The Winnipeg Film Group (WFG) is an artist-run film education, production,
distribution Distribution may refer to:
Mathematics
* Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations
*Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a vari ...
, and exhibition centre in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749 ...
,
Manitoba
Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...
, committed to promoting the art of
Canadian cinema
''Canadian Cinema'' was a Canadian television series about films which aired on CBC Television in 1974.
Premise
Feature films from Canada were presented in this series:Dates verifiable from TV listings July–August 1974 from '' The Globe and ...
, especially
independent cinema
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independen ...
.
While specializing in
short films
A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...
, WFG's collection ranges from works one-second shorts to full-length features, with films spanning various genres including
narrative
A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional ( memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travelogue, etc.) or fictional ( fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller, novel, etc ...
drama and comedy,
animation
Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...
experimental
An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a ...
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
, its operations are funded by the
Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts (french: Conseil des arts du Canada), commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown corporation established in 1957 as an arts council of the Government of Canada. It acts as the federal government's principal in ...
,
Manitoba Arts Council
The Manitoba Arts Council (MAC; ) is a provincial crown corporation whose purpose is to promote the arts. The Council awards grants to professional artists and arts organizations in Manitoba in all art forms; it also provides related creative act ...
, and Winnipeg Arts Council.
History
The Winnipeg Film Group was established in 1974 as a product of the annual Canadian Film Symposium at the
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.independent Canadian cinema.
During the Symposium, several local independent filmmakers came together to approach the government to help fund the creation of the Winnipeg Film Group, aiming to pool resources towards making independent films. By the end of the Symposium, all filmmakers in attendance—including Denys Arcand,
Donald Shebib
Donald Everett "Don" Shebib (born 27 January 1938) is a Canadian film director. Shebib is a central figure in the development of English Canadian cinema who made several short documentaries for the National Film Board of Canada and CBC Televisi ...
, and Colin Low—signed what they called the "Winnipeg Manifesto," which began, "We, the undersigned filmmakers, wish to voice our belief that the present system of film production / distribution / exhibition works to the extreme disadvantage of the Canadian filmmaker."
The Winnipeg Film Group was officially incorporated on 27 December 1974. Soon after, in 1976, WFG collaboratively produced its first completed film, ''Rabbit Pie''. In 1980, ''You Laugh Like a Duck'' marked the first co-production between WFG and the
Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
. The following year, WFG began distributing independent films, and in the fall of 1982, WFG began its cinematheque/ revival house program (called Cinematheque), screening at the
National Film Board
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; french: Office national du film du Canada (ONF)) is Canada's public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary fi ...
’s Cinema Main. In 1984, ''The Three Worlds of Nick'' became the first WFG film to be screened at
Toronto Festival of Festivals
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a perman ...
(now the Toronto International Film Festival).
In 1986, WFG, in its entirety (including Cinematheque), moved into its current location in the Artspace Building at 100 Arthur Street, across the street from Winnipeg's Old Market Square. In 1989, three WFG members were nominated for
Genie Awards
The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for scul ...
: Ed Ackerman for ''Primiti Too Taa'', Lorne Bailey for ''The Milkman Cometh'', and
Guy Maddin
Guy Maddin (born February 28, 1956) is a Canadian screenwriter, director, author, cinematographer, and film editor of both features and short films, as well as an installation artist, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since completing his first film i ...
for ''
Tales From The Gimli Hospital
''Tales from the Gimli Hospital'' is a 1988 film directed by Guy Maddin. His feature film debut, it was his second film after the short '' The Dead Father''. ''Tales from the Gimli Hospital'' was shot in black and white on 16 mm film and star ...
Bristol, England
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
, hosted an 8-city, 4-film tour of work from the Winnipeg Film Group. WFG also partnered with Video Pool to establish "RE:VISIONS – The Winnipeg Women’s Film and Video Festival". Also that year, the WFG earned a
lifetime achievement award
Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions.
Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include:
A
* A.C. ...
from the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association. In 1999, Gordon Wilding's ''Rapture'' (1997) became the first WFG-supported film to be part of the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
.
In 2015, WFG launched the Women’s Film & Video Network (now Womxn’s Film & Video Network), purposed to supporting the film and video work of women in Manitoba. The network would become arms-length and member-led in 2019, changing its name to Womxn’s Film and Video Network.
Select filmography
Early films of the Winnipeg Film Group include:
* 1976. ''Rabbit Pie'', directed by
Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker (born April 10, 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for ''Star Trek: Deep ...
* 1979. ''Day Dream'', directed by Alan Pakarnyk
* 1980. ''You Laugh Like a Duck'', directed by Leon Johnson
* 1984. ''The Three Worlds of Nick'', directed by John Paizs — screened at
Toronto Festival of Festivals
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a perman ...
(now the Toronto International Film Festival, or TIFF)
* 1985. ''Crime Wave'', directed by John Paizs — won Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association’s Blizzard Award for Best Film of the Decade in 1997
* 1986. ''Downtime'', directed by Greg Hanec — screened at the
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fest ...
Guy Maddin
Guy Maddin (born February 28, 1956) is a Canadian screenwriter, director, author, cinematographer, and film editor of both features and short films, as well as an installation artist, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since completing his first film i ...
— Maddin was nominated for a
Genie Award
The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for sc ...
* 1990. ''Archangel'', directed by Guy Maddin — voted Best Experimental Film by the U.S.
