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Local features play huge role for DocFest

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Seventeen of the 50 documentaries to be screened at this year’s Belleville Downtown DocFest were made by local filmmakers.
“That’s the largest number of local films we’ve had to date. We provide significant support to local and independent filmmakers by giving them a chance to screen their films before an audience,” said Holly Dewar chairperson of the festival. “We also offer development opportunities through a series of workshops.”
A couple of highlights include My Belleville 200, produced by Aaron Bell. It commemorates Belleville’s 200th birthday. Belleville filmmaker Doug Knutson’s Hollywood of The North will be featured as well.
“The Trenton Film Studio celebrates its 100th anniversary next year and Canada’s first epic film, Carry On Sergeant, was made there in 1928,” Dewar said. “Doug’s documentary is a tribute to its making as well as to the earlier and later films.”
Knutson, owner of Windswept Productions, said the festival is an outlet for local filmmakers.
“I actually have two in this year, but one is a very short one,” he said. “Both of them are dealing with anniversaries.”
Knutson will also be playing a short about Belleville’s 200th anniversary.
“I’ve been involved every year except the first,” he said of volunteering or screening films at the festival. “It’s tremendous. Documentaries are almost a hobby because I really haven’t made anything on it. It’s really my prime interest and having something like this here in Belleville is like Christmas Day for us local filmmakers, to have a venue to share your stories.”
The festival also collaborates with the Loyalist College School of Media Arts and Design.
“A unique part of DocFest is the Loyalist College television and new media short-film competition,” Dewar said of the 12 four-minute films produced by Loyalist students. 
She said the sixth annual Downtown Belleville DocFest returns on March 3-5 at several venues downtown, including the Core Centre, Empire Theatre , Pinnacle Playhouse Theatre and Belleville Public Library.
“All conveniently located in the beautiful revitalized downtown,”  she said.
The event will not only showcase films, but will feature workshops, seminars and opportunity to network with industry professionals.
“Last year was our most successful festival to date,” she said. “Passes had sold out prior to the start of the festival, the past two years running.
“Our total film screening increased from about 2,000 people in our first year to 4,600 last year. It has become a destination festival for the region.”
Passes are going fast again this year, with only a few early bird passes left when Dewar presented to council Monday. The opening gala event to be held at the Empire will feature the acclaimed music film, The Music of Strangers, Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble.
“It’s a stunning film about a collective of 50 musicians and other artists from around the globe who come together,” she said.
The film is directed by Morgan Neville whose previous music documentary, 20 Feet From Stardom, won an Oscar and was the downtown festival’s opening picture in 2014.
The gala will also produce a live musical performance.
“We have a special arts show that’s been a part of DocFest since year one,” said Dewar. “This year’s exhibition is The Art of Changing The World and it’s curated by local visual artist Peter Paylor and Lisa Morris.”
The festival will once again mix art with food. That event will return again on March 4.
“Last year we added Downtown DocFeast to the festival, where participating restaurants offered fixed priced menus,” she said. “It’s a feature of the festival again this year.”
It opens Feb. 27 at The Core Gallery.
Early bird passes cost $40, with regular passes being $50. Students will be charged $20.

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