Sault films celebrated at international festivals

NEWS RELEASE
FUTURE SSM
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Sault Ste. Marie’s local film and digital media talent was on full display at last week’s Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, as local producers and directors were recognized for their work in the industry.

Two local groups walked away with top prizes in the CTV Best in Shorts category; Jimmie Chiverelli won second place for his role directing Wisp; and The Last Wish directed by Sault College Digital Film and Production student, Vladimir Sokolskyy, won for Best Cinematography.

Cinéfest’s lineup also included viewings of Giant Little Ones, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2018 Feature Film which was shot in Sault Ste. Marie; and Angelique’s Isle, an historical account of local Indigenous woman, Angelique Mott, produced by Saulite Rosalie Chilelli.

“Over the past decade, Sault Ste. Marie is increasingly becoming a go-to location for film production in Northern Ontario,” stated Angelique’s Isle’s Executive Producer Rosalie Chilelli. “Its diverse locations, experienced local crew base, film friendly citizens, and overall charm are setting it apart in the industry. The strong presence of Sault Ste. Marie at Cinéfest and TIFF in 2018 speaks to the potential the community has to build on these assets.”

To lead these efforts, a new dedicated Film Office has been established as part of the FutureSSM Project to attract and support productions while they are in the community. This new filming office is part of a mandate to market Sault Ste. Marie as a preferred location for film and digital media production, a direct recommendation from the Community Adjustment Committee Report.

Led by local industry expert, Jennifer Mathewson, the film office will be working towards a comprehensive film strategy that includes a marketing campaign to attract productions and investors, and mechanisms to directly support productions with things like City permitting processes and location scouting.

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