and Filipina American bandmates — which morphed into the ferocious rock group Fanny, the first band of women to release an LP with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970). “Fanny’s ground-breaking impact on music has been lost in the mists of time … until bandmates reunite 50 years later with a new rock record deal and chance to right the wrongs of music history.”  “Becoming Cousteau” will be featured online and on deck at the Zwicker Wharf in Lunenburg. The film takes an inside look at Cousteau’s life, iconic films and inventions, the experiences that made Cousteau the 20th century’s most unique and renowned environmental voice — the man who inspired generations to protect the Earth.

Near and dear:

“Hell or Clean Water” portrays what appears to be an impossible task and the Newfoundland diver, Shawn Bath, who has devoted himself to cleaning up the ocean floor one rotting tire at a time. Set on Fogo Island off the coast of Newfoundland, “Dropstones” is an intimate family portrait that follows a matriarch as she finds herself drawing on her island’s traditions to meet the challenges of motherhood. One of Canada’s foremost ceramic artists, Nova Scotia-based Walter Ostrom’s passionate art practice is explored through his own words and those of his students and colleagues around the world in “Good Earth: The Pots And Passion Of Walter Ostrom”.

Rooting for her:

In “Lily Topples the World” we meet 20-year old Lily Havesh, the world’s most acclaimed domino toppler and only ‘girl’ in her field. “Bangla Surf Girls” follows three Bangladeshi teenage girls as they fight unsurmountable odds to follow their dreams of surfing. Nasim follows the call of the mountains, beyond the barriers imposed on women in her country to open a new route in the Alps in “Climbing Iran”. “Rebel Heart” spotlights The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who stood up to the patriarchy of the Catholic Church and challenged the notion of what a nun and a woman are supposed to be. In “Seyran Ateş: Sex, Revolution and Islam” Seyran Ateş – a Turkish- German lawyer, author, feminist, and one of the first female imams in Europe – is fighting for a sexual revolution within Islam, rebelling against extremism and hate in the name of peace and love. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and journalists of India’s only newspaper run by Dalit (‘low caste’) women break traditions in “Writing with Fire” and redefine what it means to be powerful.

Reframing mortality:

“Artificial Immortality” If you were able to create an immortal version of yourself, would you? This film explores the latest advancements in AI, robotics and biotech with visionaries who argue for a new age of post-biological life.  In “Rebel Objects” Carolina returns to Costa Rica to try to rebuild the relationship with her father and embarks on a journey through an erased indigenous history. Through objects and their stories, Carolina learns a different way to relate to death. “Come Back Anytime” presents a window into the lives of self-taught Japanese ramen master Masamoto Ueda and his wife Kazuko who have nourished a community by running their tiny Tokyo ramen shop Bizentei for more than 40 years.

Homeland stories:

Mirroring how Canada’s Indian residential school legacy and the decimation of wild pacific salmon stem from a common story, “Returning Home” follows Phyllis Webstad, Executive Director of the Orange Shirt Society, on a nationwide educational tour as her family struggles to heal multigenerational wounds at home in Secwépemc territory. “Taming the Garden” is the story of how a powerful man indulges in an unusual hobby to have century-old trees uprooted in communities along the Georgian coast and transplanted to his private garden. Facing the consequences of a violent uprooting, Mateo Sobode Chiqueno of “Apenas El Sol (Nothing But The Sun)” records stories, songs, and testimonies of his Ayoreo people since the seventies in an attempt to preserve fragments of a disappearing culture.

Impactful visionaries:

“High Maintenance” Israeli artist Dani Karavan has created nearly 100 environmental installations across the world and won prestigious international art awards yet Karavan, an artist whose passion is as big as his personality, is far from satisfied. “The Conductor” takes the audience into the heart of classical music, and into the soul of one of its top artists, the internationally renowned conductor Marin Alsop.  “With Drawn Arms” focuses on the 1968 Olympics and American former athlete, Tommie Smith, who raised his fist during the medal ceremony – the defiant gesture has reverberated ever since, adopted by generations of civil rights activists in the fight for social justice.

Lunenburg Doc Fest is also pleased to present six diverse short-film programs this season: “In Search Of Solace: CBC Shorts”, “Indigenous Short Docs”, “Reframed: The Ability in Disability”, “Turning Tides: Atlantic Canadian Shorts”, “A Will, A Way” and, supported by the Province of Nova Scotia, we are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to present “The Languages of Film”, a collection of non-English and creative-language short documentaries.

Lunenburg Doc Fest proudly supports an annual Seniors Workshop and Youth Program. The Seniors project “Food Security For All” is funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons For Seniors Program.  The youth project “Experimenting With The Bluenose: Unconventional Approaches To A Legendary Icon” is generously supported by Bluenose100.

The festival is offering flexible pricing to ensure Lunenburg Doc Fest is accessible to all film lovers.   Tickets are available at https://lunenburgdocfest.com/

For a complete 2021 schedule, visit https://watch.eventive.org/lunenburgdocfest

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm, Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage, Bluenose100, and valued community of local and industry sponsors.

For more information contact Nancy MacDonald at:

E-mail:                   media@lunenburgdocfest.com

Phone:                   902-523-3456

Mail:                      Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada

Website:               www.LunenburgDocFest.com

Facebook:             facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest

Twitter:                 @LunenburgDocFes

Instagram:           @LunenburgDocFest

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For immediate release: 
May 19, 2021

by Gayle Wilson, Lighthouse Now

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has already had various activities and festivals cancelled for the second year running, the Lunenburg Doc Fest is soldiering ahead and considering running its eighth annual event as a hybrid event of sorts from September 23 to 29.

