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In memory of Shawn O'Neill (September 13, 1964 - September 15, 2015) Forever in our Hearts, Mom & Dad

The Windsor International Film Festival will have a permanent home in The Capitol Theatre building when it opens the curtains on its 14th season in downtown Windsor in October, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra announced today. 

An agreement between WIFF and the WSO, which runs The Capitol, will see the popular film festival permanently take over the ground level space on University Ave. and Pelissier St., just east of the theatre's main entrance. WIFF has been using this space each season for nearly a decade. 

"This new partnership strengthens the Capitol Theatre, the WSO and WIFF. We can share resources in a way that will benefit all of us and, more importantly, our community," said Sheila Wisdom, WSO Executive Director. "It is also an exciting next step in the creation of a dynamic centre for entertainment in Windsor." 

Vincent Georgie, WIFF Executive Director and Chief Programmer, said the creative partnership would promote a bustling cultural hub and even greater use of the Capitol as an active theatre space drawing more artists and movie buffs downtown. The influx of thousands of students to expanding university and college campuses in the core will only add to the buzz.

"The potential for downtown Windsor as a vibrant community for the arts is boundless and breathtaking," said Georgie. "The sky is truly the limit when it comes to opportunities for creative collaboration. There's an artistic renaissance underway in the core and the film festival is ecstatic to be plating a key role in it." 

WIFF is already the Capitol's largest tenant in terms of bookings and this new partnership offers real and intriguing opportunities for enhanced collaboration year-round, including the sharing of equipment. This will benefit both the WSO and WIFF as well as the broader arts community, said Georgie.

The Windsor International Film Festival is the second largest volunteer film festival in Canada and last year sold a record 22,000 tickets, screening 113 films from 20 different countries -- 25 percent of which were Francophone. The festival now screens movies monthly as a part of its popular WIFF365 series.

The film festival has long been a passionate promoter of the local arts. WIFF screens movies for hundreds of students each year and invites area youth to choose movies for screenings as part of its "junior programmer" initiative. 

WIFF's 48-Hour FlickFest is a hectic, hyperlocal moviemaking challenge for Windsor and Detroit area filmmakers. And WIFF Local lets local filmmakers submit, for free, short and feature films for programming consideration. 

This year's festival runs from October 29 - November 4.

For more information on WIFF and the upcoming Festival visit www.windsorfilmfestival.com

Please join St. Clair College for an exclusive alumni event on September 21, mingle 6pm, dinner 7pm and show 9pm at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. Tickets, $60 per person. Proceeds benefit the St. Clair College Foundation Scholarship Program. Attire, casual/comfortable. 

Tickets and information available online at www.chryslertheatre.com or call 519-252-6579

Sheila Barker, Sherrilynn Colley-Vegh, Carol Derbyshire, Patti France, Andrea Grimes, Nour Hachem, Leigh Ann & Tereza Hello, Amber Hunter, Jennifer Jones, Janice Kaffer, Doris Lapico, Maureen Lucas, Federica Nazzani, Yvonne Pilon, Michelle Prince, Micheline Rawlins, Martha Reavley, Chantal Vallée, Sheila Wisdom, Stephanie Zekelman

“These amazing women are valuable assets to our community and it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their success, impact and ability to inspire others,” says photographer Mike Kovaliv.

On September 12, from 6-9pm at the Art Gallery of Windsor, the “Women of Windsor” exhibit will launch. A black & white film photography exhibition by Mike Kovaliv celebrating twenty of Windsor’s most impactful and influential women. Along with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, the public is invited to view the portraits created by Kovaliv when working with these inspiring women. The collection is sponsored by The City of Windsor’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund (ACHF).

The exhibit will be displayed at the Art Gallery of Windsor until Oct. 14

“2018 has been a significant year for women all around the world, I felt it was important to celebrate some of the incredible women we have in our own community through my passion for photography and for Windsor Essex.” Says Kovaliv “They come from diverse fields and interests, but they have all played a part in shaping our community.”