Program Director's Letter
Welcome to Global Visions 2007, a visual tour de force that promises to sweep you up in its cinematic arms and carry you across the country and around the world!
We are thrilled with this year's lineup of 42 extraordinary documentary films, which have been selected from 175 submissions from filmmakers around the globe.
Come with us on a four day journey to villages nestled against the rising waters of China's Yangtze River, a tent camp for the homeless in post-Katrina New Orleans, a village in northern Uganda where former child soldiers reclaim their lost youth through music, and much more.
Drawn from some of the world's most respected festivals and finest filmmakers, this year's lineup is truly a celebration of unforgettable cinema. Our theme, Global Vision Starts Here, is inspired from Gandhi?s famous words, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world," a theme that reflects the hope and spirit that we looked for, and found, in every chosen title.
We are especially pleased that many filmmakers from across Canada will join us this year to present their films, take your questions and share their wisdom during our feature workshop, Getting the Most from Your Subjects, a fundraising event for the Edmonton Food Bank.
Don't forget to join us for Marketplace and Youth Day, two popular events that have become central fixtures of our festival over the years.
We are delighted this year to have the venerable Paramount Theatre on Jasper join the Citadel?s Metro Cinema and the Library's Stanley A. Milner Theatre to round out our city centre venues, which, along with our evening post-screening parties, are all within easy walking distance for your convenience.
I personally want to thank the staff at Global Visions, Jeremy Rittwage and Sheryle Carlson, as well as four tireless volunteers, Rosie Dransfeld, Scott Harris, Jaro Malanowski and Bob Dawe, who helped me to screen more than 200 hours of cinema to select our remarkable program.
Bon appetit!
Graydon McCrea
Festival Program Director