As promised in my previous blog post, this entry offers a sneak peak of the programming at the third annual Breast Fest – the world’s only film festival dedicated to breast cancer awareness and education.
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| Deena Metzger, Tree, Photograph by Hella Hammid |
The festival begins Friday November 19, and opening night is already sold out! The evening includes a screening of Tara-Lee Novak’s Quarter Life Cancer, the winner of the Amazing Grace Award, Breast Fest’s online short film. This will be followed the opening night feature, Busting Out, an intelligent and engaging (and cleverly titled) documentary by Francine Strickwerda and Lauren Spellman Smith. The film effectively combines an exploration of America’s current obsession with female breasts with Francine Strickwerda’s personal journey to feel comfortable with her own breasts. In 1974 at age 7, Francine lost her mother to breast cancer, and the silence about the disease both at home and in America at the time contributed to her shame and discomfort with her own breasts, which she regarded as ‘boobs of doom’. The film has some wonderful historic footage and does a great job of balancing information from experts with ‘on the street’ interviews to provide a diversity of viewpoints. For me, one of the film’s highlights is an interview with Deena Metzger, who you may recognize from an outstanding photograph taken of her post-mastectomy, and which is one of the most powerful, beautiful and joyous images of the human body I’ve ever seen.
The filmmakers will be in attendance and I’ve been asked to moderate the question and answer session after the screening, which I am excited about. While the event is currently sold out, there is waiting list in case more tickets become available. If you would like to be added to the list, please email Tanya@rethinkbreastcancer.com
Following the screenings and q&a, there’s a party where I’ll enjoy drink or two before heading home to get a good night’s rest and be ready for Saturday November 20 at Breast Fest which begins with an event I am eagerly anticipating. What’s your Story: The Art Of Personal Storytelling features three interesting and accomplished women discussing their creative approaches to telling one’s story. Documentary filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal , visual artist Sara Angelucci, and author Ruth Rakoff will share their insights into the issues and challenges of personal storytelling and offer ideas for approaching telling stories in original and inventive ways. I’m looking forward to hearing each panellist’s experiences with the artistic process and the discussion this will inspire amongst each other and with the audience.
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| I Want To Live, Don’t I, Actress, Kathrin Spielvogel |
After learning how to tell a personal story in a compelling and engaging way, there’s the opportunity to see a film that embodies these qualities. I Want To Live, Don’t I, is a personal video diary of a year in the life of German actress Kathrin Spielvogel that begins when, at age 34, she is diagnosed with breast cancer and informed that her right breast needs to be removed. Borrowing a camera, Kathrin decided to document her experiences for her own use, and we are fortunate that she has chosen to share her diary with audiences. Kathrin is natural and charismatic in front of the camera, and she has a wonderful sense of humour. Because she used the diary to fully express herself so as not to overburden family and friends, the thoughts and feelings she records are honest and uncensored. The result is an absorbing and insightful look at the highs and lows and the fears and hopes of her journey through diagnosis, surgery, treatment and recovery (Kathrin is currently cancer free). Kudos to Nicolas Fuestal, the friend who lent Kathrin a camera, for his sensitive and dynamic editing of the film.
At 12:30 on Saturday November 21, Breast Fest presents Live. Laugh. Lunch! An Inspirational Event for Women with Breast Cancer. This event features Ruth Rakoff, author of When My World Was Very Small. A Memoir of Family, Food, Cancer and my Couch, and is an opportunity for candid conversation about life beyond cancer and moving forward with renewed energy. This luncheon is exclusive to women who have experienced breast cancer and last year’s event received rave reviews. It is also an opportunity to meet women from across Canada who have experienced breast cancer and who are sponsored to attend the festival by Rethink Breast Cancer, the organization that puts on Breast Fest. If you or someone you know would like to attend please visit www.breastfestfilmfest.com or email hello@breastfestfilmfest.com
Tomorrow’s blog post will provide a peek at the second half of the outstanding programme at Breast Fest on Saturday November 20. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the festival!
Founding Member – Breast Fest, the world’s only film festival dedicated to breast cancer awareness
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