“LDF is doing its best to add value and encourage community engagement, especially in a time when so many are isolated,” Pamela Segger, executive director of the documentary festival, told LighthouseNOW in an email.

Later in a phone interview, Segger explained that festival organizers “are devoted to having our film program online, however, we are also embracing a responsible approach based on the prevailing health guidelines. So, if there’s an opportunity to have select onsite screenings, it would take the form of most likely an outdoor screening scenario.”

Segger said the details of how that would work are still being determined. “Nothing is confirmed, but we’re looking at a variety of options.”

Meanwhile, this year’s Seniors Workshop is hoped to be half online and half in-person, while respecting prevailing health protocols. Open to people 55 years and older, the workshop this year will centre on the theme Food Security for All.

The lead mentor for this workshop will be Tim Reeves-Horton, who is a partner in the local video production company, Picnic Studios, which specializes in sharing community stories through projects such as the Seely Hall Oral History Project, Therapy Outside the Natural Environment documentary, Energy Poverty youth documentary and Lunenburg Doc Fest youth documentary programs. Reeves-Horton has documentary credits with CBC Television and National Geographic Channel.

The workshops will run on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, May 31 to July 12.

Those who are interested in participating can go to https://lunenburgdocfest.com/education/senior/ on the internet. The deadline for registration is May 23.

The organizers also are partnering with the Bluenose 100th anniversary event for this year’s Youth Workshop.

Combining online and possibly in-person sessions, workshop participants will brainstorm and create a series of short innovative documentaries relating to the Bluenose.

The facilitator for this workshop is Ariella Pahlke, an award-winning documentary filmmaker with more than 25 years experience creating short and long documentaries, media art and collaborative projects. The deadline to register is June 22.

Meanwhile, festival organizers are busy scrutinizing the flow of documentary films that are being submitted for consideration for screening at this year’s festival.

Eight years ago the Lunenburg Doc Fest started with seven films. Now, the event screens upwards of 20 feature films and sometimes almost 50 shorts.

According to Segger, the organizers have already received hundreds of film submissions for this year’s festival.

“We have more than ever. We’re really surprised,” she said, adding, “They’re coming in faster and more of them, from all over the world. So that’s exciting.”

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For immediate release:

January 13, 2021

Filmmakers and film enthusiasts may not have to wait long for another Lunenburg Doc Fest event.

While no decisions have been made yet, the board of directors is considering pulling together an activity that runs well before the next annual festival, which typically is in September.

“What we would love to do, again if we had the support to do it, or could find a way to fund it or cover it, is have a small, little film series,” Pamela Segger, the executive director of the festival, told LighthouseNOW. “Perhaps, something, you know, once-a-week film, again online using the same service that we use for our festival.”

She suggested a question-and-answer period with the filmmakers could perhaps accompany the films.

“That’s something we’d love to do. But again, we are facing a shortfall from last year, so it’s on the wish list. And of course we have a timeline to consider as we’re already in January,” Segger said.

The move follows the tremendous success – participation-wise – of the 2020 Lunenburg Doc Fest from September 24 to 30. The festival was relegated to an entirely online event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while it fared less well than previous festivals on the financial side it had a record number of viewers participate.

Segger declined to reveal the amount of the shortfall, saying the board had not yet met to discuss it.

Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage announced in December it was making available $913,526 in spending for 56 projects in the province to help the creative sector go digital during the COVID 19 pandemic. Of that, the Lunenburg Doc Fest is to receive $8,000.

“The impact of the creative sector has been enormous, and this funding is designed to help them continue to produce work, make a living and adapt to a world where much of the cultural sector has moved, at least temporarily, online,” Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, the minister of communities, culture and heritage said in a December news release. Lohnes-Croft is also the MLA for Lunenburg.

According to Segger, the board had applied for the funds to help convert the festival “to a 100 per cent online event.” Within the application, it also sought support to consider programming something mid-year. “So that we would all have a chance to come gather online again in mid-year, like at the end of February per chance,” explained Segger.

While she emphasized it wouldn’t be a festival as such, she said there might also be an “industry component,” whereby the board hosts a professional development activity for Atlantic Canadian filmmakers.

Segger said the board is interested in doing this for the same reason it organizes the annual Lunenburg Doc Fest.

“Our mission is built around creating a place of connection for filmmakers and film enthusiasts. And also within our mission is to educate, inspire and entertain. And we have the ability, given our platform, to be able to do that. Again, it’s about adding value to the community, about creating engagement, socialization in those ways,” she said.

As for the future of the Lunenburg Doc Fest given the success and appeal of 2020’s online event, which allowed organizers to engage with and showcase more filmmakers than ever, Segger said there have been some “initial discussions.”

“Of course, things are still so much up in the air as far as the pandemic and the implications of that going forward,” she added.

The organizers have yet to commit to a structure for the next festival, “however we see the value in always having a virtual component. And I can see, from a programming perspective, engagement perspective that that will very likely factor into future events. It opens up a lot of doors. You know, it does create opportunity,” said Segger.

But the group is unlikely to abandon its in-person event if it can help it.

“Nothing replaces that in-person interaction. And all those spectacular things that come from that – the conversations, and the networking, and just the community building aspects of that,” insisted Segger.

• Gayle Wilson- Lighthouse Now

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For immediate release

November 30, 2020

Many Nova Scotia film festivals that went online this fall due to COVID-19 have found a silver lining away from the silver screen with audience engagement surpassing previous years.

