One World Film Festival Wraps Up Four Outstanding Days of Docs and Talks on Global Issues

The One World Film Festival wrapped up its 2017 edition, which featured four days of thought-provoking screenings of international and Canadian documentaries and talk on global issues, on October 1st.

Over twenty documentaries – short and feature length – were presented during the 28th Annual One World Film Festival, over fifty percent of which were directed, co-directed and/or produced by female filmmakers. The festival program also included a robust collection of Canadian documentaries and we were pleased to have in attendance directors of four of those films. Talks with filmmakers, community organizers, experts, documentary protagonists and representatives from our community partners contributed to lively discussions and opportunities for audiences to engage, interact, participate and expand their understanding of issues of local and global concern. Many audience members expressed their appreciation and gratitude for having the chance to view documentaries and be involved in conversations that enriched their awareness on a range of topics and inspired them to get involved in taking action.

One World Arts is grateful for the support of the funders, partners, sponsors, members, volunteers, participants and audience members who contributed to making the 28th Annual One World Film Festival a forum for screening exceptional documentaries, hosting thought-provoking discussions, and inspiring further understanding of and engagement on global issues.

The 28th annual One World Film Festival was supported by grants from the Ottawa Community Foundation, and the City of Ottawa, and the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario. Support from One World Arts’ Partners and SponsorsOxfam Canada, Nobel Women’s Initiative, Human Rights Research and Education Centre (University of Ottawa), Inter Pares, Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, SAW Video, Cuso International, UNHCR Canada, MiningWatch Canada, Amnesty International Canada, Refugee 613, Ottawa Indie Fest, Asinabka Festival, Hot Docs, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Zulu Nyala Group – was essential and we look forward to carrying forward these partnerships and supporting our community partners’ activities, campaigns and initiatives.

One World Arts and Festival staff, the One World Arts Board of Directors, members of the One World Film Festival Organizing and Screening Committees, and Festival volunteers played a pivotal role in planning, delivering and supporting the 2017 Festival. Thank you! We couldn’t have done it without you.

We offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all the emcees, speakers, moderators, filmmakers, artists, and organizations who contributed their time and expertise to making the 28th annual One World Film Festival an enriching, educational and rewarding experience for everyone involved. These included Gerald Schmitz (One World Arts), Jean Symes (Inter Pares), Norman Matchewan (Algonquins of Barriere Lake), Ben Powless, Cat Mills (Fixed!), Pamela Yates (500 Years Life in Resistance), Sean Wilson (Ottawa International Writers Festival) Jennifer Moore (MiningWatch Canada), Rachel Vincent (Nobel Women’s Initiative), Andrea Ixchíu (500 Years Life in Resistance), Howard Adler and Christopher Wong (Asinabka Festival), John Packer (Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa), Doris Liu (In the Name of Confucius), Michel Juneau-Katsuya, David Kilgour, Brad Henry, Arshad Khan (ABU), Jeremy Dias (Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity), Adrian Harewood (CBC), Brittany Lambert (Oxfam Canada), Louisa Taylor (Refugee 613), Hani al Moulia (Through My Eyes: Hani’s Journey), Jean-Nicolas Beuze (UNHCR Canada), Chiara Marcazzan (Cuso International), Kasha Sequoia Slavner (The Sunrise Storyteller), A. Sabastien Callender (Project Manager, Ottawa Through the Lens of Refugees, Immigrants, and Newcomers) Hingman Leung (Six Voices One Story), Spes Ndongozi (Untitled), Golbon Moltaji (An artist from Iran), Fars Mohammed (Positivity in a new place), Alois Nashali (Through the Lens of a Migrant Story), Emily Ramsay (Digi60 Filmmakers Festival), Ecology Ottawa, and Blue Dot, among others.

Additional thanks to Nadine Tremblay, Food and Conference Services Manager at Saint Paul University, and Mario Martel, technician and projectionist, for going the extra mile to make sure the One World Film Festival was a success and expertly respond to any and all issues that arose over the four day festival. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you.

Last, but not least, thank you to our audiences for attending, participating actively in, and supporting the annual One World Film Festival and for attending our events and fundraisers throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you at our next event! If you would like to get involved, please email us at volunteer@oneworldarts.ca and/or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.