CALGARY — The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) today announced six NFB works will be featured at 2020 Calgary International Film Festival, taking place September 24 to October 4.
For the first time in the festival’s history, the lineup of selected films will be available for streaming to audiences in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Headlining the selection of new and award-winning NFB documentaries and animation is the world premiere of John Ware Reclaimed, from Calgary-born filmmaker, author and playwright Cheryl Foggo’s North West Studio. The feature documentary follows Foggo on her quest to re-examine the mythology surrounding John Ware, the Black cowboy who settled in Alberta before the turn of the 20th century. Eight-time world champion rodeo star Fred Whitfield (pictured) appears as Ware in the film, which also includes interviews with author Lawrence Hill, researcher Bertrand Bickersteth and historian David Breen, filmed at key locations in Ware’s life. The documentary was produced in Alberta by Bonnie Thompson and David Christensen, and executive produced by Christensen for the NFB.
Three award-winning NFB features have been chosen for the Calgary International Film Festival’s DGC Canadian Documentary Competition: Wintopia by Mira Burt-Wintonick (EyeSteelFilm/NFB); Stateless by Michèle Stephenson (Hispaniola Productions/NFB); and The Forbidden Reel by Ariel Nasr (Loaded Pictures/NFB).
The festival’s shorts competition is presenting two NFB animated works: Catherine Lepage’s The Great Malaise (NFB); and Jean-François Lévesque’s I, Barnabé (NFB with the participation of ARTE France).