Lunenburg Doc Fest, which ran from Sept. 24-30, went online, expanding the number of days of the festival and the number of films shown from previous years. They were offered through a pay-what-you-can model. That led to a 50 per cent increase in the number of full-festival passes sold, up from 300 to 450, and an increase in the aggregate audience by about 700, according to executive director Pamela Segger. “We were able to really boost our younger age set in our region,” she said. “We have an older audience, and that’s fantastic because they are so engaged and eager, but because of the virtual nature and flexibility in the programming, and the broader, more diverse programming, that appealed to a younger set.” Segger also noted that 53 per cent of the audience this year attended the festival for the first time.

Geoblocking technology a plus

A big part of the streaming platform for film festivals — Lunenburg Doc Fest used one called Eventive — is that it can geoblock, or control the geographic region where the film is available to be streamed. That is estimated by the postal code and IP address of the ticket-buyer.

“We were able to offer about half of our feature-length documentaries and all of our short films across Canada,” said Segger. “More than that, we offered programming to our U.S. audience.”

Segger said 21 per cent of people were from outside Lunenburg County and elsewhere in Nova Scotia, according to audience surveys, while another 37 per cent of the audience was from outside the province.

“That is a big bump up, almost three times the figures from previous years,” said Segger.

FIN saw uptick, too

Films showing at the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, also online this year from Sept. 17-24, were geoblocked to Atlantic Canada only.

“We see ourselves as platforming Atlantic Canadian content, and it feels really good to champion [that] to the local audience,” said Wayne Carter, executive director at FIN.

Even with a narrower target of possible viewers, FIN saw an increase of engagement with its audience this year.

“We saw pass sales were accelerating over single-ticket sales,” said Carter, “Pass sales are a big thing for us because they speak to an engaged audience of people who want to partake of more than just one or two movies. Our pass numbers were probably up 70 per cent over last year.”

He hesitates to estimate attendance numbers because, when a festival streams a movie, it’s not as simple as counting bums in seats.

That is truly the silver lining behind the COVID cloud as far as film festivals go.– Wayne Carter, executive director of FIN

“Very few people are sitting there by themselves watching these films,” said Carter. “It might be a couple, it could even potentially be a family or a group of friends.”

He added, though, that from the post-festival survey, the audience response around questions of accessibility through the online platform was universally positive.

“We had a lot of people saying they attended the festival for the very first time,” said Carter.

“That is truly the silver lining behind the COVID cloud as far as film festivals go. It allows us to position our festival to a broader audience, but more importantly reach people who couldn’t get here in person.”

Accessibility a struggle for many Nova Scotians

Some of the audience experiencing film festivals online for the first time could be Nova Scotians with disabilities.

Vicky Levack has cerebral palsy, and is an outspoken advocate for human rights. She said more people living with disabilities would engage with film festivals online, but only if it’s affordable.

“If it’s at a reasonable price point it would certainly open up for anybody struggling, which, unfortunately, is a lot of people with disabilities,” said Levack.

“We have a lot to offer when you talk about art and creativity. We have to be creative in order to live in the world. The world is not designed for us, so we have to work around it. There’s a lot of stories that need to be told, and art gives people with disabilities an opportunity to do that.”

Segger and Carter are predicting their events will be partly in person and partly online in 2021, providing that the audience will by then be vaccinated and able to gather in crowds.

Michael Howell, founder and executive director of Devour: The Food Film Fest in Wolfville, held a hybrid festival this fall with a mix of online and in-person events.

Devour, which took place from Oct. 21-25, saw its audience grow outside of Nova Scotia, too.

“We did very, very well and sold almost an equal number of tickets virtually as we did in person,” said Howell. “We were able to track sales as far away as Spain and across the country, in addition to people here in the Atlantic bubble who weren’t able to travel.”

He said the online platform not only attracted broader audiences from elsewhere, but is already proving to be useful for allowing high-profile guests to participate virtually.

“We had a workshop this year with Jason Priestley in Toronto and Bob Blumer in Los Angeles,” said Howell.

“Now that we understand the technology, and they understand how to Zoom, they can participate without having to spare a week of their time to come to Nova Scotia.”

Carsten Knox · CBC News · Posted: Nov 30, 2020

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For immediate release:

September 23, 2019

Maiden, a film about the all-female crew that shocked the establishment in 1989 by entering the Whitbread Round the World Race, sailed away with the two top honours at Lunenburg Doc Fest this year. As winner of the juried Best Feature Documentary Award and the Audience Award, Maiden was the consensus favourite of insiders and audiences alike, earning a cash prize of $2000 with the accolades.

Co-directors Nance Ackerman, Ariella Pahlke and Teresa MacInnes received the Atlantic Filmmaker Award for their film Conviction, an honest, eye-opening examination of the lives of incarcerated women in Canada.

The film was made with the collaboration of a group of women within the prison system, whether as prisoners or correctional officers, and its emotional Lunenburg Doc Fest screening earned a standing ovation.

“It is such an honour to receive this award at this really unique festival,” said Ackerman. “To be given this award, usually granted to a single filmmaker, is particularly special as this film had so many women coming together as filmmakers, collaborators and partners. It was a creative collaboration that presented many challenges but even more rewards. We are touched by the recognition!”

Tungrus—the charming tale of one family, one cramped Mumbai apartment, and one hell-raising pet rooster—received LDF’s Short Film Award. Directed by Indian filmmaker Rishi Chanda, the film screened as part of the festival’s annual Short Films From Around the World program.

