Rach year the DCISFF has one special screening, titled Out of the Cold, devoted entirely to emerging Yukon artists — those who are having films shown for the first time. With several local filmmakers and their subjects in attendance, this Easter Day matinee is consistently one of the most popular events of the entire Film Fest weekend.
This year did not disappoint. The Oddfellows Ballroom was filled, and the spirit in the hall was ebullient. The offerings were eleclectic and of excellent quality — so much so that several attendees casting fan-favourite ballots comnplained of how tough the choice was.
The debut selections consisted of: Daisy’s Christmas, a dog’s-eye view of Xmas holiday preparations and celebration; The History of Typography, a clever and engaging short that covers centuries of developments in font design in 3 minutes; Like a River, a poignant and stirring documentary about a 9000 km canoe tip and personal odyssey to raise awareness of mental illness; Pippi Goes On Strike, depicting the peccadilloes of a pet mouse; Grey Matters, a mystery mockumentary set on the outskirts of Dawson; Our Life River Changes, a thought-provoking look into climate change through the observations of experts and elders living on the Yukon River; Enough to Get By, a drama about a hard life triggering warm memories; Deal With It, one disabled person’s inspirational and brave call-to-arms against her handicap; b, a touching documentary about how one remarkable mother inspires her daughter to embrace aging; Sound Faith, a blind person’s emotional and intimate performance of the spiritual Amazing Grace; and North Watch, a hilarious animated comedy about a TV producer pitching Yukon-based shows to executives.
— Dan Dowhal, Writer-at-Large
