A celebration of cinema goes this weekend in the city.

The North Bay Film Festival runs tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday with all screenings at the Capitol Centre.

Several Q&A sessions are lined up with directors and producers after several film screenings.

There’s also a Canadore student showcase tomorrow afternoon.

Film producer and Canadore Digital Cinematography professor Dave Clement’s new feature film Angelique’s Isle, is headlining the festival’s opening night tomorrow.

“I’m very pleased to be able to bring the film to an audience in the place I call home”, said Clement, who both produced and helped lens the film as 2nd Unit Director of Photography. “I feel this project has set the gold standard in what can be achieved by Northern Ontario filmmakers”.

He says Angelique’s Isle represents many firsts for Northern Ontario’s burgeoning film industry, including being the first professional feature film written, produced and directed by people actually from Northern Ontario.

“For the first time ever we’re seeing a multi-million dollar film project put together by producers from North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay all working together, it’s truly a pan-Northern success story,” says Clement.

Angelique’s Isle is based on a true story that occurred in 1845. Angelique, a young Anishinaabe woman, and her French-Canadian voyageur husband Charlie find themselves left for dead on Lake Superior’s Isle Royale by a corrupt Detroit copper hunter. As hunger sets in, Angelique – a devout Christian – struggles with her faith and must rely on the teachings she received from her shamanic grandmother in order to survive the harsh winter.

Angelique’s Isle is a harrowing tale of survival and a testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous women, set on the epic backdrop of the Lake Superior frontier.

Visit CapitolCentre.org for ticket and event information

(Photo courtesy facebook.com/northbayfilm/)

 

A fundraiser for North Bay’s PADDLE program goes Saturday night at the North Bay Museum.

The Plaid Shirt Society’s 8th annual event is held in memory of Nick Klassen.

In 2009, the West Ferris grad passed away at the age of 23 from complications due to the H1N1 virus.

Saturday’s event includes live entertainment, door prizes, silent auction and more.

Tickets are $10 at the door or online (CLICK HERE).

 

The North Bay Santa Claus Parade is back on Sunday at noon.

The theme this year is “Futuristic Christmas” with several awards up for grabs, including best overall float and best spirit.

Children are reminded to bring along their letters to Santa.

Non-perishable food donations for the North Bay Food Bank will also be collected along the route.

The parade will travel down Chippewa Street, onto Fisher, then onto Main.

 

Fifteen local acts are lined up to perform during the Nipissing Serenity Hospice Christmas Concert on Sunday afternoon at St Joseph-Scollard Hall.

The annual event is a matinee this year and features traditional and non-traditional Christmas songs.

Doors open at 1:30 pm on Sunday.

The two hour fundraiser is being held in memory of Jim Marmino, who passed away last April.

He was a well-known community leader and volunteer who was instrumental in helping to raise awareness and money to make the Hospice project a reality.

Tickets to the concert are $20 and are available at the Davedi Club.