“I hope [this film] will open up informed conversations around our relationship with the food we eat. More power to chickens!” said Chanda.

Festival passes sold out faster than ever this year, and rush tickets before highly anticipated screenings had lines extending down the street. Lunenburg Doc Fest provided the very first place in Atlantic Canada to see some of the world’s most talked-about documentaries, including the historic TIFF-opener Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band.

“Being in Lunenburg feels like a warm hug,” director Daniel Roher told the audience on Opening Night. “I’m glad you’ll be the second audience to ever see the film.”

Faces of Lyme: Ambivalence & Controversy, created by twelve first time Lunenburgers 55+, proved another audience pleaser. The film, supported by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, gives voice to those who struggle obtaining a diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease on Nova Scotia’s South Shore.

With an expanded slate of industry events offered during the LDF Dock Market, Lunenburg played host to filmmakers and industry decision-makers from near and far, including Canadian and U.S. festival programmers and representatives from Bell Media, CBC Docs, CMF, RBC, Hot Docs, Mongrel Media, New York Times Op Docs and more.

The festival took place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia from September 19–22 with most screenings in the historic Lunenburg Opera House.

Lunenburg Doc Fest will return for its seventh edition on September 24–27, 2020.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage.

For more information contact Pamela Segger at:

E-mail:         info@lunenburgdocfest.com

Phone:         902-523-3456

Mail:             Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada

Website:      www.LunenburgDocFest.com

Facebook:   facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest

Twitter:       @LunenburgDocFes

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For immediate release: 
September 6, 2019

Fresh off the world premiere and historic opening as the first ever Canadian documentary to open Toronto International Film Festival, Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band will kick off the 6th annual Lunenburg Doc Fest on September 19. Once Were Brothers tells the story of the roots-rock act that changed folk music forever, drawing from the memoirs of Canadian rock icon Robbie Robertson and featuring must-see testimonial from musical legends Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. Director Daniel Roher will take the stage in Lunenburg to launch the Atlantic Canadian premiere of the film.

Every year, Lunenburg Doc Fest attracts film enthusiasts, international filmmakers, and respected industry decision-makers from near and far for four days of incredible stories on the big screen. Our charming seaside town will play host to some of the most exciting storytellers and anticipated documentaries in the world. The festival’s expanded program features an eclectic lineup — here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store:

Unstoppable forces

At Lunenburg Doc Fest this year, three documentaries study large, seemingly unstoppable forces that are doing harm to our planet. Push investigates the hidden forces that are causing housing markets to skyrocket across the globe and forcing people out of our cities. Toxic Beauty is a powerful exposé of the cosmetics companies that are polluting our bodies with hidden toxins in the products we use every day. Assholes: A Theory is a search for civility in an age where everything from business to government seems to be overrun with, well, you know.

Women vs. the world

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immoveable object? This year’s fest will feature five documentaries about inspiring women who are living proof of the individual’s power to create change. Maxima introduces us to the Indigenous Peruvian woman who stood up to one of the largest gold-mining companies in the world. Conviction takes us inside the Canadian corrections institution to ask why women are the fastest-growing prison population worldwide. Maiden charts the journey of the first all-women crew to sail in the Whitbread Round the World Race with an indomitable 24 year-old at the helm. Beyond the Visible paints a moving portrait of Hilma af Klint, the visionary Swedish artist whose abstract works went unnoticed for 100 years. Closing the festival on September 22, Ask Dr. Ruth tells the story of Ruth Westheimer, the small but mighty Holocaust survivor who forever changed the way we talk about sex.

Window to the world

Three of this year’s films take us to far off locales to see the world through another’s eyes. In The Odd Monk, we journey with first-time filmmaker Jesco Puluj through Europe, Africa and Asia as he meets the free-spirited monks who are changing the face of modern Buddhism. In Sea of Shadows, we voyage to the Sea of Cortez to discover a war at sea that’s threatening to eradicate the population of the world’s smallest whale. High in the French Alps, The Valley, a rousing call to action, places us on the Italy-France border with a group of migrants who are risking their lives on a mountain route to escape war, poverty and political persecution.

Close to home, Faces of Lyme, created by Lunenburg Doc Fest’s seniors workshop, gives a voice to those who struggle with the diagnosis and treatments for Lyme disease in our region.

Short film programs

Lunenburg Doc Fest is proud to present Through Our Eyes: Short Films by Indigenous Filmmakers, supported by CBC Docs. The program will feature five shorts from some of the most exciting, emerging Indigenous filmmakers from across the country, including Alexandra Lazarowich’s Fast Horse and TSHIUETIN by Caroline Monnet. Coast to Coast: Canadian Shorts will showcase a diverse selection of evocative works from all sides of nation.

As always, Doc Fest will engage local youth with two screenings of Shorts from Around the World on the morning of September 20. The screenings are catered to Bluenose Academy students but admission is free and open to all. Dream Big will cap the family program with the impact and extraordinary marvels of modern day engineering. This year also marks the return of our Step Into the Story: Virtual Reality Arcade, an opportunity to get hands-on with VR hardware and discover how technology is changing the way stories are told.

Our passes sell out every year so hurry to www.lunenburgdocfest.com/passes.

For a look at our complete 2019 schedule, visit http://lunenburgdocfest.com/2019-2/schedule/.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage.

