A4

By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

The Silver Wave Film Festival's opening feature played to a sold-out crowd in what organizers say is a sign of the growing interest in New Brunswick films.

Enlarge Photo

The Daily Gleaner/Ray Bourgeois

Cast members of American Sunset gather in the theatre at Tilley Hall before the film’s premiere Thursday. In the top row, from left, are Wally MacKinnon, Bernie Robichaud (principal actor) and Jim Lavoie, and at bottom from left are Bronwen, Angela Cullins (lead actress) and Caleb Marshall. The movie was shot in Fredericton, Moncton, Kings Landings and other N.B. locations.

American Sunset, the feature film mostly shot in the Fredericton region, played to an audience of more than 300 Thursday night.

"People were sitting in the aisles there weren't enough seats," said Tony Merzetti, executive director of the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative.

He said that's a good sign that there's growing appetite for the work of New Brunswick filmmakers.

"It seems each year, people are developing a greater awareness and they're interested in coming out and seeing what's being developed in the province."

Merzetti said the festival has seen a record number of New Brunswick entries this year, many of which will be shown at today's short films series.

The number of New Brunswick-made films entered at the festival this year is 71, up from 37 last year. The total number of films entered is up to 118 from 82.

Filmmakers are vying for the 22 awards being handed out at the festival.

"We have a slew of good, short dramatic films, 35-millimetre feature films, and a lot of good documentary projects as well," Merzetti said.

"People here are doing very professional films with good acting and and a production level that is comparable to anywhere else."

A series of shorts being shown tonight before the awards are expected to cover a broad range of genres.

"There's basically a mixture of comedy and drama, with a lot of first-time directors and first-time actors to discover," festival publicist Jim Lavoie said Friday, shortly after he shipped the tapes of American Sunset to Los Angeles where they're expected for the movie's big-screen premiere.

"Every couple of minutes there's a new film, so it changes and you're going to find something you like. Some are really thought provoking."