Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus is set to kick off its Winter 2025 International Film Series on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Held in collaboration between the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, the City of Brantford and Laurier International, students, staff and community members are invited to attend a total of six free film screenings throughout the months of January, February and March.
Christina Han, Director of the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions, said the idea behind the series is to provide the community with an opportunity to share, reflect and celebrate different cultures and languages through cinematic art.
Going into its third season, the series was first launched back in January 2024 after the City approached the Hub for ideas to help support the Brantford Immigration Partnership and the Inclusive Community Plan.
“The City had reached out to us and asked how we could work together to create some initiatives and programs that would bring more inclusivity and dialogue into the community, and we ended up suggesting an international film series” said Han. “I think it’s been a fantastic initiative to engage the community and with this now being our third season, we’ve garnered quite a few regulars of all different ages.”
Han continued to say that since the series first started, she’s noticed that although some viewers may come in hesitant to watch a film with subtitles at first, they typically leave the theatre pleasantly surprised.
“What I found interesting is that, especially for some of our community members, sometimes they aren’t sure about watching a film with subtitles but we always encourage them to give it a try,” she said. “In my experience, after they watch their first one, everyone makes comments like ‘that was so enjoyable and different, I actually learned so much and I can’t wait for the next one’ and it’s just nice to hear that they’ve gotten something from it.”
She said that not only is the series a great way to gain an understanding about different cultures around the globe, but that it’s an opportunity to experience different cinematic traditions as well.
“Every country does film differently, right?” said Han. “They all have very different storytelling techniques and so the series has become a really great way for people to learn that there’s more than one way of making films than just a fast-paced Hollywood movie.”
The series will take place at the Steven and Helen Kun Theatre, located in the Laurier’s Research and Academic Centre at 150 Dalhousie St., and each screening will feature an introduction to the film, its culture and language, and will be followed by a brief discussion.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the films starting at 7:00 p.m. and Laurier International will be providing viewers with free snacks and refreshments. Tickets are free and available to reserve through Eventbrite, and while walk-ins are welcome, seating is limited.
For those interested in attending one or all of the screenings, this season’s films are as follows:
- Thursday, January 16: “Angry Indian Goddesses” (India), directed by Pan Nalin.
A group of close-knit women reunite in Goa for a surprise announcement, leading to a candid exploration of their lives and societal challenges.
- Thursday, January 30: “Shoplifters” (Japan), directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
A poor family relies on shoplifting to cope with a life of poverty, but their bonds are tested when they take in a neglected girl.
- Thursday, February 13: “Let the Right One In” (Sweden), directed by Tomas Alfredson.
A lonely boy befriends a mysterious girl in his neighborhood, unaware that she harbors a dark, otherworldly secret.
- Thursday, February 27: “Once” (Ireland), directed by John Carney.
A Dublin street musician and a Czech immigrant form a deep connection through their shared passion for music, leading to a transformative collaboration
- Thursday, March 13: “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia), directed by Haifaa al-Mansour.
A tenacious 10-year-old girl in Riyadh dreams of owning a bicycle, challenging societal norms to make her wish come true.
- Thursday, March 27: “Rams” (Iceland), directed by Grímur Hákonarson.
Two estranged brothers, both sheep farmers, must set aside a decades-long feud to save their ancestral flocks from a deadly disease.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