For more information contact Pamela Segger at:

E-mail:           info@lunenburgdocfest.com
Phone:          902-523-3456
Mail:              Box 1497, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada
Website:        www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:     facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:          @LunenburgDocFes

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For immediate release:
September 3, 2019

Decision-makers converge for Lunenburg Doc Fest’s fourth ‘Dock Market’

Film industry stakeholders will gather in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a scenic UNESCO World Heritage Site by the sea, on September 20–22.

During the 6th annual Lunenburg Doc Fest, industry decision-makers will take part in panels, networking, and professional development sessions. Local and international filmmakers will connect with producers, programmers, and buyers who can help ensure the next great films get made.

“We are proud to welcome some of North America’s esteemed industry professionals to this year’s festival,” says Pamela Segger, Executive Director of Lunenburg Doc Fest. “Participating filmmakers will have opportunities to advance their work through intimate conversations with celebrated industry veterans, and feedback from experienced producers and distributors during Dock Market pitch meetings.”

Peter Raymont, Emmy-winning filmmaker and executive producer of Lunenburg Doc Fest 2019 selection Toxic Beauty, will offer strategies on navigating the evolving documentary landscape in his workshop session on September 21. Raymont returns to Doc Fest for the first time since the inaugural festival in 2014 where he attended as producer of Fight Like Soldiers Die Like Children.

The festival will feature a presentation on Archival Research by producer, director and researcher Nancy Lang (West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson, Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven). Lang will discuss her work on the artist-focused films on which she has worked, including a recent documentary about Margaret Atwood. Decision-maker panels and round tables will also be on offer.

Heidi Tao Yang of Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival, wants to make sure great local stories find international audiences. She will bring two exciting sessions to the fourth edition of Hot Docs’ Doc Ignite at Doc Fest: “Make Local Stories Global” and “The Business Affairs of Docs.”

The Dock Market, Lunenburg Doc Fest’s signature marketplace, will host a diverse group of representatives from some of the biggest names in fact-based storytelling: Bell Media, CBC, Canada Media Fund, Documentary Organization of Canada, Mongrel Media, National Film Board, New York Times Op-Docs, and RBC among them. Connections made with these industry partners, in the vibrant coastal town of Lunenburg, create a chance for filmmakers to find the support they need to see their projects succeed.

To see Lunenburg Doc Fest’s full industry schedule for 2019, visit the INDUSTRY tab or go to https://lunenburgdocfest.com/industry/industry-schedule/

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with generous support from Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada, Telefilm and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage.

For more information contact Pamela Segger at:

E-mail:       info@lunenburgdocfest.com
Phone:         902-523-3456
Mail:             Box 1479, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0 Canada
Website:        www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:     facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:         @LunenburgDocFes

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For immediate release

Press Release: September 25, 2018

International flare meets small-town charm at fifth annual Lunenburg Doc Fest

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia  –  Genesis 2.0, a film about the hunt for ‘white gold’ on the edge of Siberia and scientists who want to bring the woolly mammoth back to life, earned top prize at the fifth annual Lunenburg Doc Fest on September 23. The Best Feature Documentary award came with a $1000 prize for the first time this year. 

“This award means a lot to me and my young co-director Maxim Arbugaev,” said Christian Frei, director of Genesis 2.0. “Thank you, Lunenburg and thanks to the jury! Maxim and I embarked together on this journey three and a half years ago, and we are overwhelmed by the positive response all over the world.”

Letter From Masanjia, a feature that was filmed secretly in China to bring the harsh realities of labour camps to light, earned honourable mention from the jury.

Director Leon Lee received a standing ovation as he took the stage for a Q&A following the screening of his film. The audience was eager to engage Lee with questions about the injustices faced by Chinese citizens and the logistics of crafting a documentary in secret. In true Lunenburg fashion, the thoughtful discussion continued down the street and into Risser’s Social House, where Lee continued the conversation with filmgoers at a Meet the Artists Reception. 

“I hope the viewer will do something, however small,” Lee told the crowd. “No matter how small the action is, it might bring some kind of change.”

This year’s vote for LDF’s Audience Award went to Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me, director Samuel D. Pollard’s film about the inimitable entertainer’s complicated path through the racial divide of 20th-century America. 

Prince’s Tale—a portrait of a young actor’s survival of a near-fatal fire, and the journey of mental recovery that brought him back to the stage—received LDF’s Short Film Award. The film, directed by Jamie Miller, was part of LDF’s Shorts From Around the World program. 

“I am so beyond honoured for our film to be celebrated in Atlantic Canada and selected by this brilliant documentary community,” said Miller. “This story is about the beauty of resiliency and love for human connection. I have learned so much about our capacity for both in this process.”

Director Millefiore Clarkes’ accolades on the festival circuit grew at Lunenburg Doc Fest. She won the Atlantic Filmmaker Award for her film The Song and the Sorrow, which screened on September 21 to a packed house. The film followed PEI musician Catherine MacLellan in her journey to learn more about the life of her father, Canadian music legend Gene MacLellan, and her attempts to come to terms with both his and her own struggles with depression.

Clarkes stated, “I’m thrilled to receive this award and grateful to everyone who helped me craft The Song and the Sorrow—most especially Catherine MacLellan and her family for sharing their story, and the National Film Board team for their guidance and support.”

NSCC student Chris d’Entremont was the recipient of LDF’s $1000 Youth Bursary, which is awarded to a Nova Scotia student pursuing post-secondary media studies. 

Festival passes sold out faster than ever this year, and with an expanded and engaging slate of industry events, the charming seaside town played host to filmmakers and industry decision-makers from near and far, including representatives from British Columbia’s Knowledge Network, CBC, Hot Docs, National Film Board, Sideways Film (UK/Spain).

