Qualicum Beach will host a film festival this weekend, thanks to the efforts of high school student Saffron Bisiker.
Bisiker said she decided to take on the event for her Grade 12 capstone project, which sees students in the Collaborative Education Alternative Program (CEAP) in Kwalikum Secondary School take on an assignment of their choosing.
Ten films have been submitted, from Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Bowen Island, to the festival, set for March 12 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre (747 Jones St).
Entries include a comedies, music videos and a documentary called the Straight Agenda.
“[It] goes into LGBTQ+ issues and what it’s like to grow up in a world where you’re presumed straight,” said Bisiker, who did not submit an entry to the festival, but has enjoyed filmmaking and the performing arts for years.
Three judges will be there and will award prizes for best cinematographer, best director and best overall film, Bisiker said. Winners will receive $100 and a certificate. There was no cost to enter a film.
“We wanted to make it as accessible as possible,” she said.
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Bisiker, 17, has been interested in films and performing from a young age and had their first role at age six, followed by an interest in filmmaking at 12.
“Ever since then I’ve just been making films or writing scripts, or just working in that industry in some way or another,” she said.
After graduation she plans to pursue a degree in archaeology and has been accepted to programs at SFU and UBC. Bisiker also plans to continue on with filmmaking.
In planning the festival, Bisiker said she has been helped by her mom, who works for Arts BC, as well as mentor and filmmaker Zachary Tanner and the Qualicum Beach Cinema Society.
Tickets are $15 and available at QualicumBeachFilmFestival.ca and at the door.
The festival starts at 2 p.m. and doors open at 1:30 p.m.
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