The First Winnipeg Underground Film Festival (WUFF)

Posted by Border Crossings on June 10, 2013

The first ever Winnipeg Underground Film Festival is a 3-day, curated collection of contemporary underground and experimental films and related events conveniently located directly behind Red River College in Winnipegʼs creative hub, the Exchange District.

“WUFF is a labor of love built entirely by a collective of local artists eager to present the work of their contemporaries from around the world in a city that has little opportunity to see these films in an actual theatre setting,” said WUFF founder / director Travis Cole.

“Our desire is to create tightly curated programs that are a sampling of the important underground film and video work being produced right now,” he added. This yearʼs festival opens with a special 90 Second film challenge. “The < 90 Second film challenge is a great excuse to make a short film, and I hope – nay expect – that Winnipegʼs immeasurable filmmaking talent will rise to this occasion and blow us all away, as per usual,” said local filmmaker and WUFF programmer Aaron Zeghers.

As part of WUFF 2013, Open City Cinema will present focused screenings of the works of the world-renowned Jesse McLean and Paul Clipson, with the latter screening on pristine 16mm prints!

WUFF is also collaborating with Montreal-based media artist Sabrina Ratté, who has curated a shorts program for the festival containing works by Ratté and her contemporaries.

“Iʼve been following Sabrina since viewing an early work at a Send + Receive event in 2010. When asked who Iʼd like to have curate she was at the very top of the list” said WUFF programmer Travis Cole.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING:

• Ben Riversʼs experimental feature Two Years at Sea in collaboration with WNDX.
• Curated short film programs including, an Animated program, a Queer program, and a cinema studies program that reinterprets classic Hollywood cinema.

Live performances by: - Modular synth duo Solar Coffin (Friday) - Dark dance music/film collaboration between musician Karen Asmundson & filmmaker Jaimz Asmundson, Ghost Twin (Saturday) - VHS Dance Party with DJʼs Rob Vilar and Rhayne Vermette playing off of visuals provided by Open City Cinemaʼs oddity ridden video collection.

For more about Open City Cinema and the Winnipeg Underground Film Festival, visit www.winnipeguff.com