Jackie Torrens’ short film Bernie Langille Wants to Know… Who Killed Bernie Langille screened on September 22 as part of the Short Films: Truth Be Told program. She says the town’s intimate setting allows filmmakers to have a voice and sets it apart from other festivals. 

“This is an amazing festival,” said Torrens. “We’ve been treated so well and have had a really great time. We feel that there’s a real celebration and respect for storytelling and storytellers here.”

The festival took place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, September 20–23. Screenings were held in the historic Lunenburg Opera House, including four shorts programs and 12 regional and Canadian film premieres. Lunenburg Doc Fest will return for its sixth edition next year. 

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with generous support from Arts Nova Scotia, Telefilm and Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage.

For more information contact Pamela Segger at:

E-mail:        info@lunenburgdocfest.com

Phone:        902-523-FILM (3456)

Mail:            Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0  Canada

Website:       www.LunenburgDocFest.com

Facebook:    facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest

Twitter:        @LunenburgDocFes

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For immediate release

September 6, 2018

The 5th Lunenburg Doc Fest continues to grow

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia  — It’s a big year for the Lunenburg Doc Fest as we celebrate our fifth year with even more films that will transport you to new places and perspectives. On September 20-23, we will open the doors of the historic Lunenburg Opera House and take you on a journey from the bustling streets of India to the depths of the open sea. 

The reputation of our boutique destination festival speaks for itself, and every year attracts film enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry decision-makers from near and far. Once again, our charming seaside town will be the very first place in Canada to see some of the world’s most anticipated documentaries. This year, our expanded program features twelve regional and Canadian film premieres. Here’s a sneak peak:

Visionaries 

Our fifth-annual fest will feature three documentaries about real-life heroes whose bravery and achievements have changed the cultures around them. On opening night, Kailash will take audiences on a ride with Nobel Peace Prize-recipient Kailash Satyarthi in his continuing mission to rescue imprisoned children from lives of forced factory labour. Hal tells the story of eccentric auteur director Hal Ashby, his unprecedented run of beloved films in the 1970s, and the growing commercialism of 1980s Hollywood that almost left him behind. Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me will close out the fest on a high note, exploring the peerless entertainer’s complicated path through the racial-divide of 20th-century America.

Mankind Vs. Nature

Three of this year’s films shed light on the outside forces that shift or threaten our relationship to the natural world. In Into the Okavango, scientists head out on a four-month journey to save the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site wetland and water source under threat from human activity. It is creation, not destruction, that’s cause for concern in Genesis 2.0, a film about the hunt for ‘white gold’ at the remotest edge of Siberia, and a team of scientists vying to bring the wooly mammoth back to life. In Untie the Lines, a young woman abandons the comforts of modern life and sets sail on the Western Caribbean alone, determined to rediscover her connection to the natural world — even if that means risking her own survival along the way. 

Justice At Last

Along the path to justice are countless against-the-odds battles we rarely get to see. Four films at the festival this year aim to change that, focusing on the untold stories of communities that have come together and taken fate into their own hands. The Guardians reveals a corrupt network of doctors, lawyers and government officials robbing retirees of everything they own in Clark County, Nevada. Letter From Masanjia proves one secret message can make international waves and bring the harsh realities of Chinese labour camps to light. In The Devil We Know, a group of citizens in West Virginia goes toe-to-toe with one of the country’s largest corporations after discovering it has been knowingly dumping a toxic chemical into their drinking water supply. Justice is decades in the making in The Silence of Others, as Spanish citizens seek retribution for crimes of the Franco dictatorship more than 40 years after fascism’s fall. 

As always, Lunenburg Doc Fest will engage our community with a selection of free events and screenings. Our free family screening of Pick of the Litter gives an adorable and educational look at the training puppies undertake to become guide dogs for the blind. The Song of the Sorrow is a heartfelt tale of musician Catherine MacLellan’s effort to learn more about her absent father, singer-songwriter Gene MacLellan, and embrace his musical legacy. The film dissects the myths surrounding mental illness and creativity while paying tribute to the memory of one of Canada’s most talented songwriters. Catherine will join Doc Fest for a free concert at the Lunenburg Heritage Bandstand immediately before the screening. 

Short Stories, Lasting Impressions

Shorts From Around the World is a free screening designed for local students where all ages are welcome. Truth Be Told is a collection of short films that urge us to see the world through others’ eyes. Closer to home, a series of films will provide residents a chance to see their town through a new lens. Professional filmmakers and poets have joined forces to create Tide and Time: Docupoems on Lunenburg, works funded by Arts Nova Scotia and supported by LDF that will screen for free at our festival for their World Premiere. In celebration of the Documentary Organization of Canada’s 35th year, LDF and DOC Atlantic are partnering to present DOC 35: Atlantic Made, a curated selection of short documentaries by Atlantic Canadian filmmakers. 

Our passes sell out every year but are currently available online at www.lunenburgdocfest.com/passes.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with generous support from Arts Nova Scotia; Canadian Heritage; Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage, Lunenburg Foundation for the Arts, Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Canada Council for the Arts.