National Society of Film Critics
The National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) is an American film critic organization. The organization is known for its highbrow tastes, and its annual awards are one of the most prestigious film critics awards in the United States. In January 2014, ...
Stuttgart
Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the Sw ...
, became WFG’s first German intern
* 1995. ''
Odilon Redon
Odilon Redon (born Bertrand Redon; ; 20 April 18406 July 1916) was a French symbolist painter, printmaker, draughtsman and pastellist.
Early in his career, both before and after fighting in the Franco-Prussian War, he worked almost exclusivel ...
'', directed by Guy Maddin — received the NFB John Spotton Award at TIFF
* 1996. ''Soft Like Me'', directed by Jeff Erbach — screened at the TIFF; purchased in 1998 by
Canal+
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flo ...
for European broadcast
* 1997. ''Rapture'', directed by Gordon Wilding — purchased by Canal+ in 1999 for broadcast in France; became the first WFG-supported film to be part of the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
* 2000. '' The Heart of the World'', directed by Guy Maddin and commissioned by TIFF — named the 2001 Best Experimental Film by critics on two continents.
* 2001. ''
Inertia
Inertia is the idea that an object will continue its current motion until some force causes its speed or direction to change. The term is properly understood as shorthand for "the principle of inertia" as described by Newton in his first law ...
Winnipeg Film Group provides training, funding, and equipment rentals to
independent film
An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...
makers. In terms of distribution, it makes Canadian films available to local, national, and international film festivals, broadcasters, other film co-ops, cinemas, and a variety of other presenting organizations.
WFG's first film, ''Rabbit Pie'', was made in 1976 and was collaboratively produced. Directed by
Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker (born April 10, 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for ''Star Trek: Deep ...
, it is a
pastiche
A pastiche is a work of visual art, literature, theatre, music, or architecture that imitates the style or character of the work of one or more other artists. Unlike parody, pastiche pays homage to the work it imitates, rather than mocking i ...
of
silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
tropes involving a plot wherein infant rabbits are eaten at a restaurant.
The WFG is governed by a
board of directors
A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit orga ...
, which maintains the WFG’s bylaws and supports WFG's mandate, including by directly supporting private-sector fundraising. As the WFG is an artist-run organization, its board must mainly include practicing filmmakers and video artists.
As a
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
, WFG operations are funded by the
Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts (french: Conseil des arts du Canada), commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown corporation established in 1957 as an arts council of the Government of Canada. It acts as the federal government's principal in ...
,
Manitoba Arts Council
The Manitoba Arts Council (MAC; ) is a provincial crown corporation whose purpose is to promote the arts. The Council awards grants to professional artists and arts organizations in Manitoba in all art forms; it also provides related creative act ...
Winnipeg School Division
The Winnipeg School Division is a school division in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With 78 schools, it is the largest of six public school divisions in Winnipeg, as well as the largest and oldest school division in Manitoba.
Its schools collectively tea ...
Winnipeg Cinematheque, as the professional presentation department of the Winnipeg Film Group, is a cinematheque theatre that screens both
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
and world cinema. Operated on the first floor of the historic Artspace building in Winnipeg's Exchange District, it has one screen and plays two evening shows on weekdays, and matinées on the weekends.
The focus is on Canadian films, particularly the cinema of
Manitoba
Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...
, but there are also special screenings for international independent films, children's films, and classic films; Cinematheque also produces the annual Gimme Some Truth Documentary Festival.
Members
WFG is notable for having many past staff and members attain prominent positions in the Canadian media industry. Honorary members are appointed for their "exceptional achievement as a Manitoba filmmaker or for their extraordinary contribution to the development of the Winnipeg Film Group as an organization."
Honorary members of the WFG include:
* Norma Bailey
*Dave Barber
*
Richard Condie
Richard Condie, (born 1942) is a Canadian animator, filmmaker, musician and voice actor. Condie is best known for his 1985 animated short '' The Big Snit'' at the National Film Board of Canada and has won six international awards for ''Getting ...
Guy Maddin
Guy Maddin (born February 28, 1956) is a Canadian screenwriter, director, author, cinematographer, and film editor of both features and short films, as well as an installation artist, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since completing his first film i ...
Ervin Chartrand
Ervin Chartrand is a Canadian Métis/Ojibwe director, writer and producer. He is best known for directing the films ''504938C'' (2005) and ''First Stories: Patrick Ross'' (2006).
Personal life
Ervin Chartrand is a Métis/Ojibwe from Pine Creek ...
Danishka Esterhazy
Danishka Esterhazy (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian screenwriter and film director. She is best known for her thriller and horror movies, such as '' Black Field'' (2009), '' Level 16'' (2018), ''The Banana Splits Movie'' (2019), and the ...
Darcy Fehr
Darcy Fehr is a Canadian actor.
Career
Fehr's films include ''Desire'' (2000), ''The Saddest Music in the World'' (2003), '' There's Something Out There'' (2004) and '' The Law of Enclosures'' (2000). Fehr's most notable roles have been his port ...
* Sadaf Foroughi
Dave Barber has been the Cinematheque programmer at the Winnipeg Film Group since the summer of 1982. He has won several awards for his efforts including the Making A Difference Award for “Extraordinary Contribution” to the Arts by the Winnipeg Arts Council (2007), the first-ever awarded Individual Award for “Outstanding Award of the Arts" by the Manitoba Foundation for the Arts, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award by the
Governor-General of Canada
The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, t ...