For more information contact Executive Director Pamela Segger at:

E-mail: info@lunenburgdocfest.com

Phone: 902-523-FILM (3456)

Mail: Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0

Website: www.lunenburgdocfest.com

Facebook: facebook.com/lunenburgdocfest

Twitter: @LunenburgDocFes

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For immediate release
April 25, 2018

 Atlantic Canada joins the World at Hot Docs

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia  —   Lunenburg Doc Fest (LDF) is again leading a delegation of producers and directors from the Atlantic Canadian region to the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.   Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival and market, held April 26 to May 6, 2018, in Toronto.   The LDF Atlantic Delegation is the only Canadian delegation and one of twelve delegations from around the world including Italy, Japan, South Africa and nine other countries.

The specific regional focus LDF brings is unique at Hot Docs.  The LDF Delegation is a year-round initiative of the festival which motivates, promotes and provides opportunities to Atlantic Canadian documentarians.  The sixteen delegates will engage in professional development sessions, market events and networking opportunities with funders, distributors, programmers, and international co-producers.

“Lunenburg Doc Fest is proud to champion Atlantic Canadian filmmakers and we are returning to Hot Docs with momentum,” says Pamela Segger, LDF Executive Director. “Last year members of our delegation came home with investments and distribution deals for their films.”

“I secured US and international distribution for my NFB film Bluefin,” states John Hopkins from Prince Edward Island. “I’m grateful for the work Lunenburg Doc Fest does to help our local creators and I look forward to introducing the new delegates to the funders and broadcasters to help them get their projects made.”

Hot Docs has an added Atlantic focus this year:   The festival is honouring Nova Scotia filmmaker, John Walker, screening five of his films in the Focus On program, which highlights one Canadian artist each year.

LDF Atlantic Canada Delegation members attending Hot Docs:
Nance Ackerman, Rachel Bower, Jessica Brown, Millefiore Clarkes, Stuart Cresswell, Donna Davies, Walter Forsyth, John Hopkins, Louise Lalonde, Teresa MacInnes, Michael Melski, Kent Nason, Ariella Pahlke, Alexander Reid, Jackie Torrens along with Pamela Segger.

For information on the Atlantic Canadian Delegation or for interview opportunities, please contact Pamela Segger. The fifth Lunenburg Doc Fest takes place September 20 to 23, 2018. For more information go to www.lunenburgdocfest.com.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with the generous support from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Telefilm Canada and Canadian Heritage.

Contact Pamela Segger at:
E-mail:              info@lunenburgdocfest.com
Phone:              902-523-FILM (3456)
Mail:                 Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS  B0J 2C0
Website:           www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook:         facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter:              @LunenburgDocFes

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Press Release: January 30, 2018

Call for Submissions — 5th Lunenburg Doc Fest

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia — The fifth edition of Lunenburg Doc Fest has opened submissions for its annual event, which takes place September 20 to 23, 2018.

The festival showcases feature-length and short documentary films, professional development sessions, an industry market, community initiatives, awards, celebrations and destination events such as a harbour sunset cruise.

Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit documentaries for consideration. All fact-based films are considered, however, there is particular interest in documentaries that fall within the following categories: Atlantic, International, Environmental, Political, Art/Music, Youth/Family, and Experimental. The festival showcases major artists as well as emerging voices.

Lunenburg Doc Fest pays artist fees, welcomes and assists filmmakers of officially selected feature documentaries to attend, and presents three juried awards including Best Feature Documentary, Atlantic Filmmaker Award, and Short Film Award, plus an Audience Award.

The early bird submission deadline is March 15, 2018. The final deadline is June 30, 2018. All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/LunenburgDocFest. Complete guidelines and submission details are available at www.LunenburgDocFest.com/submissions/.

“Lunenburg Doc Fest has grown year over year and proudly earned a reputation for presenting a compelling program of international films, and exceptional hospitality,” states executive director, Pamela Segger. “Ultimately, the festival is about profound artistic experiences, exploring new ideas, making connections and challenging perceptions that influence how we see the world.”

The festival enjoys robust audiences and typically sells out of all passes. From September 20 to 23, Lunenburg Doc Fest will welcome film enthusiasts and filmmakers to experience its fifth edition and opportunities to connect audiences with the artists behind the work.

This year’s four-day fest will feature a lineup of timely and thought-provoking films, established and emerging artists, valuable industry initiatives, and time to enjoy Atlantic Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a premier and picturesque coastal destination.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

For more information contact Pamela Segger at:
E-mail: LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com
Website: www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter: @LunenburgDocFes
Mail: Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0
Phone: 902-523-FILM (3456)

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Lunenburg, Nova Scotia — The Festival proudly announces the Lunenburg Doc Fest bursary of $1,000 to be awarded to a student, residing in Nova Scotia, who is planning to attend post-secondary film studies.

Lunenburg Doc Fest aims to champion an emerging filmmaker and promote artistic achievement by assisting the student with the opportunity to gain valuable training.

“Lunenburg Doc Fest is thrilled to be presenting a bursary for secondary film education,” states Debra Beers, Co-Chair of the festival. “This goes hand in hand with our free Youth Program, which presents training for up to 12 students this summer and a Youth screening at our festival in September.”

In addition to the bursary, a Film Pass granting access to all feature documentary screenings on September 26 and 27, 2015, will be awarded.

The bursary application can be found at http://www.lunenburgdocfest.com/bursary/. Deadline for application is September 16, 2015.

To nominate a student or apply for the bursary, please complete and submit the Bursary Application via email to LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com or by mail to Box 1951, Lunenburg, NSB0J 2C0.

The successful applicant will be announced following the Lunenburg Doc Fest Youth Program screening at The Pearl Theatre, 37 Hall Street, Lunenburg, on Sunday, September 27, 2015.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with the generous support of the Province of Nova Scotia, the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, the Town of Lunenburg and Nova Scotia Tourism. 

For more information contact Pamela Segger or Deb Beers at: 

Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 Canada
Phone: 902-634-3633 / 902-527-9094
E-mail: LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com

Website:  www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter: @LunenburgDocFes

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Lunenburg, Nova Scotia – Lunenburg Doc Fest announced today that Requiem for the American Dream will have its Canadian premiere at the 2015 Lunenburg Doc Fest on Friday, September 25. The film, featuring Noam Chomsky – one of the world’s preeminent thought leaders, is a riveting exposé of the coordinated campaign to concentrate wealth and power into the hands of a select few. The documentary’s director/producer, Kelly Nyks, will be a presenting guest of The Festival.

“We vetted over 900 films this year and I’m delighted to present this powerful film as our opening night Gala screening,” says Pamela Segger, Co-chair of the Festival. “Our committee was unanimous in choosing this thought-provoking documentary. We believe Canadian audiences will be captivated by Requiem for the American Dream.”

A global phenomenon – both revered and reviled – Chomsky has authored over 100 books and is the 7th most cited person in history, behind the likes of Shakespeare, Aristotle, Marx and Plato. In his final long-form documentary interview, Noam Chomsky articulates ten fundamental principles that perpetuate this vicious cycle. Professor Chomsky provides penetrating insight into the demise of democracy and erosion of opportunity that are likely to be lasting hallmarks of our time.

“It is a great pleasure to premiere Requiem for the American Dream in Canada at Lunenburg Doc Fest and we are honored to see it selected as the festival’s opening feature film,” states Kelly Nyks. “As a member of the Corkum clan, it makes me especially proud to be celebrating the film in Lunenburg, one of the most beautiful towns in the country.”

Festival Passes including the gala screening and reception, which sold out quickly last year, are available for purchase online at http://www.lunenburgdocfest.com/tickets/ or at the Festival Box Office, 139 Montague Street, Lunenburg, while quantities last.

The Lunenburg Doc Fest runs September 25-27, 2015. The Opening Night Gala is made possible with the generous sponsorship of the Old Fish Factory Restaurant & Ice House Bar.

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Lunenburg Doc Fest showcases documentary films that entertain, educate, and inspire, creating a cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The festival is presented with the generous support of the Province of Nova Scotia, the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, the Town of Lunenburg and Nova Scotia Tourism. 

For more information contact Pamela Segger or Deb Beers at: 

Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 Canada
Phone: 902-634-3633 / 902-527-9094
E-mail: LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com

Website:  www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter: @LunenburgDocFes

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Lunenburg Doc Fest is pleased to invite submissions of art for the first ever Lunenburg Doc Fest Jury Award, to be awarded annually to one feature documentary screened during The Festival. We seek a unique trophy featuring our “filmbird” and the essence of our mission statement:

Lunenburg Doc Fest celebrates the art of documentary, creating an enriching cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The Call is open to experienced and amateur Canadian artists.

Participating artists may submit up to two Lunenburg Doc Fest Jury Award designs. Include a short description of the work, a cost-to-construct estimate, and a brief biography of the artist toLunenburgDocFest@gmail.com or to Lunenburg Doc Fest, Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 by July 3, 2015. The selected artist will be notified by July 10, 2015.

The brief and specifications for the award are as follows: aesthetically aspirant, prestigious, inspirational, intrinsically sculptural — a statue designed for a handheld trophy or award including a base with provision for an engraved plaque. Preferably, the materials used should be environmentally friendly. As the award may be internationally shipped, please keep the size and weight of materials in mind.

A $500 commission will be awarded to the selected artist for design, materials and construction inclusive. Lunenburg Doc Fest will retain rights to the trophy award design and the right to reproduce the trophy annually, in perpetuity.

The artist of the selected design must construct and deliver the trophy to Lunenburg Doc Fest, Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 by August 14, 2015.

At the discretion of Lunenburg Doc Fest, the selected artist and design may be profiled on the Lunenburg Doc Fest social media sites and in the 2nd annual Festival Program Guide.

For additional information email LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com.

Lunenburg Doc Fest
Lunenburg Doc Fest celebrates the art of documentary, creating an enriching cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The Festival is presented with the generous support of the Province of Nova Scotia, the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, the Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Tourism.

Lunenburg Doc Fest
September 25-27, 2015

Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 Canada
Phone: 902-634-3633 / 902-527-9094
E-mail: LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com
Website: www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter: @LunenburgDocFes

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Lunenburg Doc Fest seeks submissions for its second annual event, September 25-27, 2015. The Festival encourages aspiring and established filmmakers to submit documentaries for consideration.

Lunenburg Doc Fest celebrates the art of documentary, creating an enriching cultural experience and place of connection between filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.

The Festival strives to present original and inspiring films from across the globe with particular interest in short and feature-length documentaries that fall within one or more of the following categories: Atlantic, International, Environmental, Political, Art, Youth/Family and Docudrama.

Deadlines:
Early Bird April 30, 2015
Regular May 31, 2015
Final July 1, 2015

Films selected for screening during Lunenburg Doc Fest will receive an honorarium. One feature length documentary will win a juried award. Go to www.LunenburgDocFest.com/submissions/ for additional information.

Lunenburg Doc Fest
www.LunenburgDocFest.com
Box 1951, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 Canada
902-634-3633 / 902-527-9094
LunenburgDocFest@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LunenburgDocFest
Twitter: @LunenburgDocFes
Filmfreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/LunenburgDocFest

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